William Louey
William Sui-tak Louey | ||
---|---|---|
雷瑞德 | ||
![]() Louey in c. 1950s | ||
Member of Urban Council | ||
In office 31 May 1952 – 21 May 1953 | ||
Personal details | ||
Born | Hanyu Pinyin Léi Ruìdé | | 7 July 1909
Yue: Cantonese | ||
Yale Romanization | Lèuih Seuih-dāk | |
Jyutping | Leoi4 Seoi6-dak1 |
William Sui-tak Louey (Chinese: 雷瑞德; 7 July 1909 – 9 December 1962) was a Hong Kong businessman and the founder and Chief Manager of the Kowloon Motor Bus Company.
Early life and career
Louey was born in
At that time, there were several independent bus operators. William Louey bought a few of them and applied for the franchise of the bus service in 1933. He won the franchise to operate bus services in
KMB services stopped operating during the Pacific War and Japanese occupation. After the war, Louey largely expanded his company from about 100 vehicles to more than 700. Before his death, he ordered more than 100 buses from the United Kingdom, bringing the fleet size to 895.[3] Louey also experienced a few new company's change of policies. In early December 1962 when the workers took industrial action, Louey announced to raise the wage of the bus drivers.
Public service
Louey was chair of the Rotary Club of Kowloon and
Between 1956 and 1957, Louey became the President of the
Personal life and death
In the morning of 22 December 1958, Louey was shot and injured in an armed robbery at his own residence, No. 81, Waterloo Road, Kowloon. Three men entered his house at about 10:30 a.m. wounded Louey on the right side of his abdomen during their struggle with Louey and his son, Ronald. Although the condition was not serious, Louey was admitted to the Kowloon Hospital.[5]
Louey died suddenly from acute heart attack at 10:30 p.m. on 9 December 1962 in his residence at No. 81 Waterloo Road at the age of 53. He had two sons, Ronald Kwok-wah Louey and Kwok-kwan Louey, and two daughters, Kwok-chun and Kwok-wan. Kwok-wah and Kwok-kwan were both educated in Australia and Kwok-kwan worked at the Kowloon Motor Bus.[6] The funeral service was held at the All Saints' Cathedral, Kowloon on 12 December and was attended by many government officials and KMB staff. His ashes were sent back to his birthplace in Australia.[7] One-minute silence tribute to Louey was paid in all football matches of the Football Association on 15 and 16 December.
References
- ^ a b "九巴與雷瑞德". Tak Kung Pao. 11 December 1962. p. 4.
- ^ "Milestones". The Kowloon Motor Bus Co.(1933) Ltd.
- ^ a b "雷瑞德生平事畧". Kung Sheung Daily News. 11 December 1962. p. 4.
- ^ "雷瑞德當選足總會長 南華會擴建加山看台". Kung Sheung Daily News. 6 October 1982. p. 3.
- ^ "WILLIAM S. T. LOUEY SHOT". The China Mail. 22 December 1958. p. 1.
- ^ "兩子昨趕返港 雷瑞德明大殮 各界人士昨天紛往弔唁". Tak Kung Pao. 11 December 1962. p. 4.
- ^ "雷瑞德出殯哀榮". Kung Sheung Daily News. 13 December 1962. p. 4.