Background
Mr. Chan Lim Pak was born in Namhoi, Guangdong in 1884.
Mr. Chan Lim Pak was born in Namhoi, Guangdong in 1884.
Mr. Chan was president of the General Chamber of Commerce in Canton 1920-1922 and was Commander-in-Chief of the Merchants Volunteers of the Province of Guangdong and Colonel-in-Chief commanding the ten regiments in Canton City proper. The Canton Corps consists of 7,000 well-trained and equipped men in active service with 6,000 recruits awaiting assignments pending the completion of their six-month course of instruction in military science and tactics being given by regular army officers.
Mr. Chan was a major-general (brevet) in the ranks of the Chinese Army, an honor accorded him by Peking several years ago in consideration of his service in the promotion and development of the best armed corps of civilians for local defense purposes without any financial support from the government local or central except good-will and recognition. Mr. Chan gave liberally toward all forms of useful charity and education, being a director in many schools and hospitals, besides financing a primary school in his home town. He was many years president of the Guangzhou Chinese Silk Association and is the president of the Canton Mining and the Guangdong Export Associations.
In business Mr. Chan was Chinese agent of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in Shameen, Canton and general manager of the Tee Lee Ming Company, chief director of Chung Kwock Po Lee S. S. Company and of Cheong Wah Insurance Company; president of Lepack Company of Canton and Hongkong; proprietor of Cheong Chen Silk Firm and one of the directors of the Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, Chen Kwong Company, Chu Kong Motor Boat Company and other leading Chinese firms of Hongkong and Canton. He owned the fastest motor-boats in Canton and his house in the western suburb of Canton is the finest in this city. Mr. Chan refused many oilers for political office and he served only as trade commissioner to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, an honorary position awarded him in recognition of his service to commerce and finance in South China.
In February 1921 Mr. Chang was decorated by the Peking government witih the Second Order of Paokuang Chiaho. In May 1923 he received the Second Order of Tashau Chiaho.