The communities of YK Pao School in Shanghai and Hong Kong grieve the loss of Dr. Helmut Sohmen, husband of Founder Anna Pao Sohmen and father of Co-Founder Philip Pao Sohmen, who passed away peacefully on 26th Oct in Hong Kong. Our thoughts are with the Sohmen and the Pao families as we reflect upon and honor his truly distinguished life and immense contributions.
Born in Austria, Dr Sohmen was a long-time Hong Kong resident of over fifty years, a distinguished entrepreneur, and a pillar of the Hong Kong community. Since the late 1970s, he took the helm of the World-Wide Shipping Group, the shipping empire founded by his father-in-law, Sir YK Pao. With great foresight and prudent stewardship, Dr Sohmen guided the Group steadily through market volatilities. He later oversaw the acquisition of Bergesen in Norway, leading to the formation of BW Group, which continues to rank among the world's leading shipping enterprises.
Dr Sohmen studied law, graduating from the University of Vienna, Southern Methodist University, and Northwestern University. He was also a Fulbright Scholar at Wesleyan University in the United States.
A man of exceptional talent, Dr Sohmen held key positions in numerous international shipping organisations, earning deep respect within the industry. He served as Chairman of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), Co-Chairman of The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), Chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), and Chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association among others.
Grounded in his approach and committed to public service, Dr Sohmen contributed significantly to society. He served as a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, a Member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Consultative Committee, Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the ICAC Review Committee.
Dr Sohmen had a deep commitment to education. He established multiple scholarships to promote cultural exchange and build international bridges. Through the Sino-Austrian Friendship Scholarship, he sponsored Austrian youth to study at Chinese universities. He founded the Sohmen Scholarship at Southern Methodist University, supporting over one hundred mainland Chinese scholars to pursue legal studies in the US. He endowed academic chairs in Public Law at The University of Hong Kong and at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and championed the integration of musical creativity and technological innovation. As a former Chairman of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he established various scholarships to support local young people aspiring to careers in the performing arts. He also sponsored the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's performance at the Golden Hall in Vienna, enhancing Hong Kong's cultural reputation in Europe.
Dr Sohmen led a simple life and had a great love for nature, with hiking as his favorite pastime. Not only was he intimately familiar with Hong Kong's trails, also scaled famous mountains in China, Japan, Europe, and Nepal. He was involved in the creation of the Wilson Trail in Hong Kong and founded the "Sohmen Strollers," a hiking group for international friends with over seventy participants. Dr. Sohmen truly embodied the motto of Sir YK Pao: exercise persistently, work diligently, and use sparingly.
Dr. Helmut Sohmen has long supported the development of YK Pao School. Since the school's founding in 2007, he has witnessed and contributed to multiple milestones. He attended and spoke at YK Pao School's fifth‑anniversary celebration and donated the ‘Helmut Sohmen Auditorium’ on the Songjiang campus of YK Pao School. In memory of his brother, the renowned economist Professor Egon Sohmen, he established the Egon Sohmen Economics Award at the High School, preserving his brother’s dedication to exploration and innovation in economics. The competition encourages active exploration of real‑world economic issues, employing the intellectual tools of economic analysis to address them.
The enduring legacy of Dr. Sohmen's contribution to society will inspire generations of YK Pao School students to strive for excellence, contribute to their communities, and grow into true global citizens.
