Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/192

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TWENTIETH CENTURY IMPRESSIONS OF HONGKONG, SHANGHAI, ETC.

now holds the responsible position of compradore in charge of the Chinese staff and business. He is a liberal supporter of local charities, and his services in years gone by have been given to the committees of the Tung Wah Hospital and of the Po Leung Kuk.

MR. CHUN TONG, also known as Mr. Chun Chik Yu, has been compradore to the historic firm of Douglas Lapraik, now known as the Douglas Steamship Company, since 1889. A native of the Hungshan district of China, he was one of the first Chinese students to proceed to America for the completion of his education, his father, Mr. Chun Fong, being at that time Consul for China at the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. Chun Tong is assisted as compradore of the Douglas Company by his brother, Mr. Chun Keng Yue, who takes a very active part in shipping matters in the Colony. Mr. Chun Tong was formerly a member of the Tung Wah Hospital committee, but of recent years has devoted his time almost exclusively to commercial matters. He and his brother have been prominently connected with the Canton-Hankow Railway line, and have fought on the side of the merchants of the Colony throughout the quarrel which has taken place during the past two years or so regarding that much-talked-of project. Mr. Chun Keng Yue is this year vice-president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The eldest son of Mr. Chun Tong is Mr. Chun Wing Sen, who is at present a student in America, where he is making excellent progress, having passed his preliminary course some four years under the ordinary term. Whilst at the High School in Hartford, Connecticut, he displayed no little literary ability, and for some time edited the School Chronicle.

MR. IP SHUN KAM.—The position of compradore to the Hongkong branch of the firm of Messrs. Reiss & Co. is held by Mr. Ip Shun Kam, who comes of a family which has been connected with the firm for upwards of fifty years. His father, Mr. Ip Kiu Shek, was compradore to the firm at Canton in the early days of the famous "factory sites," whilst his uncle, Mr. Ip Chuk Kai, held a similar position in the Hongkong branch. Mr. Ip Shun Kam, who is also known as Mr. Ip Tung, received an English education at Queen's College. On leaving that institution he joined his uncle as an assistant, and in course of time succeeded him as compradore. He is a member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and of the Chinese Club.

MR. CHOW HING KI, the compradore to the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, has lived in the Colony for about thirty years, and, during most of that time, has been connected with shipping. He received an English education at Queen's College, and, on leaving that establishment, started business with a shipping firm styled the Wo-kee Company. In those days he also looked after the Nyko Chinese business at this port, and when this Japanese firm opened a branch here became their compradore, in which position he is now assisted by Mr. Chun Yui Tong. Mr. Chow Hing Ki has been connected with the Nippon Yusen Kaisha for over fifteen years. He is a member of the consulting committee of the China Provident Loan and Mortgage Company, Ltd., for which Messrs. Shewan, Tomes & Co., are the local managers. Although his time is too fully occupied now to allow of participation in public affairs, he served formerly on the committee of the Po Leung Kuk. He is an influential and respected member of the Chinese mercantile community.

MR. CHING KING SIN, compradore to the important German house of Messrs. Carlowitz & Co., is a son of Mr. Ching Kong Kin, a merchant and trader, resident in the Colony for about forty years. Upon completing his education at St. Joseph's College, Mr. Ching King Sin entered the firm of Messrs. Carlowitz & Co., and about a year ago he was promoted to his present position, in which he is responsible for the whole of the Chinese staff and the Chinese business of the firm. Mr. Ching King Sin is a member of the Chinese Club.

THE LATE LI SING.
LI TSZ MING.
LI PO LUNGLI PO CHUNG.

THE BROTHERS LI are the sons of Mr. Li Sing, for many years one of Hongkong's best known merchants, who died on May 8, 1900, leaving property valued at upwards of six million dollars to be divided between his eight sons. He was the descendant of an old family—coming from the town of San Wui, in Kwangtung. His speculations were very successful, and his generosity was proportionately great. He was one of the founders