Stanley Ho’s 2nd Wife Lucina Laam, Who Married The Late Casino King When She Was 14, Dies From Cancer At 79

Lucina Laam, late casino tycoon Stanley Ho’s second wife, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was 79.

According to reports, Lucina passed away on June 11 at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, where she had been hospitalised for the past year.

Her condition deteriorated about a week ago and was sent to the intensive care unit.

Lucina married Stanley when she was 14

Lucina, who was the daughter of a Chinese soldier, met Stanley at a ball in the ‘50s.

In 1957, when she was just 14, Stanley took her as his second wife while still married to first wife, Clementina Leitão, a practice made possible under a Qing Dynasty law that allowed polygamy in Hongkong. Polygamy was eventually outlawed in 1971. 

The couple shared a passion for ballroom dancing and was once dubbed “dancing king and queen”. Lucina often accompanied Stanley to social gatherings and charity events.

Lucina and Stanley at daughter, singer Josie Ho's wedding in 2003.

Lucina is survived by five kids, Pansy, Daisy, Maisy, Josie, and Lawrence.

With the exception of Josie, who is a singer, all her kids ended up following in their father’s entrepreneurial footsteps and are well-known figures in society.

Pansy, who is the second richest woman in Hongkong with a net worth of estimated fortune of HK$31.8bil (S$6bil), took over the reins of her father’s empire after his death.

She was previously married to tycoon Julian Hui, who is now married to former actress Michelle Reis.

Photos: SCMP, Apple Daily, PBE Media