Who is ho tung

Motivations ascribed by later historians range from patriotism to protection of business interests, as he has substantial investments in the Mainland by this time. With being in Hong Kong and an individual not involved in the conflict, he thought he could be the peacemaker. He thought he was in a strong enough position to stop the fighting and unite China. But who was going to be the leader? So he failed, mainly because of different interests.

Attends British Empire exhibition in London with Margaret and her silkworkers. Serves in the capacity of honorary commissioner. Meets Queen Mary. General strike causes economic upheavals and political problems with the involvement of Guangzhou. Robert Ho Tung pilloried by strikers but is absent from Hong Kong for much of the year. Featured as one of elite male personalities in the bilingual Biographies of Prominent Chinese , produced by American publishers in Shanghai for international distribution.

In legacies of the strike, buys Kung Sheung Daily News , a Chinese newspaper founded by the government and Chinese business elites during the boycott; and helps to rescue Kowloon Tong development project that gets into financial trouble. Members of the family subsequently live there. Son Robert Shai Lai acts as interpreter as his father does not speak Mandarin well. They are all attending a charity fund-raising opera when the Mukden Incident occurs.

Holds major celebration for the Golden Anniversary of marriage to Margaret in December. Rides in a Zeppelin on a sight-seeing tour over the capital with daughter Irene. Due to his poor health, he only drank sour milk and ate soft bread and soft rice, with some meat and fish, all in very small quantities. Then he had to lie down afterwards and all that rigmarole.

So he ate alone. My sister loved sweets so she would get these. I would get preserved prunes. He had a nice collection of things on his desk, such as paperweights, and I still have some that he gave me.

Cited in later press articles as an honorary advisor. Donates money for a plane for the Nationalist government and receives large photograph of Chiang. Invited to visit Nanking in May for an industrial exhibition and to discuss investment. Accompanied by son Edward and daughter Irene, meets Chiang Kai-shek. Donates money to various Nationalist causes. Family members are presented with a brooch featuring two golden peaches to symbolise longevity. Large-scale anniversary celebrations are held, with money raised going to war-related charities and other causes.

The event is reported to be the biggest event yet held at the Hong Kong Hotel. It is attended by dignitaries of all kinds and extends to 1, guests. The toast is proposed by the Governor Sir Mark Young. The Governor of Macau is also present. Goes to neutral Macau on 4 December to recover from the anniversary celebrations, just before the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong on 8 December.

Refuses to return despite entreaties by the Japanese. Thus, all of them did… except my father. My grandparents were extremely upset that one of their sons would not show up for such an event. Later, it turned out my father knew exactly when the Japanese attack was coming because he was working in cooperation with British intelligence at that time. All the Chinese government and higher-ups knew. But he could not tell us. He just did not show up.

My grandparents were so mad! My grandfather did not know the real story until after the war. Now, we all wonder. Why would he have to go to Macau to rest? Could he have known? And the only person who could have told him was my father. But, if that was the case, why were my grandparents so mad about my father not returning for the anniversary? But as he happened to be there, he stayed during the occupation of Hong Kong. The Japanese actually went to Macau to ask him to come back.

He later left for England, where he became naturalised in Rumours persist that Hotung may have been an illegitimate son of William Keswick, chairman of Jardines in Hong Kong from to He was educated at Queen's College, previously known as the Central School. In , he returned to Hong Kong and joined the dominant British-owned trading company Jardine Matheson as an assistant in the compradore department.

His bilingual skills and business acumen eventually propelled him to become Head Compradore, a position he held until his retirement in Although he was of mixed parentage, Hotung considered himself Chinese, a fact reflected in his sartorial preference.

Hotung's instrumental role in mediating a strike in Guangzhou and Hong Kong[9] earned him an exemption from the Ordinance from then governor Sir Cecil Clementi in Sun Yat-sen to establish the Republic of China. As a millionaire with significant influence in the colony, he heavily emphasized to the British in the early Colonial Hong Kong era that no part of the Chinese demographics was purely indigenous.

He was knighted in and He had 13 sons, five of whom worked as compradores for various foreign companies. One of Ho Fook's grandsons is Stanley Ho, the casino and shipping magnate. Ho Kom-tong — , a younger brother, was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who succeeded Ho Fook as Head Compradore at Jardine Matheson.

Sun Yat-sen Museum. Marriage Robert Hotung had two wives. Subsequently, Hotung adopted Ho Fook's first son, Ho Wing, following Chinese tradition, and then took a second wife in Progeny Hotung's eldest son, Edward Hotung — , became a prominent banker and philanthropist in Hong Kong. In , he fell dangerously ill from overwork and his weight fell to less than 60 pounds. He was confined to bed for over a year but Cheung nursed him through this crisis, caring for him night and day and reciting Buddhist scriptures.

Ho Tung also founded the Chinese Club, which he set up in response to the Hong Kong Club, a colonial institution which did not admit non-white members. Other members of the family were just as productive. His brother Ho Fook had 13 sons, of whom five worked as compradors for foreign companies. One of his grandsons is Stanley Ho, the Macao casino and shipping magnate. Another brother, Ho Kom-tong, had 12 wives and more than 30 children. One of them was the mother of Kung Fu star Bruce Lee.

After enjoying considerable success in business in Asia and other parts of the world, in his twilight years, Ho Tung devoted much of his time and money to charity and education. The first Tung Wah hospital was established in , providing free Chinese medical services to the sick and the poor.

Among a slew of awards, he was knighted by King George V of Britain in and decorated by the Portuguese government in He died on 26 April in Hong Kong, aged 93, and was greatly mourned. He was equally at home in the strict rituals of both the Qing government and the British aristocracy. A man for all seasons: Sir Robert Ho Tung. By Mark O'Neill. Built to last The library was his largest gift to Macao. Knight of the realm Sir Robert Ho Tung After enjoying considerable success in business in Asia and other parts of the world, in his twilight years, Ho Tung devoted much of his time and money to charity and education.