Chan Kai-ming

Chan Kai-ming (1859 – 11 December 1919) was a Hong Kong businessman and member of the Sanitary Board and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.

Biography

Chan was born in Hong Kong and was educated at the Diocesan Boys' School and the Government Central School (today's Queen's College) and became Morrison scholar and pupil teacher after graduation. He was later appointed third clerk in the Magistracy and received only a small pension from the Hong Kong government.^[1]

His began his fortune when he joined the opium farms which then existed in Hong Kong. He later became managing director of the Tai Yau Opium Farm. By the time the government took over the monopoly, Chan had already become a millionaire. At the time of his death, he was managing director of Gande, Price & Co., partner of the Tai Yau Bank, director of the East Asia Bank, Chung Kwong Co. and Hong Kong Mercantile Co. and became one of the richest men in Hong Kong.^[1]

He was appointed member of the District Watchmen's Committee and was a member of the Permanent Chinese Cemetery Committee in Aberdeen and also the Chinese Public Dispensaries Committee.^[2] He was the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital and member of the Po Leung Kuk. He was also member of the Court of the University of Hong Kong and several scholarships bore his name.^[2]

He was made Justice of the Peace and was subsequently appointed Sanitary Board member from April 1912 for three terms, becoming the senior unofficial member until his death in 1919. After the First World War, he was member of the general committee for the Peace Celebrations.^[2] He acted as member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong during the absence on leave of Lau Chu-pak in 1918 .^[1]

Chan was in difficult heart problem during his last days of his life. His caught a cold his travel to Peking for a holiday as the suggestion of his doctor and died at his residence at 16 Caine Road on 11 December 1919, leaving five daughters and two sons.^[1]

References