Sun Kai Lit, Cliff

Biography Highlights Records Photos & Documents
Growing up in factory and having a strong recognition of industry
Sun Kin Chao founded Kin Hip Metalware & Plastic Factory in 1949. The factory was run in a ground-level shop and the Sun’s family lived on top of it from 1949 to 1992. KL Sun had been cultivated in him a strong recognition of industry through the imperceptible influence by what he constantly saw and heard since small.



Title Growing up in factory and having a strong recognition of industry
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 1m
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-001
Working as a trainee boy at factory to prepare succession of family business
Sun Kin Chao and his wife had five children. KL Sun was the eldest son. His parents had the greatest expectation on him in the succession of their business. He worked as a part time trainee at Kin Hip Factory every Saturday since he was 13. He developed skills in using the lathe, planer and gongs bed in the tooling department. During his training, Sun recognised the industry norms and culture and was get ready to take over the business.



Title Working as a trainee boy at factory to prepare succession of family business
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 1m25s
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-002
Harmonious relationship between employer and employee
KL Sun had been an apprentice at his childhood, so he understood staff needs well and offered them excellent employee benefits. KL Sun was a causal worker at the factory since he was 13. After he took over the business in 1978, he mingled well with the chief officer and other senior staff of the factory. He did not act arrogantly because of his status, but treated everyone as part of his family. Relationship between employer and employees in Kin Hip was sound.



Title Harmonious relationship between employer and employee
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 1m7s
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-003
Business succession among three generations
Sun Kin Chao believed ‘money can only be earned if you hold yourself in charge’. He was severe to KL Sun and criticized him for spending too much time on social affairs. He hoped KL Sun paid more attention to his Kin Hip’s business. KL Sun had taken over for several decades. Now the third generation had gradually involved in daily operation. He hoped they can take over the family business gradually.



Title Business succession among three generations
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 1m
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-004
Building up a ‘Anyone is dispensable’ management
KL Sun further said that Kin Hip’s system was already on track. "Anyone is dispensable." He said. Now, the third generation already worked at Kin Hip for a few years. KL Sun wished Kin Hip could operate with the Original Strategic Manufacturing (OSM) model in the future.



Title Building up a ‘Anyone is dispensable’ management
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 45s
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-005
Power decentralization as a management principal
KL Sun believed that running a company relies on sensitivity in market trend. Now he managed his Kin Hip in terms of ‘management’. Unlike his father, he decentralized power to junior staff members in the decision making process. Now he had lessened his involvement in daily operation. For example, he didn’t meddle when Kin Hip took part in exhibitions.



Title Power decentralization as a management principal
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 48s
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-006
Creating the ‘Kinox’ brand
In 1980, KL Sun created the brand ‘Kinox’.Kin Hip used to print on its products the trademark ‘LH’. Unfortunately ‘LH’ was not a catchy name, which made promotion difficult and its products less than popular in the market. Clients tended to welcome the new brand ‘Kinox’, which saved some lengthy introductions for Kin Hip when it was promoted to clients.



Title Creating the ‘Kinox’ brand
Date 16/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 1m17s
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-007
Investing in the Mainland was difficult due to huge HK-China differences
KL Sun explained the difficulties in setting up factory in the Mainland. He said due to the mainland’s differences in administrative system, separation of government and party units, and the complicated structure spanning from towns to the Central Government, Hong Kong manufacturers found it hard to get used to them. When he started to invest northward, he only knew a few officials which were confined to town and village level.



Title Investing in the Mainland was difficult due to huge HK-China differences
Date 28/03/2011
Subject industry
Duration 1m2s
Language Cantonese
Material Type Audio
Collection Oral History Archives
Repository Hong Kong Memory Project
Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project
Accession No. LKF-SKL-HLT-008