Also honoured as the “King of Injection Molding Machines,” Dr. Chiang Chen was a highly respected industrialist in Hong Kong, earning the deep respect and admiration of the mechanical engineering community.
Founder and Honorary Chairman, Chen Hsong Group
Founder and Honorary Chairman, Chiang Chen Industrial Charity Foundation
1992.11
1993.04
Honorary Citizen of Shenzhen, by Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government
1998.09
2004.11
2011.09
2005.07
Grand Bauhinia Medal, awarded by the HKSAR Government
1997.06
2003.03
World Outstanding Chinese Award, by World Chinese Entrepreneurs and Investors Foundation (WCEF)
2007
Industrialist of the Year Award, by Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI)
2006.03
Outstanding Achievement Award, by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Industries (HKCAI) 2006
2007.11
Lifetime Achievement Award, DHL/South China Morning Post Hong Kong Business Awards 2005
2003
President’s Medal for International Outstanding Individuals, George Washington University, U.S.A.
Honorary Fellow of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
1990.06
Honorary Doctorate of Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
1991.06
Honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1993.11
2005.12
2008.03
1986–1999
1988–2000
1993–1997
Founding Member, Advisory Board of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
1997–2000
Since 1997
Since 2000
Since 2001
Since 2002
Since 2005
Honorary Chairman, Hong Kong Overseas Chinese Association of Societies
Since 2005
Honorary Chairman of the Board of Governors, Hong Kong Mould and Die Technology Association
Since 2006
Since 2007
Since 2007
Since 2009
Economic Advisor, Shandong Provincial People’s Government
Member, Advisory Board, School of Management, National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan
Honorary Chairman, Market Economy Research Center, Peking University
Since 2000
Honorary Chairman, 5th Council of Beijing Overseas Friendship Association
Since 2002
Honorary Chairman, Shandong Overseas Exchange Association
Director, 4th and 5th Boards of Fudan University
Director, 2nd Board of Trustees of the Foreign Affairs College
Honorary President, Shenzhen Pingshan New District Chamber of Commerce
In 1949, driven by unwavering determination, he left Shandong and embarked on a new life in Hong Kong.
Founded in 1958 with a mere HK$200, Chen Hsong, under the leadership of Dr. Chiang Chen, has become a global leader in injection moulding technology. Early innovations, such as Hong Kong’s first 10-ounce in-line screw-type injection moulding machine and a pioneering dual-colour blow moulding machine, paved the way for the company’s remarkable growth and its current position as a leading provider of precision injection moulding solutions.
Dr. Chiang Chen recognised that technological innovation is the key to sustained competitive advantage, and consistently prioritised research and development. Under his leadership, Chen Hsong continually launched competitive products and technologies, earning customer trust and market recognition.
Dr. Chiang Chen dedicated his life to the principle of “Enriching the Livelihood of People by Industry, Strengthening the Country through a Prosperous Society.”
Dr. Chiang Chen was a passionate advocate for using technological advancement to drive social progress in China. He believed that progress in manufacturing and industrial technology was key to modernising China and improving the lives of its citizens. This conviction is embodied in the Chiang Chen Industrial Charity Foundation, which he established and which continues to support this vision through training programmes, scholarships, and donations.
Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2005.The Chiang Chen Industrial Charity Foundation is one of the largest charity organisations based in Hong Kong dedicated to the education and development of Chinese industrial manufacturing.
Dr. Chiang Chen’s dedication extended beyond entrepreneurship; he also served as a Hong Kong Affairs Advisor and as a prominent community leader. In recognition of his significant contributions, he was awarded the Grand
“Enriching the Livelihood of People by Industry, Strengthening the Country through a Prosperous Society”
Born in Heze, Shandong Province in 1923 into a poor family, Dr. Chiang Chen experienced hardship and adversity from a young age, losing his parents early in life. These challenging circumstances fostered his unwavering resilience, laying the foundation for his future achievements.
Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Dr. Chiang Chen relocated to Hong Kong, initially working various manual labour jobs including dockworker, textile factory worker, and miner.
In 1955, a friend helped him secure a position at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), marking the start of his lifelong career in mechanical engineering. Despite having only four years of formal education, his natural talent for mechanics quickly became evident. Through diligent study, keen observation, and a remarkable ability to learn, he rapidly mastered the intricacies of the trade, becoming a master engineer at HAECO within two years, laying a solid foundation for his future success.
In 1957, Dr. Chiang Chen, already a respected engineer, was offered a lucrative position at a competitor of HAECO. However, due to insurmountable certification issues, the new company failed within a year.
HAECO subsequently offered him a high-paying position to return, but Dr. Chiang Chen refused, instead choosing to forge his own path. 1958 marked a pivotal moment: with just HK$200, he and Tan Xiong co-founded Chen Hsong Machinery Factory, beginning the company’s remarkable journey.
Established in 1958, Chen Hsong initially operated as a small-scale machine repair shop. A pivotal moment came in 1959 with a customer’s request for a dual-colour blow molding machine, a technology that had eluded others. While his partner Tan Xiong doubted its feasibility, Dr. Chiang Chen, drawing inspiration from a childhood memory of watching the muddy Yangtze meet the clear Jialing River, where the two waters merge but remain visibly distinct, developed a unique pressure balancing mechanism.
This innovation resulted in Hong Kong’s first successful dual-colour blow molding machine, leading to the production of the iconic red-and-white “Watermelon Ball” plastic footballs and establishing Chen Hsong’s reputation for innovation and quality.
The high demand and resulting profits marked a turning point for the young company. Dr. Chiang later recalled: “At the time, only Chen Hsong had a dual-colour machine, so we could charge a good price. That was how we made our first real money.”
By the early 1960s, Dr. Chiang Chen had identified the immense potential of the plastics industry. At that time, injection molding machines were primarily imported, prompting him to focus on local development. His efforts led to the creation of Hong Kong’s first 10-ounce in-line screw-type injection molding machine in 1966, a significant achievement that earned him the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong’s “New Product Award.” The launch sent ripples through Hong Kong’s industrial community and earned Dr. Chiang the title “King of Injection Molding Machines.”
This breakthrough played a vital role in the expansion of Hong Kong’s plastics processing sector, including toys, plastic flowers, plastic watches, and many other industries. Dr. Chiang could not have foreseen at the time that his machines would help propel this tiny territory into the ranks of the “Asian Tigers.”
The 1970s marked a period of significant economic expansion in Hong Kong, and Chen Hsong, under Dr. Chiang Chen’s leadership of “continuous refinement and steady persistence,” flourished. The company’s product line broadened, its quality steadily improved, and Chen Hsong took the leading position in Hong Kong’s injection moulding machine market.
By this time, Hong Kong had become the world’s principal toy exporting hub. Chen Hsong developed its flagship “King of Toys” series of ultra-high-end injection moulding machines, and in 1972 constructed a new factory in Fanling to expand production capacity. The “King of Toys” series became one of Chen Hsong’s most enduring bestsellers.
In 1981, Chen Hsong opened a new factory of over 16,000 square metres at Tai Po Industrial Estate, Hong Kong.
Not content with being number one in Hong Kong, Dr. Chiang Chen turned his attention to Taiwan. In 1980, he established Chen Hsong Taiwan, becoming the only Hong Kong injection moulding machine company to expand into the Taiwanese market, and beginning his journey toward becoming a global leader.
By the late 1980s, the Chen Hsong Group (including its number-one position in Taiwan) had become one of the world’s largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines.
Despite residing in Hong Kong for many years, Dr. Chiang Chen maintained a deep commitment to his homeland, always identifying as a “national industrialist.” His lifelong ambition was to contribute to China’s development, give back to society, and help modernise its industrial base.
This commitment is reflected in his guiding principle: “Enriching the Livelihood of People by Industry, Strengthening the Country through a Prosperous Society,” inspired by the post-war economic recovery. He believed that industrial growth would modernise China and improve the lives of its people, leading him to invest in his homeland.
Dr. Chiang Chen had resolved to return to his homeland and invest.
In the early 1980s, as a leader in Hong Kong’s industrial community, Dr. Chiang Chen was approached by Lai Chi-lau, the former Mayor of Guangzhou, who encouraged him to return to the mainland and contribute to revitalising Chinese industry. This aligned perfectly with Dr. Chiang’s own philosophy. Although it was the early years of Reform and Opening Up, when the mainland’s industrial environment, talent pool, and supply chains were all visibly underdeveloped, his commitment to his homeland led him to accept without hesitation and begin preparations.
In 1986, Chen Hsong established Chen De Plastic Machinery in Shunde, Guangdong (now part of Foshan), the first Sino-foreign joint venture in Shunde. The factory began production in 1987 and continues to operate nearly 40years later.
When social upheaval later prompted many overseas investors to withdraw from the mainland, prompting a wave of disinvestment, Dr. Chiang Chen, moved by the sincerity of local officials, ignored the pressure to retreat. He stood by his principles, kept his promises, and continued to develop the joint venture with unwavering resolve.
Having become one of the first Hong Kong industrialists to invest in mainland China after Reform and Opening Up, Dr. Chiang Chen felt his contributions through running a single factory were limited. After much reflection, he reached the conviction that “repaying what was taken from the society.”
In 1990, the year before Chen Hsong went public, Dr. Chiang Chen donated his entire shareholding in the Chen Hsong Group, then valued at approximately HK$800 million, to establish the Chiang Chen Industrial Charity Foundation, pioneering large-scale charitable giving in Hong Kong.
In 1991, Chen Hsong Holdings Limited achieved a significant milestone by listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 00057.HK), becoming one of the few publicly traded companies in the international injection molding industry.
In 1997, Dr. Chiang Chen was awarded the OBE by the British Government.
In 2005, Dr. Chiang Chen received the Grand Bauhinia Medal from the Hong Kong SAR Government, the highest honour in Hong Kong, in recognition of his selfless contribution to Hong Kong’s industrial development.
Dr. Chiang Chen also received honorary doctorates from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and The Open University of Hong Kong (now Hong Kong Metropolitan University), and was appointed Honorary Professor of Shenzhen University.
Beyond academic honours, Dr. Chiang served as advisor to numerous government bodies and commercial organisations across Hong Kong and mainland China.
Dr. Chiang Chen founded Chen Hsong in Hong Kong.
First dual-colour blow molding machine
The best-selling machine of the time, “King of Toys.”
Constructed a 2,800 square metre factory in Fanling, Hong Kong.
Established Chen Hsong Machinery Factory Co. in Taiwan.
Constructed a 16,000 square metre factory in Tai Po, Hong Kong.
Established Chen De Plastic Machinery Factory Ltd. in Shunde, Foshan, China.
Dr. Chiang Chen accompanies Shunde County leaders on an inspection visit to Chen De.
Established the first automated ductile iron casting factory in Hong Kong.
Dr. Chiang received OBE from British Government.
Dr. Chen Chiang was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal 2005 of Hong Kong SAR.
From the founding of Chen Hsong Machinery Factory in 1958, and later being known as the “King of Injection Molding Machines,” Dr. Chiang’s life was filled with contributions to society and love for industry.
His efforts and contributions have been widely recognised and praised.
Recognised as a pioneer of Hong Kong’s industrial development, he contributed significantly to the economic development of China.
