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One foreign resident who knew Loo King said his presence had much to do with keeping people of better character from settling or even visiting Hongkong.
The Rev. George Smith, later to be the first Bishop of Hong-kong, after his visit to the family house of A-king in 1844, claimed that his host "is said to encourage disreputable characters by the loan of money, and in various ways to reap the proceeds of profligacy and crime."
It was alleged that he had interests in pirate vessels, financing their operations and disposing of their stolen goods. The charge was never proved, but it was generally believed.
As the original conditions of the settlement changed, the power of Loo King waned and a leadership emerged that was not based on vice and criminal connections.
A-king was still an important figure in 1847, for in that year he and Tam A-tsoi were the principals in the erection of the Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road.
Tam A-tsoi's fortune was initially based on his construction business, though he soon branched out into numerous other profitable enterprises.
While his fortunes were on the rise, those of Loo King were headed for decline. The one-time "king" of the Lower Bazaar was declared bankrupt in 1855. Respectability was winning the battle for control of community affairs.
A new type of leadership based on solid business activities was emerging out of the rag-bag elements making up the first Chinese settlers in British Hongkong.
The fact that Loo King not long after his arrival in Hongkong had built a small temple in the Lower Bazaar, and in 1847 joined Tam A-tsoi in building the much more impressive Man Mo Temple, suggests that he wished to establish respectability for himself as a patron of the people.
190
One foreign resident who knew Loo King said his presence had much to do with keeping people of better character from settling or even visiting Hongkong.
The Rev. George Smith, later to be the first Bishop of Hong- kong, after his visit to the family house of A-king in 1844, claimed that his host "is said to encourage disreputable characters by the loan of money, and in various ways to reap the proceeds of profli- gacy and crime."
It was alleged that he had interests in pirate vessels, financing their operations and disposing of their stolen goods. The charge was never proved, but it was generally believed.
As the original conditions of the settlement changed, the power of Loo King waned and a leadership emerged that was not based on vice and criminal connections.
A-king was still an important figure in 1847, for in that year he and Tam A-tsoi were the principals in the erection of the Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road.
Tam A-tsoi's fortune was initially based on his construction business, though he soon branched out into numerous other prof- itable enterprises.
While his fortunes were on the rise, those of Loo King were headed for decline. The one-time "king" of the Lower Bazaar was declared bankrupt in 1855. Respectability was winning the battle for control of community affairs.
A new type of leadership based on solid business activities was emerging out of the rag-bag elements making up the first Chinese settlers in British Hongkong.
The fact that Loo King not long after his arrival in Hongkong had built a small temple in the Lower Bazaar, and in 1847 joined Tam A-tsoi in building the much more impressive Man Mo Tem- ple, suggests that he wished to establish respectability for himself as a patron of the people.
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