Hong Kong's richest people Li Ka-shing ranks 10th with a net worth of US$18.8 billion on the 2006 list of the world's billionaires released Thursday by Forbes magazine, Hong Kong media reported Friday.

Of the 17 billionaires from Hong Kong on the list, brothers Kwok Ping-sheung and Kwok Ping-kwong of Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd rank 35th with a net worth of US$11.6 billion. Lee Shau-kee, majority owner of Handerson Land Development, ranks 37th with a net worth of US$11 billion.

Five China's Taiwan entrepreneurs have also been included on the 2006 list.

Of the five Taiwanese on the list, Formosa Plastics Group Chairman Wang Yung-ching ranks 107th with a net worth of US$5.4 billion. Hon Hai Precision Chairman Terry Guo ranks 147th with a net worth of US$4.3 billion. Fubon Group Chairman Tsai Wan-tsai and family rank 207th with a net worth of US$3.3 billion. Via Technologies Inc. Chairwoman Cher Wang and her husband, the company's president Chen Wen-chi, ranks 365th with a net worth of US$2.1 billion. Quanta Computer Chairman Barry Lam ranks 486th with a net worth of US$1.6 billion.

A total of 115 billionaires are from the Asia-Pacific region, with Japan having the largest number at 28. The number of those from Chinese mainland has increased from only two last year to eight this year.  

Meanwhile, India has seen the birth of 10 new billionaires thisyear, bringing the country's total number to 23.

Microsoft President Bill Gates remains atop the list with a net worth of US$50 billion. Berkshire Hathaway's chairman Warren buffet follows Gates with a net worth of US$42 billion. Mexican telecommunication giant Carlos sim Helu ranks third with a net worth of US$30 billion.

A record 793 billionaires worth a combined US$2.6 trillion are on this year's list.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2006)