[
    {
        "id": 206293,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1971",
        "page_number": 110,
        "title": "RAS-1971",
        "content_text": "104\n\nCARL T. SMITH\n\nimposture and contemptible impudence\". He later was part of Chan Lai Tau's ambassadorial staff at Washington, and upon his return to China in 1882, he promoted the organization of the Canton and Hong Kong Telegraph Company.38\n\nAssociated with Ho Shan Chee in the Telegraph Company was a kinsman, Ho Kwan Shan (何崑珊) alias Ho Amei (何阿美),†Œ4 the Secretary of the On Tai Insurance Company in Hong Kong. Ho Kwan Shan had been educated at Dr. Legge's Anglo-Chinese College in Hong Kong, being a schoolmate of the sons of Ho Asun. Upon completing his education, Ho Kwan Shan joined his elder brother, Ho Low Yuk (何陸玉) in Australia in 1858. From Australia in 1865 he went to New Zealand to arrange for the importation of the first Chinese laborers to New Zealand. Returning to Australia, he served for a time as interpreter at Ballarat, Victoria. In 1868 he came back to Hong Kong. Here he became a clerk in the Registrar General's Office. Later he became interested in developing mines on Lan Tau Island as well as at other places in Kwang Tung Province.39\n\nThe most prominent of the Ho clan, however, was the family of Ho Tsun Shin (何遵善) or as he was better known in Christian circles, Ho Fuk Tong (何福堂).† His father had been a block cutter for the press of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca. Ho Fuk Tong joined him there and became a student at the College. He showed scholastic aptitude and for a time accompanied the son of the senior missionary at the Malacca Station to India for advanced study. Upon the arrival of the Rev. James Legge at the Mission, a close bond was established between the two young men. Ho Fuk Tong was his junior by three years. When Legge removed to Hong Kong in 1843, Ho Fuk Tong accompanied him and was ordained as the Chinese pastor of the London Missionary Society congregation in 1846. He continued as a faithful minister of the congregation (now Hop Yat Church) until his death in 1871. He was conscientious and faithful in his service to the church, but he was also very successful as a financier. After his death there were numerous Court suits over the interpretation of his will and the administration of his estate. Some of the difficulties arose because Ho Fuk Tong held his property under various aliases. In one of the cases a barrister gives his opinion why Ho Fuk Tong followed this procedure:",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1971.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/z029vt43g",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 210882,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1986",
        "page_number": 233,
        "title": "RAS-1986",
        "content_text": "216\n\nCARL SMITH\n\nThen, \"while I was thus allowing my patience to be taxed and tormented for good news,\" an offer was made to become interpreter at Ballarat in the goldfield area of Victoria. He accepted.\n\nNot long after, news came that some of the men he had taken to New Zealand had struck it rich. The report caused a rush of Chinese from Australia to New Zealand.\n\nA-mei, however, had severed his connection with the emigrant shipping business when he became interpreter, so he did not realise the profit that might have been his if he had persisted a little longer.\n\nThe rush, however, was shortlived, although it lasted enough for over 1,000 Chinese to be added to the population of New Zealand within a year.\n\nAn invitation was extended to Ho A-mei to come over and accept a position as interpreter. The offer was declined, because, as A-mei says, “I knew I might be required to travel in the rigid winter of your country, which I was fully aware I could not stand.”\n\nFinding that he had been unable to save much money in Australia, A-mei decided to return to China in 1868.\n\nIn 1870 a new movement of Chinese to New Zealand was under way, this time largely from China. Because of his previous experience, Ho A-mei, who was in Hongkong at the time, was consulted regarding the chartering of vessels to carry the emigrants. He resumed his activity as emigrant agent, sending off three shiploads within a few months. This not only benefited him financially, but he felt his earlier efforts had been vindicated.\n\nHe says: \"Now, I may be proud to remark that the attempt which prompted me to introduce Chinese labour into your colony, and which was at one time considered so futile, has, at last, turned the right side up.\"\n\nIn the letter recounting all this, he signed himself: \"Ho A-mee, Pioneer.\" It was an apt designation.",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1986.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/jq08c7063",
        "rank": 0
    }
]