Chan, S.K.

Biography

S.K. Chan was born in Guangzhou in 1926. His native place was Dongguan. His family was a reputable draper in Chencun, Shunde. He received his education at a private primary school during childhood, and took refuge in Hong Kong and Macau in wartime. In 1941, he dropped out of school before graduating from junior secondary school. As peace was restored, he returned to Hong Kong and went into trade alongside his elder brother. In 1949, he founded Yangtzekiang Garment Mfrs Company on Castle Peak Road. During its early years, the company produced shirts that carried the label DOCTOR and sold them to South East Asian countries. In the late 1950s, Mr. Chan opened up the US and European markets, causing the prime business of the company to shift to OEM production. In the early 1960s, the company's production expanded to ready-made suits. A retail outlet was established in Central, Hong Kong. In the 1970s, owing to the textile quota system, its production lines were relocated to some developing countries in Asia. Meanwhile, Mr. Chan was a consultant for the Textile Advisory Board. He participated in overseas negotiations on quota on behalf of the textile and garment industries on numerous occasions. As mainland China opened her door for foreign investment, he successively set up factories in Wuxi, Panyu and Dongguan, realising one-stop production from textiles to garments. In recent years, he devoted himself to the operations of his mainland plants, and left the branding, marketing and sales activities to his successors.