HO KAI. SIR KAI
Recently, mention was made of the public spirit of Dr. Ho Kai, who inspired the erection of the Alice Memorial Hospital and was also a leading light in the founding of the Hongkong College of Medicine and later of the University. This remarkable Chinese gentleman deserves fuller mention: he was both a physician and a barrister-at-law, and was later knighted.
Young Ho Kai went to Britain from Hongkong to further his studies, and soon proved his great scholarship, gaining the following qualifications in due course - Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery, at the University of Aberdeen; Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England; and Barrister-at-law, being called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn on February 1, 1882, attaining the distinctions of Senior Scholar in Real and Personal Property.
He returned to the Colony in 1882, being admitted to practise here on March 29 that year. At a meeting of the Legislative Council held on February 7 just after Dr. Ho Kai had been called to the Bar, the Governor, Sir John Hennessy, referred to the young man, and in the course of his remarks said that "Mr. Ho Kai in opposition to members of various Universities had passed his examinations at Lincoln's Inn. It was something that a gentleman belonging to the Colony should have gained such honours."
It was immediately prior to the opening of the Criminal Sessions on March 29 following, that on the application of the Attorney-General, Mr. E.L. O'Malley, the young Chinese was admitted to practise as a barrister in the Hongkong Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, Mr. George Phillippo, on behalf of himself and Mr. Justice Snowden, welcomed Dr. Ho Kai, commenting on the distinctions he had gained, and expressing extreme pleasure in welcoming a Chinese resident who had acquitted himself so successfully. His Lordship said he also thought that the other gentlemen of the Bar would feel the same sentiments.
Dr. Ho Kai soon associated himself with a number of public activities, and was a prominent member of the Po Leung Kuk, being one of the directors who was present at the laying of the foundation stone of the newly-erected home for women and girls on January 18, 1896. Prior to that, it might be noted, the Po Leung Kuk home had, for seventeen years, been temporarily accommodated in the Tung Wah Hospital. However, Dr. Ho Kai had already gained other local distinctions, and in 1888 had been offered the post of acting Police Magistrate, but declined it, Mr. (now Sir) Henry Pollock subsequently taking up the post, on September 18. This would have been the first appointment of a Chinese as a Magistrate in Hongkong; though Dr. Ho Kai's refusal is not explained in the chronicles, which merely state that he declined it after consideration.
He was not long afterwards (in March, 1890) selected for representative office, as a member of the Legislative Council, having already placed himself at the head of the Chinese community: in May, 1887, he headed a Chinese deputation consisting of leading residents, who waited upon the Governor to express their views on the Public Health Bill, then before the Government, and request more time to consider certain of its provisions.
He was a most successful Councillor, and on the expiration of his term of office, in March, 1896, was re-appointed a member of the Legislative Council.