portrait of Hong Kong comprador Tong Lai Chuen, Holland-China Trading Company, ca. 1908

Sun, 02/03/2019 - 04:14

Dear reader,

With thanks to gwulo member chinarail the identity of the man in the photo has been established: MR. TONG LAI CHUEN, J.P.

I expected to find photos and information on Google or Gwulo related to the photographer Yim Fong. Do you know more about him?

Thank you for your help!

Kind regards,

Pieter Lommerse

Source: This image came from Flickr, see https://flickr.com/photo.gne?id=39997363593

Date picture taken

1908

Comments

Identity of the Chinese man in this portrait

The portrait is of Tong Lai Chuen J.P. ( a.k.a. Tong Yuk, a.k.a. Tong Lai-ts'un ] who was compradore in Hong Kong of Holland-China Trading Company. The photograph must have been taken in 1908 or earlier. For more information :-

1. See pages 178 and 180 in "Twentieth Centrury Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai Etc. ", published in 1908. An identical portrait appears in this book.

The text reads : MR. TONG LAI CHUEN, J.P., who occupies the post of compradore to the Holland-China Trading Company, is a native of the Hungshan district of China. His father, a well-known merchant both in that district and in the neighbouring Portuguese Colony of Macao, was for many years connected with the Yun Loong tea hong of the latter place. Mr. Tong Lai Chuen has resided in Hongkong for upwards of thirty-three years, and during that time has been actively connected with several companies. Before joining the Holland-China Trading Company as head of the Chinese department, he was compradore to the firm of Messrs. Petit & Co., Bombay merchants. He occupies a prominent place among his fellow countrymen, and has always been to the fore in charitable movements. On several occasions he has been on the committees of the Tung Wah Hospital and the Po Leung Kuk, and in 1906 was elected a member of the Typhoon Fund committee. To the District Watchmen's committee his assistance has been invaluable. His interest in public affairs led to his appointment as a Justice of the Peace for the Colony some three years ago. He is the owner of a considerable amount of landed property in the Colony, including his residence, Nos. 67 and 69, Wyndham Street. He has a large family. Most of his sons are still at school.

2. Further information about his naturalization as a British Subject ( under Ordinance No. 8 of 1898) also appears on this website:

http://hongkongsfirst.blogspot.com/2012/05/british-subjects-within-confines-of.html