“The success of Chinney Group is closely tied to the prosperity and development of Hong Kong. Regardless of our future growth and scale, Chinney has always been rooted in Hong Kong,” said Chairman of Chinney Group, Mr. James Wong Sing-wai (“Chairman James”). The Year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Chinney’s business start-up in Hong Kong. This coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Chinney brand created by his grandfather in Nanjing.

Chairman James’ father, Dr. James Wong Sai-wing, founded Chinney in Hong Kong in the 1970s. Through years of his and his colleague’s hard work, Chinney grew from a single business in construction into a diversified group covering construction, real estate, hospitality, engineering, foundation work, projects, and trade. Over the decades, Chinney has witnessed Hong Kong’s golden era in industry, finance, and real estate as well as opportunities arising from Mainland China’s economic reforms. The group has seized these opportunities by providing professional contracting high-quality engineering services to government and private enterprises, leading to significant growth. In recent years, the pandemic has prompted the company to diversify its investment and development strategy to mitigate risks. He emphasized, “Starting a business is challenging, but sustaining it is even more difficult. Hong Kong is both our home and starting point. Furthermore, Hong Kong is also a place worth investing in. Our business development shall continue here.”

Chairman James believes that Hong Kong still has its competitive edge- the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, the gateway to the world, common use of both Chinese and English languages, a talent pool with international perspective, and ample business leads in innovation and technology development. Hong Kong remains the premier location within Asia for brands to build their presence on the global stage. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is one of the focal points for future development, and the group will continue to grow in the GBA. “Both Hong Kong and Shenzhen are Mainland China’s future economic growth engines, and Chinney aims to get on this fastrack.” Recently, Chinney Group has invested in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, Chongqing, and Shanghai. The Hon Kwok Commercial Centre in Shenzhen is known to be a landmark in the area. Together with the timely completion of the large commercial and residential project on Beijing Road in Guangzhou, these showcase the group’s confidence in the robust development of the Greater Bay Area and the domestic market of Mainland China.

The success of Chinney Group lies in its commitment to its core business as well as its confidence in exploring new investment horizons. Chairman James recalls his grandfather’s unique philosophy on investment: “My grandfather Mr. Cha Chi-ming was a renowned industrialist. My father initially supported him on the textile business and later in his property development business. My grandfather had a foresight on market trends, a bold vision and a deep sense of belonging toward his country. This greatly enlightened my father. As early as the 1970s and 1980s, my father was in Nigeria for business, and our family often accompanied him on those trips. In the 1990s, there was a domestic real estate market boom in Mainland China and my father made decisive investments that yielded substantial returns. Two years ago, I noticed there was a significant influx of tourists during a Japan trip. I recognized the emerging trend in tourism to Japan and acted on it immediately. Consequently, over the last two years in 2023 and 2024, Chinney acquired six hotels in Osaka and Tokyo.” To remain resilient in a rapidly changing environment, Chairman James believes that it is essential not only to continue to innovate and add value to existing business but also to capture new industries and emerging opportunities.

“Five years ago, we began laying the groundwork for the low-altitude freight business in the Greater Bay Area. We then entered the drone and low-altitude vehicle sectors.” Chinney Alliance Engineering, Chinney’s subsidiary, has long been involved in the aviation communication equipment trade business and its related engineering projects in Hong Kong to leverage its strengths to tap into new market opportunities. “Recent years, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) have profoundly impacted global business models. Countries prioritize sustainable development, which led to significant changes across industries.” Chairman James, who is the Chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) – Greater Bay Area Committee and Chairman of Hong Kong PropTech Association (HKPTA) remains optimistic about the development of PropTech. He is dedicated to integrating technology into the Group’s core construction business, aiming to bring new energy to the industry. Chinney has recently integrated green energy-saving practices with construction technologies, such as installing photovoltaic integrated systems in hotel properties to promote sustainable development. Hence, creating eco-friendly and comfortable living space for travellers while reducing carbon emissions – win-win outcome in corporate social responsibility and economic benefits. “Chinney also values ‘hands-on’ technology, focussing on real estate and construction technology. We need to embrace these new trends to expand our horizons.”

Chinney has taken over Lot 495, Kin Chuen Street, Kwai Chung previously managed by Hon Kwok Land Investment and completed the project successfully through a one-stop comprehensive management, from design to construction of data centre that fully leveraged the group’s collaborative advantages. The team’s willingness to take on challenges sets itself apart from others: “The tougher the challenge, the more we are engaged.” This proactive attitude drives the group to further success. “Chinney is the first construction company in Hong Kong to take on a data centre project, accumulated eight years of experience. We were the first mover back then. No one had high hopes for the business back then VS everyone is eager to enter the market now.” Currently, the Group’s subsidiaries utilize various technologies to enhance productivity, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and MiMEP (Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Integration). Chairman James also encourages employees to integrate AI technologies into procurement, supply chain management, design and contract management to improve efficiency, reduce costs and optimize resource allocation.

Chairman James had been a legal advisor for a Japanese firm in the United States. He admitted his experience as an ‘employee’ allows him to understand employees’ mentality and think from their perspectives. He then puts great emphasis on talent training and development. James believes good leaders should cultivate three key traits: stability, vision, and harmony. A stable workforce ensures the team is focused on its responsibilities; a clear vision helps employees to understand their contributions to the company, thus fostering a sense of purpose and achievement; and a harmonious work environment encourages employees to unleash their potential, enhancing overall team performance.

“People First” is not merely a slogan in the Group, it is built upon the daily support given to the employees. “We offer not only a stable work environment and a competitive remuneration but more importantly, great confidence to our employees about the future.” The management philosophy “Truth, Fairness, and Freedom” has guided the Group for years. Chairman James takes this as an invaluable intangible asset that facilitates wise decisions, earns trust from partners, perpetuates a strong corporate culture and steers the Group toward a brighter future. “We will uphold the Group’s core values and move forward with determination.”