Chow Shouson
Encyclopedia
Sir Shouson Chow (Chinese:
周壽臣爵士) (1861–1959) was a Hong Kong
-born businessman. He had been a Qing Dynasty
official and also a notable figure in the Government of Hong Kong
.
. Little Hong Kong was a walled village
with surname Chow
(周). His father was compradore of the Canton
-based Canton and Hong Kong Steamship Company. His grandfather was the head of Little Hong Kong, who helped Charles Elliot
posting first official proclamation of Hong Kong Island
in 1841. He had a son, named Chow Yat-Kwong.
from Qing in 1870s, Chow studied at Phillips Academy, Andover (class of 1880) and Columbia University
. After his graduation he worked in the Qing government.
In 1881 he joined the Korean Customs Service under Yuan Shikai
in Korea
. Later he was the president of Tientsin China Merchant Steam Navigation Company, Tientsin from 1897 to 1903, and the managing director of Peking-Mukden Railway in Imperial Chinese Railways of North China between 1903 and 1907.
He was the Customs and Trade Superintendent and Counselor for Foreign Affairs in Newchwang between 1907 to 1910. During this period he was promoted Mandarin of the Second Rank. He left government after the 1911 Revolution and became directors of various companies.
in Hong Kong in 1907. In 1918, he founded Bank of East Asia
with 3 Chinese partners where he was the Chairman of director board from 1925 to 1929. In 1922 he was appointed the member of Sanitary Board, the precursor of Urban Council, and Legislative Council
, where he served until 1931. In 1926, he became the first Chinese member of Executive Council
and was knighted. In 1933 he earned an honorary Doctorate of Laws
.
During Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong
, Chow and other Chinese leading figures joined a Chinese association founded by Japanese military
to manage the order of Chinese population. They did not suffer from punishment after the return of British rule.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
周壽臣爵士) (1861–1959) was a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
-born businessman. He had been a Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
official and also a notable figure in the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
.
Family
Chow was born in "Little Hong Kong", a Cantonese village in north of present-day Shouson HillShouson Hill
Shouson Hill is a hill on the coast of Deep Water Bay east of Wong Chuk Hang on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is also an upmarket residential area located just to the north of the hill...
. Little Hong Kong was a walled village
Walled villages of Hong Kong
Once common throughout China, walled villages can still be found in southern China and Hong Kong. Most of the walled villages in Hong Kong are located in the New Territories...
with surname Chow
Zhou (surname)
Zhōu is the Hanyu Pinyin transliteration of the Chinese family name 周, which now ranks as the 10th most common surname in Mainland China. It has been one of the ten most common surnames in China since the Yuan Dynasty....
(周). His father was compradore of the Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
-based Canton and Hong Kong Steamship Company. His grandfather was the head of Little Hong Kong, who helped Charles Elliot
Charles Elliot
Sir Charles Elliot, KCB , was a British naval officer, diplomat, and colonial administrator. He became the first administrator of Hong Kong in 1841 while serving as both Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China...
posting first official proclamation of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
in 1841. He had a son, named Chow Yat-Kwong.
Career
Among the third group of Chinese overseas students in United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Qing in 1870s, Chow studied at Phillips Academy, Andover (class of 1880) and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. After his graduation he worked in the Qing government.
In 1881 he joined the Korean Customs Service under Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Later he was the president of Tientsin China Merchant Steam Navigation Company, Tientsin from 1897 to 1903, and the managing director of Peking-Mukden Railway in Imperial Chinese Railways of North China between 1903 and 1907.
He was the Customs and Trade Superintendent and Counselor for Foreign Affairs in Newchwang between 1907 to 1910. During this period he was promoted Mandarin of the Second Rank. He left government after the 1911 Revolution and became directors of various companies.
Services in Hong Kong
He was appointed a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Hong Kong in 1907. In 1918, he founded Bank of East Asia
Bank of East Asia
The Bank of East Asia Limited often abbreviated to BEA, is the largest independent local bank and the third largest bank in Hong Kong. Its chairman and chief executive is Sir David Li...
with 3 Chinese partners where he was the Chairman of director board from 1925 to 1929. In 1922 he was appointed the member of Sanitary Board, the precursor of Urban Council, and Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
, where he served until 1931. In 1926, he became the first Chinese member of Executive Council
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
and was knighted. In 1933 he earned an honorary Doctorate of Laws
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
.
During Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
, Chow and other Chinese leading figures joined a Chinese association founded by Japanese military
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
to manage the order of Chinese population. They did not suffer from punishment after the return of British rule.