Background
He was born in Guangdong, China in 1890.
He was born in Guangdong, China in 1890.
Mr. Chen attended the Canton Law College at Canton and the National University of Peking, taking courses in philosophy. He went to America where he studied economics at Columbia University in New York graduating with Master of Arts degree.
Chen Kung-po joined the Hsin Chung Hui (predecessor of the Kuomintang) at the age of 16 and in the early years of the Revolution, he together with his father started a revolt in Canton, but the attempt was frustrated by the Hangzhou (Hangchou) officials, resulting in the arrest of his father and his own narrow escape to Hong Kong.
Mr. Chen was an editor of The Social - a revolutionary organ published by him at Canton. He was a member of the Central Executive Committee of Kuomintang and concurrently commissioner of agriculture and labor of Kwantung Provincial Government, chief of the political training department of the Military Council, and President of the National University at Canton since 1925.
He accompanied the Northern Punitive Expedition of the Nationalist Forces to Hubei (Hupeh) as Director of the Bureau of Political Affairs of the Headquarters in 1926. Following the capture of Hankou (Hankow) and Hanyang in 1926, he was appointed chairman of the finance committee of Hubei (Hupeh) and concurrently Commissioner of Foreign Affairs for Hupeh and Superintendent of Customs.
When Jiangxi (Kiangsi) was taken, he was appointed Chairman of that Provincial Government in 1927. After the split of the Wuhan and Nanking Governments Mr. Chen resigned all his posts at the end of 1927 and became editor of the Revolutionary Critic in 1928. Chen Kung-po participated in the Northern Military Coalition Government at Peiping (Beijing) in 1930. Around 1932 to 1935 Mr. Chen was a Minister of Industry of the National Grovernment.