Lam Hang-chi, founder of Hong Kong Economic Journal, dies at 86

Lam Hang-chi, the founder and former president of the Hong Kong Economic Journal (HKEJ), has passed away at the age of 86. Known as one of Hong Kong’s most influential financial commentators, Lam spent nearly half a century providing analysis on regional and global political and economic affairs.

In 1973, Lam co-founded the HKEJ alongside his wife, Lok Yau-mui, establishing Hong Kong’s first professional Chinese-language financial newspaper. His career spanned major historical milestones, including the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the 1997 handover, and the 2008 financial crisis. He was recognized by Guinness World Records for his long-running newspaper column.

Throughout his career, Lam advocated for free markets tempered by strong institutions and the rule of law. He emphasized the importance of maintaining distance between commentators and political or business elites to ensure objectivity. Although the Lam family sold their shares in the HKEJ between 2006 and 2014, Lam continued to write his influential columns until his retirement in 2021.