The late “Benz Hung” Hui Shiu-hung might be best known in Hong Kong for his supporting roles in TV dramas and films over the past five decades, but his family came to play pivotal roles in China’s modern development.

With celebrities and the public mourning Hui, who died on Tuesday at the age of 76 due to multiple organ failure caused by cancer, some also recalled his family’s colourful history.

In an interview published last year, Hui revealed his ancestor was Xu Baiting, the most significant among Guangzhou’s four major salt merchants in the 19th century.

Salt was essential to life in ancient China. Apart from being used for flavouring and preserving food, it was also used as a crucial ingredient in gunpowder.

During the Qing dynasty, influential salt merchants were also given a monopoly over the trade.

While Xu made a fortune in the trade, he also helped combat pirates with his self-funded naval forces, earning him awards and the government’s respect.