Kadoorie Family: From Baghdad to Hong Kong's CLP Group

The Kadoorie family operates one of the most institutionally durable commercial dynasties in modern Asian business history. Originally of Baghdadi Jewish origin — like the Sassoons, with whom they intermarried — the Kadoorie family built its commercial presence in Shanghai and Hong Kong across the 19th and 20th centuries, and continues to operate at significant scale today through CLP Group, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (Peninsula Hotels), and Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons Limited.

Last updated: October 30, 2026 (page structure and formatting). Dates and facts on this page are the Olam's existing reporting and were not re-verified in this update.

The 19th-Century Origin

Sir Elly Kadoorie (1867–1944) arrived in Hong Kong via the Sassoon firm in the 1880s and established independent commercial operations spanning rubber trading, real estate, and banking. In 1901, he was involved in founding China Light and Power (later CLP Group), the electric utility serving Kowloon and the New Territories — which would become the largest single asset of the modern Kadoorie structure.

The Mid-20th Century Transition

Sir Lawrence Kadoorie (1899–1993, later Lord Kadoorie) and his brother Sir Horace Kadoorie (1902–1995) led the structure through the 1941–1945 Japanese occupation, the 1949 Communist takeover of Shanghai, and the 1967 Hong Kong riots. Lord Kadoorie's institutional commitment to Hong Kong through the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration negotiations anchored the family's continued presence through the handover era.

What Are the Key Dates in the Kadoorie Family's History?

The family's history runs from the 1880s arrival of Sir Elly Kadoorie in Hong Kong to the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration negotiations.

Date	Event	Person or entity
1880s	Arrives in Hong Kong via the Sassoon firm, then builds independent operations in rubber trading, real estate and banking	Sir Elly Kadoorie (1867–1944)
1901	Involved in founding China Light and Power, later CLP Group	Sir Elly Kadoorie
1928	The Peninsula Hong Kong opens	The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited
1933	Kadoorie Agricultural High School founded in northern Israel	Kadoorie family
1941–1945	Structure led through the Japanese occupation	Sir Lawrence (1899–1993) and Sir Horace Kadoorie (1902–1995)
1949	Communist takeover of Shanghai	Kadoorie structure
1967	Hong Kong riots	Kadoorie structure
1984	Sino-British Joint Declaration negotiations	Lord Kadoorie

The Modern Commercial Structure

CLP Group (HK: 0002) — one of the larger electric utilities in Asia, operating across Hong Kong, mainland China, Australia (EnergyAustralia), India, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. The largest single Kadoorie asset.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (HK: 0045) — operates the Peninsula Hotels brand. The Peninsula Hong Kong (opened 1928) is among the most architecturally significant hotels in Asian history. Portfolio extends to Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok, Beverly Hills, Chicago, New York, Paris, London, Istanbul, and Yangon.

Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons Limited — the family holding entity, privately held.

Kadoorie Charitable Foundation — substantial philanthropic activity across Hong Kong, mainland China, and Israel.

What Does the Kadoorie Family Control Today?

The modern Kadoorie structure has four parts: two listed Hong Kong companies, a private family holding company and a charitable foundation.

Entity	Listing	What it does
CLP Group	HK: 0002	Electric utility operating across Hong Kong, mainland China, Australia (EnergyAustralia), India, Taiwan and Southeast Asia; the largest single Kadoorie asset
The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited	HK: 0045	Operates the Peninsula Hotels brand, from Hong Kong to Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok, Beverly Hills, Chicago, New York, Paris, London, Istanbul and Yangon
Sir Elly Kadoorie & Sons Limited	Private	The family holding entity
Kadoorie Charitable Foundation	Not applicable	Philanthropy across Hong Kong, mainland China and Israel

The Israel Connection

The Kadoorie Agricultural High School in northern Israel, founded in 1933, was one of the foundational institutions of pre-state Israeli agricultural education. Yitzhak Rabin, the future Prime Minister, graduated from there. Kadoorie family philanthropic activity in Israel has continued under Sir Michael Kadoorie's stewardship — making the Kadoorie dynasty one of the diaspora business families with the deepest direct institutional footprint inside Israel itself.

Institutional Continuity

The Kadoorie pattern — adaptation through major historical disruptions while preserving the underlying family-commercial structure — distinguishes them from the Sassoon firm trajectory and from many other historical Jewish commercial dynasties that dispersed or contracted across the 20th century.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded the Kadoorie family business in Asia?

Sir Elly Kadoorie (1867–1944) arrived in Hong Kong via the Sassoon firm in the 1880s and established independent operations in rubber trading, real estate and banking.

What is the Kadoorie family's largest asset?

CLP Group (HK: 0002), the electric utility that grew out of China Light and Power, which Sir Elly Kadoorie helped found in 1901.

Do the Kadoories own the Peninsula Hotels?

The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (HK: 0045) operates the Peninsula Hotels brand and is one of the family's principal commercial holdings. The Peninsula Hong Kong opened in 1928.

What is the Kadoorie family's connection to Israel?

The family founded the Kadoorie Agricultural High School in northern Israel in 1933, where Yitzhak Rabin later studied. Its philanthropy in Israel has continued under Sir Michael Kadoorie.

How did the Kadoories differ from the Sassoons?

The Olam's reporting says the Kadoories adapted through major historical disruptions while preserving the family-commercial structure, unlike the Sassoon firm and other Jewish commercial dynasties that dispersed or contracted across the 20th century.