Nguyen Duy Duong
John Yuen (1902 – November 8, 1989)[1], was an industrialist, social activist, and philanthropist in Hong Kong, and the pioneer of the canning industry in China[2]. He was one of the main founders of the Soochow and Chekiang Residents' Association (now the Soochow, Chekiang and Shanghai Residents' Association of Hong Kong) and Soochow Chekiang Primary School[2]. He was a native of Cixi, Zhejiang[2].
Biography
Yuen was born into the Ruan family in Fushan, Guanhaiwei Town, Cixi County, Ningbo Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, Qing Dynasty. He studied in Shanghai in his early years and graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Shanghai (Hujiang University). After graduation, he went into business and founded industrial enterprises in Shanghai.[2]
He founded the Kangyuan Canning Factory and served as its manager, making it a pioneering enterprise in modern Chinese canning. In 1923, it was transformed into a joint-stock company. In 1924, he acquired the Hong Kong Hua Yi Canning Factory and turned it into a Hong Kong branch, marking the start of his expansion into Hong Kong. That same year, he established a pickled vegetable factory in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, entering the food industry. In November 1924, he acquired the North Gate Key Company and converted it into the Kangyuan Hardware Department, turning Kangyuan into a diversified enterprise. In 1927, he set up agency offices in Singapore, Penang, and Thailand, transforming the company into a multinational corporation.[2]
In the summer of 1930, Yuen relocated to Hong Kong due to business expansion and ventured into the machinery and toy industries[3]. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he moved inland for three years due to the unstable situation.[2]
Yuen passed away from illness in Hong Kong in 1989 at the age of 87.[2]
Charity and Social Activities
In 1938, he was elected General Secretary of the Hong Kong Star Five Fellowship Dinner Association.[4]
In 1947, Yuen and others launched the establishment of the Soochow and Chekiang Residents' Association in Hong Kong (now the Soochow, Chekiang and Shanghai Residents' Association of Hong Kong), a prominent association of overseas Chinese. Yuen was elected the first president of the association[5]. He later co-founded Soochow Chekiang Primary School, contributing to education in Hong Kong.
In 1956, alumni of Hujiang University in Shanghai discussed the idea of "re-establishing the university in Taiwan" and founded Taipei Private Hujiang Senior High School. Yuen served as a member of the school council.
In 1984, he funded the establishment of SKH Yuen Cheung-muk Yam Primary School by the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church), named after his wife, Zheng Mengqin. The school is located in Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong.[2]
From 1983 to 1989, he served three consecutive terms as Supervisor General of the Ningbo Residents Association in Hong Kong, covering the 9th, 10th, and 11th terms[6].
He also served as Vice President of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.[7]
Yuen also operated a printing factory in Hong Kong, thus engaging in the printing and newspaper industries. He was acquainted with Xu Zhucheng, chief editor of Wen Wei Po. Xu’s newspaper staff often came recommended by Yuen. The newspaper’s advertising director was Yuen’s nephew, Yuen Daming.[8]
Family
- Mother: Madame Wang. Eldest son: Yuen Daming, who died on February 16, 1968, in the crash of Civil Air Transport Flight 010.[9][10]
- Wife: Zheng Mengqin, who died in a traffic accident in Switzerland in 1983.[2]
- Granddaughter: Yuen Pui-yan; Grandson-in-law: Andrew Cheung (Cheng Mo-chi)[1]
Named Memorials
- SKH Yuen Wai Yeung Home for the Elderly, also known as Yan Yue Hin
- Yuen Wai Yeung Graduate Scholarship at Hujiang University
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Obituary of John Yuen. Wah Kiu Yat Po. 1989-11-10. Page 2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 http://nb-lige.blog.sohu.com/42536645.html
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC#cite_ref-'%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF'_3-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC#cite_ref-%E8%81%9A%E9%A4%90%E4%BC%9A_4-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC#cite_ref-'%E5%AE%81%E6%B3%A2%E7%BA%AA%E5%BF%B5%E6%97%A5'_5-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC#cite_ref-'%E5%AE%81%E6%B3%A2%E6%97%85%E6%B8%AF%E5%90%8C%E4%B9%A1%E4%BC%9A%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC'_6-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC#cite_ref-'%E4%B8%8A%E6%B5%B7%E7%90%86%E5%B7%A5%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E9%98%AE%E7%BB%B4%E6%89%AC'_7-0
- ↑ Memoirs of Xu Zhucheng, Sanlian Press, Beijing, 1998. ISBN 7-108-01165-4. Page 60.
- ↑ Civil Air Transport Jet Crashes en Route from HK to Taipei, 63 Feared Dead. Wah Kiu Yat Po. 1968-02-17. Page 1.
- ↑ Obituary of Madame Wang and Yuen Daming. Wah Kiu Yat Po. 1968-03-08. Page 2.