View source for James Wu

{{Short description|Hong Kong businessman (1922–2020)}}
{{For|the fictional character in Marvel Comics|Jimmy Woo}}
'''James Tak Wu''', [[Gold Bauhinia Star|GBS]], ({{zh|c=伍沾德|p=Wǔ Zhāndé}}; 1922 – 29 October 2020) was a [[Hong Kong]] businessman who co-founded [[Maxim's Catering]] (now a major subsidiary of [[Dairy Farm|Dairy Farm International Holdings]]) and co-founded a chain of restaurants, nightclubs, fast-food outlets, cake and coffee shops, institutional catering units and theaters throughout Hong Kong.  As of 2015, Wu remained Honorary Chairman of Maxim's Group under Jardine Matheson's ownership.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jardines.com/assets/files/NewsAndEvents/thistle/15_vol1.pdf|journal=Thistle, the Magazine of Jardine Matheson|volume=1|date=2015|title=Topping-out of Maxim's Centre}}</ref>
==Background==
With ancestry from [[Taishan, Guangdong|Taishan]], [[Guangdong]], Wu was born in the [[United States]] and educated in [[Guangdong]]. Wu graduated from Lingnan University in Guangzhou in 1947. With brother S.T. Wu, Wu established [[Maxim's Catering]] in [[Kowloon]], Hong Kong, in 1956<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120902122741/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=5466333 ''Business Week'' article]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.hku.hk/eroonweb/honfellows/fellow_detail.php?section=main&id=100|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408014641/http://www3.hku.hk/eroonweb/honfellows/fellow_detail.php?section=main&id=100|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-04-08|title=Honorary University Fellows|website=University of Hong Kong}}</ref> and, by 1967, had a thriving business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/intellectual_property/trademarks/trademarks_decisions/decision/DEC197100071OP.pdf|website=Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong Government|date=30 June 1982|title=Decision|access-date=25 September 2019|archive-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023005202/https://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/intellectual_property/trademarks/trademarks_decisions/decision/DEC197100071OP.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Wu was a member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tourism.gov.hk/resources/english/paperreport_doc/press/2002-12-24/appointment_to_hk_e.pdf|title=Appointments to Hong Kong Tourism Board|website=Department of Tourism, Hong Kong Government|date=24 December 2002}}</ref>
==Family==
He is the father of [[Annie Wu Suk-ching]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Businesswomen/15568.jsp |title=Annie Wu biography |access-date=2009-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302094113/http://www.womenofchina.cn/Profiles/Businesswomen/15568.jsp |archive-date=2009-03-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Honours==
Wu is Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Development & Planning Council, whose focus is on nurturing professional management talent for Southern China.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
*He holds Honorary Doctorates from the Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou and Springfield College in [[Springfield, Massachusetts]].
*In 2009, he was awarded the [[Gold Bauhinia Star]] by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
*He was named "Honorary Citizen of Guangzhou" by the municipal government of his native Guangzhou in 2003.
== Death ==
On 19 November 2020, the [[Maxim's Group]] published a post on its website, announcing Wu had died on 29 October 2020 at [[Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital]], aged 98.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://amp.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3110500/james-wu-co-founder-hong-kongs-biggest-restaurant-group-maxims | title=James Wu, co-founder of Hong Kong's biggest restaurant group Maxim's, targeted during protests, dies aged 98 | first=Enoch | last=Yiu | publisher=South China Morning Post | date=19 November 2020 | access-date=19 November 2020 }}</ref>
==Legacy==
*The Dr and Mrs James Tak Wu Award for Outstanding Service ([[Lingnan University (Hong Kong)|Lingnan University]]; established 1998)
==References==
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{{s-bef|before = [[Alice Tai (ombudsman)|Alice Tai]]<br><small>''Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star''</small>}}
{{s-ttl|title  = [[Hong Kong order of precedence]]<br><small>''Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star''</small>}}
{{s-aft|after  = [[Frederick Ma]]<br><small>''Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star''</small>}}
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[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Hong Kong chief executives]]
[[Category:Hong Kong restaurateurs]]
[[Category:Lingnan University (Guangzhou) alumni]]
[[Category:Nightclub owners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Bauhinia Star]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Hong Kong]]