Sir David Tang, a larger-than-life Hong Kong socialite and businessman, has died at the age of 63.
The flamboyant entrepeneur split his time between Hong Kong and London and developed a reputation as the best-connected man in both.
The Financial Times, where he was famed for his tongue-in-cheek column, reported Sir David's death in a story on Wednesday.
It revealed he died on Tuesday night at Royal Marsden Hospital in London after enduring a long struggle with cancer with his wife Lucy at his bedside.
In one of his final columns for the paper, he wrote a poignant tribute to the NHS hospital at Hillingdon in west London, saying: "I will howl and hunt down anyone who dares to question the NHS".
"David Tang was a remarkable man of many talents whose charm, erudition and wit were ever present," the newspaper's editor, Lionel Barber, said. "He will be sorely missed."
The luxury goods entrepreneur, who founded the Shanghai Tang fashion chain in 1994, operated private clubs and restaurants and held exclusive rights to Cuban cigars in Asia. He founded the Shanghai Tang luxury brand in 1994 which trailblazed the use of Chinese retro design themes as fashion motifs but later sold the brand to the Swiss luxury goods company Richemont.
The Hong Kong-born businessman, who was knighted in 2008, was reportedly planning to throw a farewell bash at London's luxury Dorchester hotel next month after learning he only had a few months left to live.
Sir David was famed for his little black book of connections and counted the late Princess Diana, whom he once hosted at the China Club, and supermodel Kate Moss, with whom he was often photographed at parties, among his friends.
Actor Russell Crowe called the businessman "witty, charming, intellectual, salacious" on Twitter, saying: "RIP dear friend Sir David Tang, the privilege was mine."
In a 2007 interview with the Associated Press, Sir David was asked how he came to know so many notable people. "You mean how did they know me," he responded with a laugh.
He was sent off to the exclusive Perse school in Cambridge at the age of 13 unable to speak English. He wound up graduating with a philosophy degree and acquiring an arch British accent.
Stalwart BBC world affairs editor, John Simpson, said Sir David embodied the spirit of Hong Kong at its very best.
He said: “Very sad to hear of the death of Sir David Tang - generous host, man of superb taste, great raconteur: spirit of Hong Kong at its former best.”
Sir David is survived by his wife, British-born Lady Lucy Tang, and two children from a previous marriage.
Additional reporting by AP
