Pioneers in US-China Trade

The Chun family moved to Hong Kong in 1961. Chee Kwon became the only American citizen working as a high-ranking manager in a Chinese bank. He helped to cultivate relationships between American and Chinese banks before diplomatic relations were established between the two nations. He also assisted Bank of America in issuing its first travelers’ checks in Hong Kong.

After President Nixon made his historical visit to China in 1972, the Chuns started their consulting business to promote US-China trade and represented numerous Fortune 500 corporations in China. Because Chee Kwon knew American culture and practices, the Chuns were extremely successful and effective in the US-China consulting business. With their daughter Yen, they helped arrange Dr. Armand Hammer of Occidental Petroleum’s historical visit to China in 1980. Hammer was the first corporate CEO that was able to fly his private jet into China. Among the many projects they did was the transfer of Hughes Tool drill bit technology to the Chinese Ministry of Petroleum, and the construction of a drill bit plant in Wuhan Oil Field– a US$200 million project.

Building the US-China Relationship / Philanthropy

In 1972, the Chuns assisted Governor Burns of the State of Hawaii in delivering his goodwill letter and gifts to Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Governor Burns later sent a delegation to the Canton Trade Fair, as the political climate was complicated and chill at the time.

The Chuns were also instrumental in the establishment of sister—state relations between Hawaii and Guangdong, as well as assisting Councilman Leigh Wai Doo form the sister—island relations between Oahu and Hainan.

The Chuns lost their son Ping Chun in a plane crash in 1979. They used the compensation to set up scholarships at the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Hawaii, build schools in China’s rural areas, and fund many educational projects in China.

Chee Kwon dedicated his entire adult life in helping China and improving understanding and friendship between the peoples of the US and China. He was one of the founders of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation in the US and honorary trustee for the Soong Ching Ling (Madam Sun Yat-sen) Foundation in China. In 1994, Chee Kwon received the Soong Ching Ling Camphor Tree Award given to individuals with outstanding contributions to improving maternity care and children’s education and health in China. In 2010, he and his wife were awarded “Life-time Achievement Award” by the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation in Honolulu and honored by the Honolulu City Council.