Chong Hok Hoi, Bob

Biography

A native of Chaozhou, Bob Chong was born in Hong Kong after World War II. His father, Chong Ching Um, was founder of the Chung Nam Watch Co., Ltd (Chung Nam). After completing Lower Form Six in Hong Kong, Bob Chong furthered his studies in the U.S., where he majored in accounting and earned an MBA from the University of Southern California. After graduation in 1979, he returned to Hong Kong where he and his elder brother, Chong Hok Shan, began running the family business. Bob Chong reformed the company by inviting non-family members to join the management team and to become shareholders. He also focused on promoting the company’s products within the U.S. market and developing the company’s own brands. In doing so, he helped take sales records for Chung Nam’s finished watches in export markets to new heights. In the 1990s, the company put more emphasis on research and development (R&D) and introduced new technologies into the production process. From the 1980s onwards, Bob Chong has been an enthusiastic participant in trade associations and has served as Director and Chairman of the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association (HKWMA). He was also instrumental in organizing the first ever Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair (HKWCF) and in advocating the revision of country of origin regulations for watch production. Bob Chong’s successful career has measurably enhanced the international status of Hong Kong’s watch and clock industries.