Chan Yat-sen
|
Chan Yat-sen MBE, JP |
|
|---|---|
| 陳日新 | |
| Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk | |
|
In office 1962–1964 |
|
| Preceded by | Ho Chuen-yiu |
| Succeeded by | Cheung Yan-lung |
|
In office 1968–1978 |
|
| Preceded by | Pang Fu-wa |
| Succeeded by | Wong Yuen-cheung |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1917 So Kwun Wat, New Territories |
| Died | 27 July 2007 (aged 90) St. Teresa's Hospital, Kowloon |
| Political party | Federation for the Stability of Hong Kong |
| Residence | Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Chan Yat-sen, MBE, JP (Chinese: 陳日新; 1917 – 27 July 2007) was a prominent Hong Kong politician and rural leader. He was a New Territories indigenous inhabitant and Chairman of the powerful Heung Yee Kuk, and was dubbed the "King of the New Territories".
Chan was born in 1917 in the small village of So Kwun Wat near Tuen Mun. His father ran medicine shops and a restaurant while his mother looked after the family fields. In 1940, he worked for colonial government as a food investigator for Tuen Mun and outlying islands. This job was part of an effort to gauge food supplies during the Battle of Hong Kong. Chan fled to Mainland during the Japanese occupation.
After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, the Kuomintang authorities on Taiwan were anxious to influence rising leaders in Hong Kong. Chan went to Taiwan in 1952 and reportedly studied politics. He had close links with Kuomintang figures in Hong Kong.
He entered local politics and when he became the Chairman of the Tuen Mun Rural Committee in 1954. By 1962, he was elected Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk. He stepped down as Chairman in 1964 but was again elected in 1968 which he held the post until 1978 when he declared his retirement from politics. By then the Kuk had gained the ear and confidence of the government.
Chan helped deliver the backing of rural clansmen during the Hong Kong 1967 Leftist riots when the colonial government was seeking public support. He was given a licence to carry a revolver for protection as the Leftist rioters labeled him as anti-China traitor. Chan was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire afterwards and regained the Chairmanship of the Kuk.
...
Wikipedia