Background
Mr. S. U. Zau was born at Shanghai in 1883.
Mr. S. U. Zau was born at Shanghai in 1883.
Mr. Zau began his education under private tutors since his father intended to prepare him for the literary examinations. However, in view of the growing popularity of the English language, Mr. Zau was required also to study this language.
When schools were established to replace the literary examinations, Mr. Zau took the entrance examinations at the Telegraph Administration, the Kiangnan Naval Academy and the Peiyang Medical College and passed all with distinction. Due to the death of his brother he was not permitted to leave home until the age of 14, when he went into business.
Two years later Mr. Zau re-entered school joining the Wei Tsong College, Shanghai devoting most of his time to the study of English where he excelled. He also taught at the same time. During the Boxer Rebellion, the Shanhaikwan Railway College was removed to Shanghai where it took up quarters at the present Nanyang College.
Mr. Zau entered this College for a year and then succeeded in passing the postal examinations at Shanghai, entitling him to join the Postal Service. It was during this time that Mr. Zau became a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Zau was appointed postmaster at Ta Tung but he had to resign from this office in order to remain with his family in Shanghai.
While in Shanghai, Mr. Zau was employed by the Christian Literature Society and placed in charge of the Society’s publication of an encyclopedia. At the same he was interested in various business enterprises serving also as trustee of the Ming Jang School and the Eliza Yates Girls’ School.
In 1911 Mr. Zau was elected vice-chairman of the Chinese Volunteer Corps of West Shanghai and in the following year, his plan for the taxation of tobacco and wine as submitted to the Central government was accepted and made the basis for the present system. In 1914 he was appointed deputy for the raising of government loans in the Provinces of Jiangsu and Chekiang, for which work he was awarded the Chiaho decoration. He also assisted Chekiang in the solution of various diplomatic problems pnd was appointed advisor to the Civil Governors of Chekiang and Shandong.
In 1918 Mr. Zau was retained as an advisor to the Cabinet. The same year he was appointed a director of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce at Shanghai. In 1921 he became advisor to the Bureau of Taxation on Tobacco and Wine and 1922 saw Mr. Zau serving as China’s Special Delegate to the Pan Pacific Commercial Conference in Honolulu, for which work he was decorated with the Third Class Chiaho Medal.
He was director of the Shanghai Baptist College, the South-Eastern University, the Y. M. C. A.. Middle School and the Sze Peng School, the last named being organized and financed entirely by himself. In addition Mr. Zau was director of the Lung-Hua Orphanage, the Chinese Y. M. C. A., the Anti-Kidnapping Society and others. He was a prominent leader of the Baptist Church. His business occupation consisted of directing the Pootung Electric Works, the Chung Hua Industrial Company, the Shanghai and Paoshan Bank and the Tung Yi Realty Company. He had six sons and four daughters.