TAIPEI - THE head of a leading Taiwanese hi-tech company Friday made the single largest donation here of 15 billion Taiwan dollars (S$668 million) as part of his pledge to donate most of his assets to charity.

'I am very happy to have the chance to collaborate with the National Taiwan University, to do something for Taiwan's medical and bio-tech sectors,' Hon Hai group chairman Terry Gou said at a signing ceremony.

Most of the money will be used to build a hospital specialising in treating cancer, according to the university.

Mr Gou, 58, lost his first wife and a younger brother to cancer in recent years.

The tycoon, whose wealth is estimated at around 173 billion Taiwan dollars, pledged in July to donate billions of dollars to charity, following the example of US software mogul Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett.

Mr Gou built up his empire from scratch and is ranked by the US magazine Forbes as Taiwan's third richest man, with a net worth of US$6 billion.

Local media estimate he has donated nearly 20 billion Taiwan dollars in recent years, including 270 million to China for relief work following the devastating Sichuan earthquake in May.

The Hon Hai group's flagship company, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, is the world's largest contract manufacturer in the electronics sector.

The company makes a wide range of products - from mobile phones to personal computers and consumer gadgets - for companies such as Dell, Nokia and Sony. -- AFP