Wu Hanchi
Ng Hon‑tsz[1] JP (also known as Ng Shang‑ping; 1877 – 11 April 1923) was a Hong Kong merchant and politician. In June 1922 he was appointed an unofficial member of the Legislative Council but died in office ten months later.
Biography
Early life
Ng Hon‑tsz was born in 1877 in Hong Kong and educated at Queen’s College. He began his career in the trading house Nan Pak Hong as English secretary and manager, and later operated two silk shops in Guangzhou.[2] [3][4]After the closure of the Banque de l’Indochine branch in 1911 he joined the British firm Shewan, Tomes & Co. as compradore. He subsequently founded Hon Tse Company to engage in import‑export trade.
Public service
In 1907–1908 Ng served as Principal Director of Tung Wah Hospital, and in 1909–1910 he was President of Po Leung Kuk. From November 1909 until November 1918 he was a magistrate of the Sanitary Board, and from 1910 until his death he served as magistrate of the District Watchmen Board. In April 1911 he became a founding member of the University of Hong Kong’s governing board. In June 1913 he helped establish the Chinese Permanent Cemetery Management Committee. After the First World War, in February 1919 he served on the Peace Celebration Committee. In 1922 he supported the founding of Tsan Yuk Hospital in Sai Ying Pun.
In June 1922 Ng was appointed by the Governor to the Legislative Council to succeed the late Mr Lau Chuk‑pok. As a council member he also served ex officio as a director of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. He participated in mediating the 1922 seamen’s strike and, alongside Senior Unofficial Member Chau Sau‑chuen, opposed government proposals to register and immediately suppress domestic servants.
Death
On 11 April 1923 Ng Hon‑tsz died suddenly at his residence at 62 Caine Road, reportedly from heart disease, after a brief illness. His funeral on 17 April drew large crowds; the procession, led by a traditional Chinese ceremonial escort and a 30‑man pallbearer party, was accompanied by the King’s Regimental Band. He was buried in the Hong Kong Chinese Permanent Cemetery.
Personal life
Ng Hon‑tsz was a devout Christian. He was married and had one son, Ng Kan‑sang, and several daughters.
Honours
- Justice of the Peace (JP), appointed March 1909
- Imperial titles (awarded by Qing dynasty): Ts̄eh‑chih Ta‑fu; Hou‑hou Tao
- Order of Chia‑ho, Third Class (Republic of China)
References
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8D%E6%BC%A2%E5%A2%80#cite_ref-TWG_1-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8D%E6%BC%A2%E5%A2%80#cite_ref-cheng_2-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8D%E6%BC%A2%E5%A2%80#cite_ref-death_3-0
- ↑ https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8D%E6%BC%A2%E5%A2%80#cite_ref-wright_4-0
Further reading
- Wright, Arnold (ed.), Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and Other Treaty Ports of China, London, 1908.
- Berwin, A. W., Reports of the Registrar General, Hong Kong Government, 1910–1911.
- Gibson, A., Medical and Sanitary Reports for the Year 1918, Hong Kong Government, 1919.
- King, Gordon, "The History of Tsan Yuk Hospital, 1922–1955", Bulletin of the Hong Kong Chinese Medical Association, July 1956.
- Legislative Council, Official Report of Proceedings, 1923.
- Cheng, T. C., "Chinese Unofficial Members of the Legislative and Executive Councils in Hong Kong up to 1941", Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 9, 1969.