David Tang

Tang was born into a prominent, affluent family in Hong Kong. His grandfather, Sir Shiu-Kin Tang (鄧肇堅), co-founded the Kowloon Motor Bus Company and was considered "one of Hong Kong's greatest philanthropists". At the age of 12, he moved with his parents to England. Following his primary education at La Salle Primary School, Tang was sent to board at The Perse School, Cambridge: he later claimed that he was then "aged 13, hardly able to speak a word of English". After leaving Perse in 1973 he went to King's College London to read Philosophy and then Law at the University of Cambridge.

Tang started his career at his grandfather's solicitor firm. He joined the London law firm Macfarlanes as a trainee solicitor, where he was described by the then senior partner Vanni Treves as being "confident, quick witted and funny", as well as being "charmingly undisciplined and unreliable". By mutual agreement he left the firm after a couple of months without completing his training contract, and instead changed career path and joined Swire Pacific Limited. He was the founder of the China Club in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Singapore the Shanghai Tang stores, Havana House and Pacific Cigar Company Ltd (the exclusive distributor for all Cuban cigars in Asia Pacific). More recently Tang opened the Cipriani in Hong Kong and the China Tang restaurant at the Dorchester Hotel. Tang was also a director and advisor to a number of boards, including Tommy Hilfiger.

In 1983–84, Tang taught English literature and philosophy at Peking University in Beijing, China.

The China Club (China Investment Incorporations) Limited filed a lawsuit against the estate of the late Sir David Tang in the High Court, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty. The suit claims that Tang improperly transferred over HK$100 million from the company's funds to his personal accounts or those of related companies, violating his responsibilities as a director.

Key allegations include:

1. Cash Transfers: Between 2016 and 2017, Tang allegedly transferred more than HK$51.87 million from the club's account to his personal or controlled accounts.

2. Art Auction Proceeds: From 2007 to 2014, Tang is accused of auctioning artworks belonging to the club and depositing the HK$56.29 million proceeds into his own account.

3. Dividend Misappropriation: Between 1998 and 2016, he reportedly distributed over HK$6.74 million to himself during shareholder dividend distributions.