PREFACE
This "Who's Who in China" does not contain the biographies of all of the best men in the Republic of China, but it does attempt to give the names of most of the best known men in the country.
Persons familiar with China, upon glancing through this book will say, "How did he get in?" Others will say, "Why is so-and-so not included in a book of this kind?" We answer, both of these questions by saying that we have done the best we could, knowing that there may be names in the book which might have been omitted and that there are many persons in China whose names should have been included.
Practically all of these pictures and biographies have appeared originally in the pages of the China Weekly Review during the past eight years. We have tried to bring them all up to date, but this has constituted a serious problem in view of the frequent internal political changes which always play havoc with biographical sketches. The civil war of September, 1924, forced the revision of many of the biographies and delayed for several months the publication of this volume.
"How did the publishers of the China Weekly Review obtain these biographical sketches?" This is a question which many will ask and a reply is in order: First, most of those in official life were obtained from records in Peking and in this connection we desire to acknowledge the services of Messrs. H. K. Tong and William Stephen Wong of Peking and Tientsin. Then about two years ago we advertised in the pages of the China Weekly Review asking our readers to recommend the names of persons in various parts of the country whose biographies should be included in a book of this kind. This brought in a considerable number, especially men who had achieved reputation in business and the professions.
Then about a year ago, owning to the attention which has been devoted to the Returned Students and their place in modern Chinese Society, it was suggested that we include the names and biographies of the alumni of Tsing Hua College of Peking, otherwise the names and information regarding the Chinese men and women who have studied in the United States through the school in Peking which was established as a result of the first remission of the American share of the Chinese Boxer Indemnity. This list was complied by Mr. C. T. Tsai, Alumni Secretary through the courtesy of Dr. Y. S. Tsao, President of the institution.
We invite suggestions for the further improvement of this book, especially corrections which should be made in the biographical sketches appearing in this volume, as well as the names of persons which should be included in the next edition.
Shanghai, June 1, 1925.
