Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/195

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TWENTIETH CENTURY IMPRESSIONS OF HONGKONG, SHANGHAI, ETC.
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beautiful residence, and his bungalow at Kowloon; the Kowloon Waterworks; Tytam Reservoir and Waterworks; two-thirds of the Praya Reclamation (the foundation stone of which was laid by the Duke of Connaught); the Military Batteries at Stonecutter's Island, the Central and South Batteries; Gap Rock Lighthouse; the Taikoo Ship Yard; Causeway Bay Breakwater; the Aberdeen Paper Works and Waterworks; the Wanchai Gap Waterworks; the Steam Laundry; the Ice House; the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Companies' premises; the Water Police Station, Kowloon; No. 1 Dock, Hongkong Dock Company; the Time Ball at Kowloon; and the Oil Tanks and Powder Magazine. Mr. Tsang King is the sole owner of a great block of godowns at Kennedy Town, erected by his own firm and having a storage capacity of 200,000 feet. In the management of his extensive business he is now assisted by three of his sons, the eldest Tsang Loi Chiu, being at present in charge of the Kowloon Waterworks construction. Tsang Kee and Tsang Ping are helping in other ways.

MR. SIN TAK FAN.—Hard work and honest endeavour, followed by steady and well-earned promotion, is, in brief, the record of Mr. Sin Tak Fan. Born on December 20, 1856, he was educated at the Government Central School (now Queen's College) under Dr. Frederick Stewart, and, while there, carried off many prizes, including the Smith Prize for translation and handwriting. Having finished his scholastic course, he was appointed an assistant teacher, and continued in that capacity until 1878, when he was transferred to the Registrar-General's Department as fourth clerk. Later on, he was promoted to be acting first clerk and interpreter. Leaving the service in 1880, he received an appointment with the legal firm of Messrs. Stephens & Holmes as chief clerk and translating interpreter. In 1882 he again improved his position by joining Mr. Creasy Ewens as managing clerk and interpreter. Messrs. Ewens & Harston, as the firm is now styled, are among the leading solicitors in the Colony, and Mr. Sin Tak Fan is a well-known figure in legal circles. He has been twice married, and has eight sons and seven daughters. He is president of the Hongkong Chinese Club for the third time, and is, also, a member of the Man Ming Club, which was founded in 1904 by some local Chinese merchants and scholars for the promotion of social intercourse and the improvement of intellectual and moral discipline.

MR. WONG LAI-SANG.—By perseverance and keen business instincts Mr. Wong Lai-Sang has gained not only a comfortable position for himself but a good reputation among both Europeans and Chinese. A native of Hongkong, he was born in 1863 and was educated at the Central School. He joined the Great Northern Telegraph Company, Shanghai, as an operator in 1880, and remained with the company for nine years. Subsequently he entered the service of the Public Works Department, Hongkong, and, after twelve years' experience, accepted the position of managing clerk to Mr. E. M. Hazeland, an architect. This position he still occupies, and at the same time carries out the duties of managing partner of the Tai Kwong Company, who do a large business in gasoline lamps. He is married to a sister of Mr. Chan Kai Ming, secretary to the Opium Farm, Hongkong, and has one son, who, thanks to his father's clear realisation of the advantages which follow upon such an equipment, has been given a thoroughly sound English education.