Kai Ho

{{Short description|Hong Kong barrister and physician}} {{Use Hong Kong English|date = July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}

{{Moresources|article|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Sir Kai Ho | image = Sir Sai Ho.jpg | caption = | birth_date = 21 March 1859 | birth_place = [[British Hong Kong]]<ref name="Wiltshiretwo">Wiltshire, Trea. [First published 1987] (republished & reduced 2003). Old Hong Kong – Volume Two. Central, Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd. ISBN Volume Two 962-7283-60-6</ref> | death_date = {{death date and age|1914|7|21|1859|3|21|df=y}} | death_place = British Hong Kong | education = [[University of Aberdeen]] | occupation = translator, doctor, [[barrister]] | spouse = Alice Walkden (1881–1884) Lily Lai Yuk-hing (1885–1914) | children = *1 daughter with Alice Walkden * 10 sons and seven daughters with Lily Lai, including:<ref name="Choa">[https://books.google.com/books?id=nzWs6_BUBPoC&q=%22Ho+Kai%22+barrister]. The life and times of Sir Kai Ho Kai, Gerald H. Choa</ref> ** Ho Wing-ching ** Ho Wing hang ** Ho Wing-kin ** Ho Wing-yuen ** Ho Wing-lee ** Ho Wing-on ** Ho Wing-hong ** Ho Wing-kam ** Ho Wing-tak ** Ho Wing-tse ** Ho Sui-kam ** Ho Bou-fong ({{zh|t=何寶芳|labels=no}}) | website = | footnotes = }}

{{Infobox Chinese | showflag = | c = 何啟 | p = Hé Qǐ | j = Ho4 Kai2 | altname = Ho Shan-kai | t2 = [[wikt:何|��]][[wikt:神|神]][[wikt:啟|啟]] | p2 = Hé Shén Qǐ | j2 = Ho4 San4 Kai2 }}

'''Sir Kai Ho''' {{Post-nominals|country=HKG|CMG|JP}} ({{zh|c=何啟}}; 21 March 1859 – 21 July 1914), better known as Sir Kai Ho Kai and born '''Ho Shan-kai''' ({{zh|c=何神啟|labels=no}}), was a [[Hong Kong people|Hong Kong]] barrister, physician and essayist in [[colonial Hong Kong]]. He played a key role in the relationship between the Hong Kong local community and the British colonial government. He is remembered as a supporter of the Reform Movement and as a teacher of [[Sun Yat-sen]], who would become the founding father of the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]. Hong Kong's former airport, [[Kai Tak Airport]], was named after him as the land the airport sat on was reclaimed by Kai Tack Land Investment Company Limited, founded by him and [[Au Tak]].

==Early years==

Kai Ho was the fourth son of {{Ill|Hoh Fuk-tong|zh|何福堂}} of the [[London Missionary Society]], and the brother of [[Ho Miu-ling]] (wife of [[Wu Tingfang]], Hong Kong's first Chinese barrister and first Chinese member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]], later Chinese [[Consul (representative)#Hong Kong|consul-general]] to the US).{{Cn|date=July 2024}}

In 1872, at the age of 13, Ho was sent to the UK to study at Palmer House school in [[Margate]], [[Kent]]. In September 1875, he registered at the [[University of Aberdeen]]. In 1879, he received his MBCM{{Clarify|reason=Is this a medical degree? This abbreviation is not commonly known and should be spelt out in full.|date=July 2024}} and went to [[St Thomas' Hospital]] to take up clinical training. He became the first Chinese qualified physician and graduated from Aberdeen University in the same year. He then studied law at [[Lincoln's Inn]] and was called to the bar in 1881.<ref name="Wiltshiretwo" />

==Career== [[File:Ho Kai, Hong Kong Barrister.jpg|thumb|Berobed graduate Ho]] Ho returned to Hong Kong in early 1882, and embarked on changing the landscape of Hong Kong's colleges and universities. Chinese culture at that time placed heavy emphasis on [[traditional Chinese medicine]], with [[Chinese people]] in the late 19th century being largely sceptical of [[Western medicine]].<ref name="Wiltshiretwo" /> Ho not only gained the people's acceptance, but also helped the British make possible a number of health-related establishments that otherwise would have been misunderstood by the public.{{Example needed|date=July 2024}}{{Cn|date=July 2024}}

In 1887, the [[Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese]] was opened. He made it an initiative that Chinese medicine practitioners too could benefit from an institution that focused on Western medicine. This college later became the basis from which the [[University of Hong Kong]] was established in 1910. Throughout Ho's lifetime, he was a vocal supporter of [[Sun Yat-sen]] and his revolution to overthrow China's [[Manchu]]-led [[Qing dynasty]]. A prolific critic of the [[Self-Strengthening Movement]], Ho advocated China to follow the British system in developing a [[constitutional monarchy]].<ref>{{Cite journal| last1=Carroll | first1=John M. | date=2006 | title=Colonial Hong Kong as a Cultural-Historical Place | journal=[[Modern Asian Studies]] | language=en | volume=40 | issue=2 | pages=520 | issn=0026-749X | doi=10.1017/S0026749X06001958 | s2cid=145141051 }}</ref>

An example of Ho's support was his defence of the 1884 Praya rioters, which were dubiously charged by the colonial administration with the offence of refusing to accept work. The riots was an event that Sun said cemented his determination to bring about revolution.{{Cn|date=July 2024}} As a minority and unofficial member of the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]], he had effected limits{{Clarify|reason=What does 'effected limits' mean here?|date=July 2024}} to legislation that were discriminatory towards the Chinese. He criticised the proposed Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, Cap. 40 of 1899 as "class legislation" and succeeded, with Wei A Yuk ({{Zh|t=韋玉|labels=no}}), in limiting its effect to finite periods of two years at a time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1899-12-21 |title=21ST DECEMBER, 1899. |url=https://www.legco.gov.hk/1899-00/h991221.pdf |website=Legislative Council of Hong Kong}}</ref>

Yet, in 1888, in an effort to protect the property interests of the Chinese elite of which he was a leading member, he stiffly opposed the passing of the Public Health Ordinance, which would've proved a vital step in the development of Hong Kong's public hygiene.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong|last=Chan|first=Bruce A|title=The Story of my Childhood Home|volume=58|date=2018|place=Hong Kong}}</ref>

Ho was made a [[Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George]] in 1902 and was knighted in 1912.<ref>''London Gazette'', 4 June 1912 at 4036.</ref>

In 1912, Ho went into a partnership with his son's father-in-law [[Au Tak]]. The project was named Kai Tak Bund, and was a land reclamation development project of houses and recreation grounds, but it later failed and was liquidated in 1924. The land was taken back by the government and later used by a flying school, then a flying club, then as an airfield for the [[British Forces Overseas Hong Kong|Royal Navy and Royal Air Force]], and finally became what would be the world-famous [[Kai Tak International Airport]].<ref name="Choa" />

Through his sister [[Ho Miu-ling]], he was the uncle of [[Wu Chaoshu]] who served in the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic China]] as [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] and [[Ambassador]] to the US.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

=== Additional roles === Ho was a member of the Sanitary Board and a [[Justice of the peace|Justice of the Peace]].{{Cn|date=July 2024}} In May 1895, he was temporarily appointed to the governing body of [[Queen's College, Hong Kong|Queen's College]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1895-05-25 |title=THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH MAY, 1895. |url=http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkgro/view/g1895/642037.pdf |publisher=The Hong Kong Government Gazette}}</ref>

Ho was also a key player in many aspects of early Hong Kong development, including the [[1894 Hong Kong plague]],{{Clarify|reason=In what key role did Ho play in the plague?|date=July 2024}} the founding of [[Alice Memorial Hospital]], and the founding of [[Po Leung Kuk]].{{Cn|date=July 2024}}

==Personal life==

In probably the first ever Anglo-Chinese marriage, Ho married Alice Walkden (3 February 1852 – 8 June 1884), the eldest daughter of John Walkden of Blackheath. The marriage took place on 13 December 1881 at St Aubyn's Congregational Church in [[Upper Norwood]], London. The couple returned to Hong Kong after Ho's studies, and Walkden gave birth to a daughter. Walkden later died of [[typhoid fever]] in Hong Kong in 1884; the daughter was taken to England to be brought up by her relatives. The daughter died young and never married.<ref name="Choa"/> Alice was English.<ref>{{cite book|author=John King Fairbank|title=The Cambridge History of China: Late Chʻing, 1800-1911, pt. 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pEfWaxPhdnIC&pg=PA282|year=1978|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-22029-3|pages=282–}}</ref><ref name="ConferenceBowers1983">{{cite book |editor=John Z. Bowers |editor2=Edith E. King |title=Academic medicine, present and future|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-EhrAAAAMAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1983|publisher=Rockefeller Archive Center|page=8|isbn=9780874700374 }}</ref><ref name="Pepper2008">{{cite book|author=Suzanne Pepper|author-link=Suzanne Pepper|title=Keeping democracy at bay: Hong Kong and the challenge of Chinese political reform|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4226AAAAIAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=2008|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-0-7425-0877-4|page=68}}</ref><ref name="Crisswell1981">{{cite book|author=Colin N. Crisswell|title=The Taipans: Hong Kong's Merchant Princes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0cGMAAAAIAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1981|publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated|isbn=978-0-19-580495-9|page=183}}</ref><ref name="Grieder1981">{{cite book|author=Jerome B. Grieder|title=Intellectuals and the state in modern China: a narrative history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsRwAAAAMAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1981|publisher=Free Press|page=107|isbn=9780029128107}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=British Medical Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WdI9AQAAMAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1912|publisher=British Medical Association|page=630}}</ref><ref name="Harrison1979">{{cite book|author=Brian Harrison|title=Waiting for China: The Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, 1818-1843, and Early Nineteenth-Century Missions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJ-fAAAAMAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1979|publisher=Hong Kong University Press|isbn=978-962-209-011-8|page=194}}</ref><ref name="Bowers1972">{{cite book|author=John Z. Bowers|title=Western medicine in a Chinese palace: Peking Union Medical College, 1917-1951|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dj5rAAAAMAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1972|publisher=The Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation|page=21|isbn=9780598138293}}</ref><ref name="Branch1975">{{cite book|author=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Hong Kong Branch|title=Hong Kong: the interaction of traditions and life in the towns|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=adOGAAAAIAAJ&q=ho+law+degrees+english+wife+hong+kong|year=1975|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch|page=83}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=July 2024}}

Kai Ho later married Lily Lai Yuk-hing ({{Died in|1945}}). The couple had 17 children.<ref>[http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4400834.pdf. Book Review]</ref><ref name="SCMPknight">[https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1556065/forgotten-knight-sir-kai-ho-kai A forgotten knight], SCMP, 20 July 2014</ref>

[[Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital]] is named for his wife Alice and his sister [[Ho Miu-ling]].

==Death==

Ho died in 1914 and was buried at [[Hong Kong (Happy Valley) Cemetery|Hong Kong Happy Valley Cemetery]] near his first wife Alice.{{Cn|date=July 2024}} Due to the failure of his various business projects and ill health, he died heavily in debt without a will, leaving his family destitute.<ref name="Choa" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * [https://books.google.com/books?id=nzWs6_BUBPoC&q=%22The+Life+and+Times+of+Sir+Kai+Ho%22 Choa, G. H. (2000) ''.The Life and Times of Sir Kai Ho Kai'', Chinese University Press] {{ISBN|962-201-873-4}}

{{s-start}} {{s-par|hk}} {{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Wong Shing]]}} {{s-ttl|title= Chinese [[Unofficial Member]]|years=1890–1914}} {{s-aft|after=[[Lau Chu Pak]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Senior Unofficial Member#Senior Chinese Unofficial Member in Legco|Senior Chinese Unofficial Member]]|years=1890–1914}} {{s-aft|after=[[Wei Yuk]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Paul Chater]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Senior Unofficial Member#LegCo Senior Unofficial Member|Senior Unofficial Member]]|years=1906–1914}} {{s-aft|after=[[Wei Yuk]]}} {{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ho, Kai}} [[Category:1859 births]] [[Category:1914 deaths]] [[Category:Barristers of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Hong Kong writers]] [[Category:Hong Kong justices of the peace]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen]] [[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]] [[Category:Knights Bachelor]] [[Category:Place of birth missing]] [[Category:Members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Members of the Sanitary Board of Hong Kong]] [[Category:Members of Lincoln's Inn]] [[Category:People from British Hong Kong]]