Robert Hotung, better known as Sir Robert Hotung, was an influential Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist in British Hong Kong. Known as "the grand old man of Hong Kong". Hotung was knighted in 1915.
Background
Sir Robert Hotung, rightly called Sir Robert, because of knighthood conferred upon him by King George V and his many decorations from the Chinese government, stood out among the prominent men of China, those of the past, present and the future. Born in Hong Kong, December 22, 1862 he was the eldest member of a large family.
Education
Mr. Hotung received most of his early education in Chinese schools, obtaining his training under free tuition, owing to the remarkable progress made and the ambition he showed for higher knowledge. He spent four years in the Hongkong Central School (now Queen’s College) learning English, graduating with highest honors in his class. Following this he started his business career, holding a post on the indoor staif of the Maritime Customs, remaining in this position from 1878 to 1880.
Career
Later Mr. Hotung accepted the position of junior assistant to the compradore of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company, Ltd. While his remuneration was small his bonus at the end of the year compensated him enough to remain there, thus gaining valuable experience. Later he accepted the position of the Chinese agency of the Hongkong Fire and Canton Insurance Companies and acted as chief compradore for this firm for the next six yejars. Later owing to ill health he relinquished this position in favor of his brother, Ho Fook.
Since that time Sir Robert has won his way to the highest pinnacles of financial and business success in the Colony which gave him birth, so great indeed was his wealth that he can with truth be described as one of the great pillars of Hongkong’s financial strength. His advice was frequently sought by the leading interests of the colony, and he had come to be recognized as one of the shrewdest business men Hongkong has ever known.
He was a very large shareholder in the Hongkong and'Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company and other big concerns, while evidence of the value attached to his commercial insight is to be found in the fact that he was director of several prominent companies, including the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, the Hongkong Electric Company, the Hongkong Tramway Company, the Hongkong Land Investment Company, the Hongkong Reclamation Company, the Hongkong Canton and Macao Steamboat Company, the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, the Hongkong Fire Insurance Company, the Canton Insurance Office and the Kam Hing Knitting Company.
Although Sir Robert’s health had not permitted him to take as prominent a part as he would wish in public life and business activity, he was to be found every day at his private office in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building, where he was always being consulted on matters of business policy and high finance. His own interests, too, as a very large property owner, naturally occupy much of his time.
Besides this Sir Robert was often consulted regarding financial and industrial affairs of China by Chinese high officials and statesmen. He had also large personal interests of an industrial character in North China and Manchuria, this fact demonstrating the wide influence which he wields.
Politics
Sir Robert had in late years interested himself in a solution of China’s present political troubles and conferred with political leaders trying to bring about a peace conference on the part of the various contending elements.
Personality
As a man of knowledge Sir Robert had traded extensively in Europe and America as well as in Asiatic countries. His policy of life consisted of strarghtforwardness and cautiousness, and he attributed his success in life to honesty, foresight, carefulness, courtesy and perseverance. He was a keen believer in reform and abandonment of bad customs in China, as was shown by his public and private actions.