Mr Leonard Ho Kwong Cheong

1925-1998

Film Entrepreneur

Film entrepreneur Leonard Ho was a graduate of the Journalism Department at Shanghai’s St John’s University. In 1958, upon Raymond Chow’s recommendation, he joined Shaw Brothers in Hong Kong, where he served as a publicity officer and later as a production officer. In 1970, Ho co-founded Golden Harvest, acting as its vice-chairman and person-in-charge of the production department. A first-rate producer, Ho groomed many talents for stardom – names like Bruce Lee, the Hui Brothers, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, John Woo, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui. He produced more than 100 films, including Enter the Dragon (1973) starring Bruce Lee, Security Unlimited (1981) featuring the Hui Brothers, Heart of Dragon (1985) starring Sammo Hung, as well as Mr Vampire (1985), Rouge (1988), Centre Stage (1992) and Who Am I? (1998). Ho was posthumously honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1999.