History & Milestones

Home About HKRI History and Milestones

The HKRI story began with Dr CHA Chi-ming, the late founder and chairman of the Group, acquiring the equity interest of Hong Kong Resort Company Limited in 1977, which is the registered owner and developer of Discovery Bay on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. HKRI is now a respected conglomerate with business interests covering Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and across Asia.

 

HKRI 40th Anniversary Commemorative Book
Life and Times of Dr CHA Chi-ming
View year:
1977
  • Bird's-eye view of north-eastern part of Lantau Island in the 1970s
    Bird's-eye view of north-eastern part of Lantau Island in the 1970s
    Dr CHA Chi-ming, the late founder and chairman of the Group, acquired equity interest in Hong Kong Resort Company Limited which owns the development rights of a piece of barren land on the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island, Hong Kong
1979

  • Commenced development of the first property project on the Lantau site, the later Discovery Bay project

1980
  • Phase 1 of Discovery Bay was launched and was sold out in one day
1982

  • CDW Building, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong completed construction

1988

  • The Group made its first foray into hospitality business by purchasing interests in five luxury hotel projects

1989

  • The Group was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong as HKR International Limited (“HKRI”). Hong Kong Resort Company Limited, developer of Discovery Bay, became a subsidiary of HKRI

     

1991
  • The Sukhothai Bangkok, a luxury resort hotel in Thailand, officially opened
1992
  • The Beaufort Singapore, the Group's first resort hotel in the country, opened. (Beaufort Singpore renamed as The Sentosa Resort and Spa in 2003)
1996
  • Pre-sale of Discovery Park Phase I, the Group’s first large-scale residential project outside of Discovery Bay, Hong Kong, commenced and received overwhelming response
1999
  • The Group ventured into Bangkok’s residential market by purchasing a luxury apartment block and redeveloped into a five-star deluxe serviced apartment building named Siri Sathorn
2000
  • Acquired a freehold development site in Singapore’s prime district, Nassim Road, and commenced development of its first deluxe residential project in Singapore – Beaufort on Nassim
  • The Group expanded into the Chinese Mainland market by acquiring Chelsea, its first residential property in Shanghai. The units were later furnished for leasing as luxury serviced apartments
  • GenRx Holdings Limited (“GenRx Healthcare”) was established to tap into the healthcare service sector
2002
  • The Group acquired the 6.28-hectare Dazhongli site, located at the prestigious Nanjing Road West Central Business District in Jing’an, Shanghai, Chinese Mainland
  • GenRx Healthcare acquired interests in Healthway Medical in the Philippines
  • Phase 1 of Coastal Skyline in Tung Chung, Hong Kong, developed by a consortium led by the Group, was put to the market
  • The Exchange, a commercial project comprising two Grade-A office towers, a retail mall and a hotel, officially opened in Tianjin, Chinese Mainland
2003
  • The Group’s first residential project in Shiodome, Japan, completed construction
2005
  • HKRI Care & Share, the Group's corporate volunteer team, was established
2007

  • The Group purchased a European tall ship and named it The Bounty

    The Bounty
  • The luxury residential development in Singapore, Beaufort on Nassim, launched
  • The Sukhothai Residences (renamed as The Grace Ivory Condominium in May 2022), a luxury condominium project in Bangkok, Thailand, launched for pre-sale and sets record prices in the Thailand property market
2008
  • The master plan of the Dazhongli project in Shanghai, Chinese Mainland, was approved
2009
  • Chelsea Residence, the Group's first residential property in Shanghai, Chinese Mainland, acquired in 2002, was launched for strata-title sale
2010
  • The Group acquired Horizon Place Akasaka, an apartment block located in Akasaka, Minato-ku of Tokyo, Japan
  • The Group purchased a piece of freehold land on Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand
2013
  • Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, a new resort hotel in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong, opened
  • The Group acquired Graphio Nishi-Shinjuku, a commercial building located in the heart of Shinjuku, Tokyo, as an investment property
  • DAN6, an industrial building in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, launched
2014
  • City One, the Group's luxury residential project located at the centre of the International Business District in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, Chinese Mainland, was launched for pre-sale. It was the first-ever project developed by a Hong Kong-based developer in Jiaxing
  • The Group acquired a 30-floor en bloc residential building, currently named Elite House, in Changning, Shanghai, Chinese Mainland
2015
  • The Group’s Dazhongli project in Shanghai, Chinese Mainland, was officially named HKRI Taikoo Hui. The project comprised a prime retail centre, two premium Grade-A office towers HKRI Centres 1 & 2, two boutique hotels, including The Sukhothai Shanghai and one serviced apartment building
  • Corporate brand identity was revamped, with the view to building a clear and consistent image across all activities
  • The Group acquired Souei Park Harajuku, an apartment building located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
  • The Group acquired 10 land plots along Rama 3 Road by the Chaophraya River in Bang Phongphang Subdistrict, Yannawa District, Bangkok, Thailand. The project was expected to provide about 1,400 residential units
2016
  • 2GETHER, the waterfront residential project in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, launched for sale
  • Proud Roppongi, a premium low-density residential project at Roppongi 4-chome in Tokyo, Japan, was put to the market
2017
  • The Group acquired Veneo Minami-Azabu, an en bloc residential apartment building in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 
  • Oasis One, situated in Chinese Mainland's Zhejiang Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City and adjacent to Xixi National Wetland Park, launched for pre-sale
  • The Group acquired Haluwa Shibakoen, a residential building located in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  • The Group's flagship commercial project in Shanghai, Chinese Mainland, HKRI Taikoo Hui, celebrated its grand opening
  • La Cresta, a low-density residential development in Kau To Shan, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, launched 
  • The refurbished CDW Building and its shopping mall named 8½ at Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, opened
  • The Group acquired a prime residential site in the Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhejiang Province, Chinese Mainland
  • HKRI was included as a constituent in the Hang Seng Global Composite Index, the Hang Seng Composite Index and the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index in Hong Kong
2018
  • The Group acquired three plots of land located on Ramintra Road in the Khannayao District, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Riviera One, a high-end residential project in the vicinity of City One in Jiaxing City, Chinese Mainland, was launched for pre-sale and was met with keen interest
  • The Group acquired a residential site in the Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhejiang Province, Chinese Mainland
  • Opening of The Sukhothai Shanghai, a luxury boutique hotel in HKRI Taikoo Hui, Shanghai, Chinese Mainland
  • Cha House, a restored and refurbished century-old building at HKRI Taikoo Hui in Shanghai, Chinese Mainland, opened
2019
  • The Group acquired a land lot in Nanhu New District in Jiaxing city, Zhejiang Province, Chinese Mainland
  • GenRx, the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary acquired Humphrey & Partners Medical Services Limited, which operated a medical network of over 250 affiliated clinics 
  • Poggibonsi, luxurious residential project in Discovery Bay, is launched for sale
    Poggibonsi, luxurious residential project in Discovery Bay, was launched for sale
  • Acquires an en-bloc residential property building, Wellgan Villa, at Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
    Acquired an en-bloc residential property building, Wellgan Villa, at Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
2020
  • IL PICCO, garden house project in Discovery Bay, is launched for sale
    IL PICCO, garden house project in Discovery Bay, was launched for sale
  • The Group acquired a residential site in the Lin'an District, Hangzhou city, Chinese Mainland
  • Lantau Yacht Club officially opened its door
2021
  • The Group acquired a 16-storey industrial building named United Daily News Centre in To Kwa Wan
  • The Group acquired a residential redevelopment project on Hollywood Road / Upper Lascar Road in Sheung Wan
  • DB Ice Rink, an international-standard ice rink that featured state-of-the-art amenities, opened to public
  • Discovery Bay Master Plan 7.0E was approved, opening to a new chapter for the development of Discovery Bay
  • The Group acquired office units and the right of use of parking lots at Jinsha INCITY in Hangzhou, later renamed as HKR International Centre
  • The Group won the bid for a residential site in Songjiang District, Shanghai
  • Peony, Discovery Bay's first fine dining Chinese restaurant, officially opened
2022
  • The Group signed the first sustainability-linked loan of HK$2.4 billion, manifesting our commitment to long term sustainability
  • VILLA LUCCA, the world-class low-density sea-view residence in Tai Po, obtained occupation permit and was officially launched
  • HKRI kick-started the celebration of its 45th anniversary under the theme “Together We Fortify”
  • Application for the change of land use for Discovery Bay Area 6f into residential buildings was accepted by the Town Planning Board
2023
  • The Group acquired a residential site in Nanhu New District, Jiaxing
  • Applications to change the land use of DB Service Area 10b and Marina Club Area B to residential were approved by the Town Planning Board
  • “The NextWave Beach Music Festival”, the largest beach music festival in Hong Kong, was held on Tai Pak Beach, Discovery Bay
  • DB launched a new brand campaign titled “Live to Discover”
  • Refurbishment of DB Pier was completed
  • Acquired Hotel Kanronomori in Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
2024
  • “TheNextwave XX24 Beach Music Festival”, Hong Kong’s largest beach music festival, was held on Tai Pak Beach, Discovery Bay
  • A new bus route connecting DB North and Tung Chung inaugurated
  • The Sukhothai Bangkok soft-launched its brand-new spa facility, The Sukhothai Spa
  • The Town Planning Board approved the proposed change of use to “housing” in Discovery Bay Outline Zoning Plan regarding Areas 6f, 10b and Marina Club Area B
  • The residential project in Jiaxing’s Nanhu New District was named “Sienna One”
2025
  • The inaugural Christmas Wine Walk was held in Discovery Bay
  • Town Planning Board approved the draft Discovery Bay Outline Zoning Plan
  • The new Discovery Bay Mobile App was inaugurated with significant upgrades
  • Opening of the Group’s first Corporate Gallery in Shanghai
  • DBee Oasis, HK’s first urban oasis blossom tower, was unveiled in Central Park, Discovery Bay
  • Discovery Bay launched the new “Spend & Ride Offer”
  • Launched Discovery Bay Pet-friendly Bus Service
  • HKRI Taikoo Hui welcomed The Louis, a bespoke concept landmark by Louis Vuitton
  • Hotel Kanronomori in Hokkaido was added to the Group’s hospitality portfolio
  • Sienna One, in Jiaxing, Zhejiang unveiled the sales gallery and show flats
  • Discovery Bay unveiled “Toscana”, a new Italian-inspired luxurious sea-view residential development
2026

  • The Group won the bid for a premium commercial development site in Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, which will be developed into a mixed-use commercial complex featuring lakefront views, a modern shopping mall and an outdoor street area

  • Discovery Bay’s "Toscana" phase 19-1 and 19-2A were named “ONE TOSCANA” and “ONE TOSCANA 2”

Featured Projects

Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay Hong Kong
CDW Building & 8½ Hong Kong
HKRI Taikoo Hui
HKRI Taikoo Hui Chinese Mainland