Tin donated billions of Hong Kong dollars and funded hundreds of schools, dozens of hospitals, and thousands of rural libraries throughout China.
He was awarded numerous honours for his philanthropy, including the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, the Grand Bauhinia Medal by the Hong Kong government, a Gold Plate on Contribution to Public Welfare by President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan, honorary citizenships by more than 80 cities, and honorary doctorate degrees by over ten universities.
Chinese astronomers named the asteroid 2886 Tinkaping after him, and his childhood home in Dabu County is protected as a heritage site.
Tin Ka Ping was born in 1919 in the Hakka community of Dabu County, Meizhou, Guangdong Province.
[2] However, the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, and in June 1939 the Imperial Japanese Army occupied Shantou, the main port in eastern Guangdong, blocking the export route from Dabu.
To help fund his foundation, in 2001 he sold his house in Kowloon Tong that he and his wife had lived in for 37 years, and rented a 1,300-square-foot (120 m2) apartment.
[2] Tin had received numerous honours and awards in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Britain, for his contributions to public welfare.
[3] Tin's former home, the Gong Chen Building located in Yintan Village, Gaopo Town, is now protected as a heritage site by the government of Dabu County.
[7] With the belief that it was "better to bequeath virtue rather than wealth to one's children", Tin donated the vast majority of his assets to his charitable foundation.