SINGAPORE (Oct 8): The Kwek/Quek family from Singapore and Malaysia is the sixth-richest in Asia, with combined wealth of US$18.9 billion ($27.1 billion), according to the inaugural Forbes ranking of Asia's 50 wealthiest dynasties.

At the top of the leader board is the Lee family of Samsung Group, which has a combined wealth of US$26.6 billion.

Taking second spot is the Lee family of Henderson Land Development from Hong Kong with a combined wealth of US$24.1 billion.

Nearer to home, the Kweks in Singapore and their cousins, the Queks in Malaysia, own and manage the Hong Leong Group founded by Kwek Hong Png and his three brothers. The diversified conglomerate has assets of US$28 billion with interests in hotels, financial services, consumer and industrial-goods trading. Kwek's eldest son, Kwek Leng Beng, manages the Singapore operations.

"Nearly half of the richest families in Asia are of Chinese descent, but none of them is based in mainland China, where conglomerates are young and run by first generations. Families from India hold 14 of the 50 spots, easily the most from any jurisdiction," notes Forbes.

To qualify for a ranking, a family's wealth and participation in building that fortune has to extend to at least three generations and the minimum combined net wealth cut-off is US$2.9 billion.

For the full list, please see www.forbes.com/asia-families