The Father of the Designer of Bank of China Tower Established the Hong Kong Branch of Bank of China

Ever since its completion, the Bank of China Tower has been the most iconic building in Hong Kong. When it opened on May 17, 1990, it became the tallest building in Hong Kong as well as in Asia, and the first building outside of New York City and Chicago to exceed 300 meters (approximately 1,000 feet) in height.

The architect behind the Bank of China Tower was American-Chinese I. M. Pei, who, in the 1980s, was best known for buildings such as the daring Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France, and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., for instance.

However, the Pei family had a very intricate relationship with the Hong Kong branch of the Bank of China. If the Bank of China is present in Hong Kong, it is primarily due to I. M. Pei’s father, Tsu Yee Pei.

In 1917, the very year I. M. Pei was born, Tsu Yee Pei, fleeing the aftermath of the Second Revolution in China, established the first branch of the Bank of China in Hong Kong before returning to Mainland China.

In 1941, he became acting general manager of the Bank of China, and in 1944, he attended the Bretton Woods Conference.