He was noted for his unmatched access to leaders in both the commercial and political arenas and was equally at ease with Western political leaders and the Chinese leadership in the run-up to Hong Kong's ceasing to be a British colony in 1997 (for example Margaret Thatcher wrote the foreword to his biography published in 1990 and he was appointed a Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Basic Law Drafting Committee planning Hong Kong's constitution after 1997). He was also a generous philanthropist notably in educational projects (helping set up universities, libraries, and scholarship schemes).
He possessed exceptional connections to leaders in both business and politics. He had strong relationships with Western political figures as well as Chinese leadership during the period leading up to Hong Kong's handover from British rule in 1997. For example, Margaret Thatcher wrote the foreword for his biography published in 1990, and he was appointed a member of the committee that drafted Hong Kong's constitution after 1997. He was also known for his generosity in supporting educational projects by establishing universities, libraries, and scholarship programs.