284
CHOI CHI CHEUNG
14
13
defence. Thus, the 200 Hainanese were saved. He stayed in Vietnam for more than 40 years. He had a very good relationship with the French. He started many new businesses and expanded the old ones. Chinese and foreigners owed him more than a hundred million, but he just left and didn't ask (them to pay back). Within the 40 years, he helped and encouraged many people from his native place and his lineage, and he protected many Chinese in Vietnam. The French law was strict and the ignorant could be accused easily. However, they were released whenever he spoke out for them. Thus, all the Chinese in Vietnam felt very grateful to him and depended on him in many things. Moreover, he contributed a lot to the petitions presented to exempt the Associations(f) and the free cemeteries() from tax. These actions were all praised and well known.
In 1879, he was appointed by the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co.() to import rice into China (from Vietnam).1 Many famous diplomats, such as: Chung-hou( ), Kuo Sung-tao(#), Tseng Chi-tse(##), Shao yu-lien( ), Wang Chih-chun( 2), Hsieh Fu-cheng(# ), Lung Tien-yang(U), Huang Tsun-hsien(F) etc., wanted to know him, and relied on him as their host (when they passed through Vietnam).2 However, he was never arrogant, and he always treated them with great hospitality and respect.
On his 70th birthday, in 1888, his sons and grandsons celebrated it for him in Vietnam. Many officials and merchants came to the banquet. The French Government Offices(2), companies, schools, and mints(*) all raised flags to celebrate, and a holiday was given as if they were having their national celebration. At that time, the French Governor( t) awarded him a First Honoured Star(MSA) with a written citation." This excited the whole country, and everyone thought that it was a most honorific reward. However, he took it all casually.
He was filial and had a fraternal personality. The way he took care of his parents when living and at the time of their death was all according to the traditional ways. He lived with his brothers with fraternal love. He treated his nephews as if they were his sons. He liked to study, and even the old scholars could not equal what he wrote. Thus, his sons were well brought up, and succeeded in the official examinations." For himself, he, according to the Ch'ing regulations, donated money and got the title of Hua-ling-tao( = official ...)
284
CHOI CHI CHEUNG
14
13
defence. Thus, the 200 Hainanese were saved. He stayed in Viet- nam for more than 40 years. He had a very good relationship with the French. He started many new businesses and expanded the old ones. Chinese and foreigners owned him more than a hundred million, but he just left and didn't ask (them to pay back). Within the 40 years, he helped and encouraged many people from his native place and his lineage, and he protected many Chinese in Vietnam. The French law was strict and the ignorant could be accused easily. However, they were released whenever he spoke out for them. Thus, all the Chinese in Vietnam felt very grateful to him and depended on him in many things. Moreover, he contrib- uted a lot to the petitions presented to exempt the Associations (f) and the free cemeteries () from tax. These actions were all praised and well known. In 1879, he was appointed by the China Merchants Steam Navigation Co. () to im- port rice into China (from Vietnam).1 Many famous diplomats, such as: Chung-hou ( 7 ), Kuo Sung-tao (#), Tseng Chi- tse (##), Shao yu-lien ( ), Wang Chih-chun ( 2 ), Hsieh Fu-cheng (# ), Lung Tien-yang (U), Huang Tsun-hsien (F) etc., wanted to know him, and relied on him as their host (when they passed through Vietnam)." However, he was never arrogant, and he always treat- ed them with great hospitality and respect. On his 70th birthday, in 1888, his sons and grandsons celebrated it for him in Vietnam. Many officials and merchants came to the banquet. The French Government Offices(2), companies, schools, and mints (*) all raised flags to celebrate, and a holiday was given as if they were having their national celebration. At that time, the French Governor ( t ) awarded him a First Honoured Star (MSA) with a written citation." This excited the whole country, and everyone thought that it was a most honorific re- ward. However, he took it all casually. He was filial and had a fraternal personality. The way he took care of his parents when living and at the time of their death was all according to the tradi- tional ways. He lived with his brothers with fraternal love. He treated his nephews as if they were his sons. He liked to study, and even the old scholars could not equal what he wrote. Thus, his sons were well brought up, and succeeded in the official examina- tions." For himself, he, according to the Ch'ing regulations, do- nated money and got the title of Hua-ling-tao (
= official
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