Wong Wah Hee aka Wong Yan Ting – family background – Smith, Wahee and Co

York Lo has sent information,about several generations of the family of Wong Yan Ting also known as Wong Wah Hee. Wong was the Wahee in the firm of Smith, Wahee and Company which later became the China Sugar Refinery. York has also added  a couple of portraits of Wong family members.

China Sugar Refining Company

The China Sugar Refinery Company

YL: Carl Smith’s book Chinese Christians, provides information about the family of Wong Wahee. They were the compradores of P&O (and related firm MacKinnon & Mackenzie) for almost a century.

It appear the line started with Wong Yook (who died in 1877) then his eldest son Wong Sze-tai (older brother of Wong Wahee), who was appointed Justice of the Peace alongside Choa Chee-bee in 1883 and then Szetai’s son Shu Tong, then Shutong’s son Wong Ping-sun (died 1942, prominent in the anti-mui tsai movement in the 1920s) and then Pin-sun’s son Wong Chi-po (post war comprador, probably the last one also) and then Chi-po’s son Sze-yip whom I believe also worked for the firm.

Wong Ping Sun Portrait Courtesy June Fong, York Lo

Wong Ping-sun (Source: 1940年華商總會年鑑). Courtesy: June Fung

Wong Chi Po Portrait Courtesy JUne Fong

Wong Chi-po (Source: 1947年華商總會年鑑). Courtesy: June Fung

Six generations!

The Wongs were probably also one of the first Chinese to live on the Peak and I recall the Wong Chi Po residence was sold within the last two decades.

Several generations of them were also directors of the Tung Wah Hospital.

Source:

  1. Chinese Christians: Elites, Middlemen, and the Church of Hong Kong, Carl T Smith, HKUP, 2005 p163

This article was first posted on 4th January 2016.

Related Indhhk articles:

  1. The origins of Wahee, Smith & Co. (later China Sugar Refinery)
  2. The China Sugar Refinery Company (previously Wahee, Smith & Co)

4 Comments

  • Terence Wong

    I am the grandson of Wong Chi-Po (Terence Hor Ga Wong). My Father Wong Sze-Keung took over Wo Kee (Wong Chi Po Ltd) when my Grandfather died. My Father died in 2014. Wong Sze-Ip lives in London and is a retired architect.

  • Kenneth Wong

    Wong Chi Po’s youngest son was Wong Sze Kwong, solicitor. He passed away in 1983. I’m his eldest son,

  • Cheung Wong Wan Yiu, Angela

    i am interested in digging out the history of my Wong family.. In fact I am working on it, to write a book about my ancestors. I am Wong Wan Yiu, Angela, the eldest daughter of Wong Chi Po, married to Cheung Kung Kai. Please contact me.

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