Ho Yin

{{Short description|Chinese businessman and politician (1908–1983)}} {{Family name hatnote|[[He (surname)|Ho (He)]]|lang=Chinese}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Ho Yin | honorific_suffix = [[Order of Merit (Portugal)|ComB]] | image = Ho Yin e Mao Zedong em 1956.jpg | alt = | caption = Ho Yin (right) with [[Mao Zedong]] in 1956 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|12|1|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Panyu, Guangdong]], [[Qing dynasty|China]] | death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|12|6|1908|12|1|df=y}} | death_place = [[Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong|Queen Elizabeth Hospital]], [[King's Park, Hong Kong|King's Park]], [[British Hong Kong]] | children = 13, including [[Edmund Ho|Edmund]] | module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|t=何賢|s=何贤|p=Hé Xián|j=Ho4 Jin4|y=Hòh Yìhn}} }}

'''Ho Yin''' {{small|[[Order of Merit (Portugal)|ComB]]}} ({{lang-zh|t=何賢}}; 1 December 1908 – 6 December 1983) was a Macanese businessman, politician and senior leader of the Chinese community in [[Macau]].

==Biography== Ho Yin was born in [[Panyu county]], north of Macau on 1 December 1908.<ref name="In the name of the father">[https://www.scmp.com/article/282184/name-father In the name of the father], ''[[South China Morning Post]]'', 16 May 1999</ref> He was an important diplomatic intermediary between the Red China and the anti-Communist ''[[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]]'' regime in Portugal, which existed between 1933 and 1974. He died in Macau on 6 December 1983.<ref name="Daily Report">[https://books.google.com/books?id=a7IsAAAAMAAJ&q=%22lung+cancer%22+ ''Daily Report: People's Republic of China, Issues 232–240''], United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service, National Technical Information Service, 1983, page 69</ref>

His son, [[Edmund Ho]], became the first [[Chief Executive of Macau|Chief Executive]] of the [[Macau Special Administrative Region]].<ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/china/leadership/2013-10/28/content_30425618.htm Who's Who in China's Leadership – Edmund Ho Hau Wah 何厚铧], [[China.org.cn]], 28 October 2013</ref>

==Business career==

===In China and Hong Kong=== His father, Ho Cheng-kai, was a small businessman, owning a small shop in Panyu. When Ho was only 13, he became an apprentice in a shop in [[Guangzhou]], learning to manage it. At 16, he moved to [[Shunde]], a traditional centre in the region of the [[Pearl River Delta]], where he became an administrator of a grocer's shop. In 1930, he decided to invest in the [[money changing]] business, opening a store in [[Guangzhou]].<ref name="Straits Times" /> But in 1938, with the invasion of the Japanese to [[Guangdong]], he was forced to move to [[Hong Kong]], where he continued his business in the [[British Hong Kong|then British colony]].<ref name="In the name of the father" /> His half-brother, Ho Tim, was already in business in Hong Kong, and would later become a director of the [[Hang Seng Bank]].<ref>[https://www.scmp.com/article/979221/cheap-transport-macau-can-be-losing-bet Cheap transport to Macau can be a losing bet], ''[[South China Morning Post]]'', 16 September 2011</ref>

===In Macau=== In 1941, the Japanese finally [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong|occupied Hong Kong]] and consequently Ho took refuge in Macau, then a colony of Portugal, who remained neutral during the Second World War. Shortly after his arrival, Ho, along with other entrepreneurs from Macau and Hong Kong, founded Tai Fung Money Changer Limited in 1942, which initially only carried out monetary transactions, but would later become Tai Fung Bank in 1972.<ref>[http://www.taifungbank.com/en_US/page/56 Tai Fung Bank > History in Brief]</ref>

It was during the [[Second World War]] that Ho became rich and famous due to his business in the area of monetary transactions and the lucrative trade in gold, particularly in its major contribution to the stabilisation of the value of the [[Macau pataca|pataca]], the local currency, as well advising the [[Banco Nacional Ultramarino]], responsible for issuing the pataca, on financial matters.<ref name="In the name of the father" /> At that time, the gold trade in Macau, specifically the import of gold, was controlled by a small group of businessmen from Macau and Hong Kong, including Ho Sin Hang, Cheng Yu Tung, YC Liang, and Pedro José Lobo, as well as Ho Yin.<ref name="Carmen Amado Mendes">[https://books.google.com/books?id=kebmyB-5-IYC&q=%22Ho+Yin%22+&pg=PA118 ''Portugal, China and the Macau Negotiations, 1986–1999''], Carmen Amado Mendes, Hong Kong University Press, 2013, page 118</ref>

After the [[Second World War]], the gold trade was one of the most important economic activities in Macau, as Portugal was not then a signatory to the [[Bretton Woods Agreement]]s, which had fixed exchange rates and restricted international trade in gold.<ref name="Pons">[https://books.google.com/books?id=RZg0ACv_VR4C&q=%22Ho+Yin%22++&pg=PA122 ''Macao''], Philippe Pons, Reaktion Books, 2002, page 122</ref> These agreements also banned the import of gold for individual use and stipulated that each gold [[troy ounce]] cost [[US dollar|US$]]35 legally.<ref name="Out and about">[https://www.scmp.com/article/727775/out-and-about Out and about], ''[[South China Morning Post]]'', 17 October 2010</ref>

Due to the banning and restriction of imports of [[gold]] in [[Hong Kong]], covered by the agreements, Macau became one of the international centres unofficial trade (or smuggling) of gold.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081204012112/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/JJ02Cb03.html Gold, manipulation and domination], Henry C K Liu, ''[[Asia Times]]'', 2 October 2008</ref> Gold smuggling in Macau was monopolised and handled by the Ng Fuk Tong or "Five Good Fortunes Association", itself a subsidiary of Tai Hing Company, the gambling monopoly.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=UMwUAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Five+Good+Fortunes+Association%22 ''Macau''], Richard L. Edmonds, Clio Press, 1989, page xlv</ref> Granted in 1937, this monopoly was later awarded to [[Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau]] (STDM) in 1962.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mOEZBAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Tai+Hing+Company%22+Macau&pg=PA159 ''Macau: A Cultural Janus''], Christina Miu Bing Cheng Hong Kong University Press, 1999, page 159</ref> STDM was led by [[Stanley Ho]], unrelated to Ho Yin.<ref name="Relic Of Bygone Era" />

With the death of Pedro José Lobo in 1965, Ho Yin became the most important Macau businessman, holding controlling interests in Macau's only [[Transmac|bus]] and taxi companies, two of its [[Media of Macau#Print media|Chinese language newspapers]], all ten of its cinemas, five hotels, four banks and a greyhound track, where, in May 1966, he was the target of a grenade attack.<ref name="Straits Times">[http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19660509-1.2.14.4.aspx Bomb injures Macao's unofficial go-between with Peking], ''[[The Straits Times]]'', 9 May 1966, page 3</ref> Although he was injured, he survived.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hG6j9NH6x8AC&dq=1966+macau+%22Ho+Yin%22&pg=PA246 ''Where Empires Collided: Russian and Soviet Relations with Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao''], Michael B. Share, Chinese University Press, 2007, page 246</ref> Later, his mansion was watched over by security guards.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=R_MXAQAAIAAJ&q=%22greyhound%22++ ''The Bulletin''], 11 May 1974, page 40</ref>

In time, Ho would also gain greater prestige in Macau, especially within the Chinese community; in 1950, he became the President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a post which he held until his death in 1983.<ref name="Maxwell" /> He was also able to resolve conflicts between the various rival [[Chinese triad]]s in Macau, as he knew all of their leaders, despite never having joined any triad society.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8moYDAAAQBAJ&dq=zokwang&pg=PA102 ''Blood Brothers: Crime, Business, and Politics in Asia''], Bertil Lintner, Springer, 2003, page 122</ref>

On 3 August 1971, Ho was made [[Order of Merit (Portugal)|Commander of the Order of Volunteerism]].<ref>[http://arquivo.presidencia.pt/details?id=125803 Ho Yin (Presidente da Associação Comercial de Macau e da Associação de Beneficência do Hospital Kiang Wu, Macau)]</ref>

==Political career==

Ho began his political career in the early 50s, after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, and became one of the most important political figures and influential Macau. As the anti-communist and authoritarian ''[[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]]'' regime of [[António Salazar]] only recognised Taiwan ruled by [[Kuomintang|Nationalist]] General [[Chiang Kai-shek]] as the "[[Republic of China]]", Ho became an important diplomatic intermediary between [[Lisbon]] and [[Beijing]].<ref name="Evolution" />

He kept in close contact with the Chinese [[Central People's Government]] and made numerous visits to Beijing, where he often exchanged views on Macau issues with [[Mao Zedong]], [[Zhou Enlai]] and many major Chinese Communist Party officials.<ref name="Evolution" /> Ho was accorded the status of "special guest" at the [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference]] from the second session of its National Committee, which was held in Beijing between 30 January and 7 February 1956.<ref name="Evolution">[http://jds.cass.cn/UploadFiles/upload/201011040931159353.pdf The Evolution of Portuguese – Chinese Relations and the Question of Macao from 1949 to 1968], Moisés Silva Fernandes, [[Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]], 2002, page 660</ref>

Ho participated in and contributed to the resolution of various disagreements between Portugal and China. The first major confrontation was the Sino-Portuguese military confrontation in 1952 at the [[Portas do Cerco]] border gate. This erupted following the sales embargo imposed on China by Portugal, under pressure from its [[COCOM|Western allies]], and a visit by the Portuguese [[Overseas Ministry (Portugal)|Overseas Minister]], [[Sarmento Rodrigues]].<ref name="1949-1955">[https://books.google.com/books?id=OiaaBAAAQBAJ&q=%22nine+wounded%22&pg=PA167 Macao in Sino-Portuguese Relations 1949–1955], Moisés Sliva Fernandes, ''Portuguese Studies Review'', Vol. 16, No. 1, 2008, pages 166–167</ref>

Between 25 and 31 July, a series of conflicts ensued, which left the Portuguese with one dead and twenty injured, and the Chinese with two dead and nine wounded.<ref name="1949-1955" /> Ho formed part of a delegation to Beijing, which was able to secure a written apology and compensation from the [[Portuguese Macau|Portuguese administration]] in Macau.<ref name="1949-1955" />

The second conflict was the [[12-3 incident]] in 1966, organised by pro-communist Chinese in Macau. Following the authorities unwillingness to grant permits for the building of a school on [[Taipa Island]], violence broke out between local people and the [[Public Security Police Force of Macau|Macau Police]].<ref name="Watershed">[https://books.google.com/books?id=0uStp3CUaqUC&dq=On+November+15%2C+1966%2C+Portuguese+police++Macau&pg=PA16 ''Hong Kong's Watershed: The 1967 Riots''], Gary Ka-wai Cheung, Hong Kong University Press, 2009, page 16</ref> This escalated into demonstrations outside the [[Macau Government Headquarters|Palácio do Governo]], the seat of government, in support of the Taipa residents, shouting slogans and reading aloud from the ''[[Little Red Book]]''.<ref name="Goodman" />

Finally, at 1&nbsp;pm on 3 December, [[Red Guards (China)|Red Guards]] began to riot, denouncing the Portuguese authorities for "fascist atrocities".<ref name="It Is My Opinion">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gAMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vZcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4231%2C1511009 It Is My Opinion], Irene Corbally Kuhn, ''[[Reading Eagle]]'', 19 January 1967</ref> Afterwards, the Chinese in Macau adopted a "Three No's" approach as a means to continue their struggle with the Government — no taxes, no service, no selling to the Portuguese, almost leading to the collapse of the Portuguese administration.<ref name="Goodman">[https://books.google.com/books?id=wkurNPQgEQkC&dq=%22three+no%27s%22+Macau&pg=PA217 ''Twentieth Century Colonialism and China: Localities, the Everyday, and the World''], Bryna Goodman, David Goodman Routledge, 2012, pages 217–218</ref>

On 29 January 1967, the Portuguese [[Governor of Macau|Governor]], [[José Manuel de Sousa e Faro Nobre de Carvalho]], signed a statement of apology at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, under a portrait of [[Mao Zedong]], with Ho, as the Chamber's president, presiding.<ref name="Maxwell">[https://books.google.com/books?id=99mDi7KYa1oC&q=%22ho+yin%22+&pg=PA280 ''Naked Tropics: Essays on Empire and Other Rogues''], Kenneth Maxwell, Psychology Press, 2003, page 279</ref>

Ho's involvement and commitment to resolve the crisis caused by the riot was crucial because at that time he was the only one who could contact directly and simultaneously with the [[Portuguese Macau|Portuguese administration]] with Chinese officials in [[Guangzhou]] and Beijing, as he was the Chinese representative in the [[Legislative Council of Macau|Legislative Council]].<ref name="Relic Of Bygone Era">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NsQaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nEYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7150%2C3154999 Macao Is A Relic Of Bygone Era Of European Gunboat Diplomacy], David J Paine, Associated Press, ''[[The Daily News (Kentucky)|Daily News]]'', 14 May 1971, page 17</ref> In addition, Ho later became a member of the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress|Standing Committee]] of the [[National People's Congress]].<ref name="Daily Report" />

With China's diplomatic victory in Macau, Ho was the Chinese representative in a proposed meeting with Sir [[Jack Cater]] on the settlement of the [[1967 Hong Kong riots|1967 riot]] in [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]. The talk did not materialize as then-[[Governor of Hong Kong|Governor]] [[David Trench]] took a hardline position against leftist aggressors.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Yep|first1=Ray|date=2008|title=The 1967 Riots in Hong Kong: The Diplomatic and Domestic Fronts of the Colonial Governor|journal=[[The China Quarterly]]|language=en|volume=193|pages=132|doi=10.1017/S0305741008000076|s2cid=154693338|issn=0305-7410}}</ref>

Internationally, Ho came to be regarded as Beijing's "unofficial representative" in Macau.<ref name="FEER">[https://books.google.com/books?id=HV9OAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Ho+Yin%22 ''Far Eastern Economic Review''], 1974, page 439</ref> This role was crucial to the survival of the Portuguese administration and Macau during the [[Cold War]], the [[Cultural Revolution]] and later, the rapid and sudden process of decolonisation by Portugal carried out following [[Carnation Revolution]] in 1974.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/pop/121999macau-handover.html Colonialism Ending in Asia as China Reclaims Macao], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 18 December 1999</ref> In an interview with the ''[[Far Eastern Economic Review]]'' that year, Ho remarked that "the Chinese and Portuguese people are living in harmony in Macao whereas the Portuguese and Africans are constantly in political and armed conflict."<ref name="FEER" />

In 1975, Lisbon offered to return Macau to Beijing, but the offer was refused, with the Chinese telling the Portuguese that this could only happen when "the time and history were right".<ref>[http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19800328-1.2.143.22.aspx New lease for an old colony], ''[[The Straits Times]]'', 28 March 1980, page 15</ref> Instead, an Organic Statute was adopted in 1976, redefining Macau as "a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ySvxAQAAQBAJ&dq=%22a+Chinese+territory+under+Portuguese+administration%22&pg=PA175 ''Entrepreneurs and Enterprises in Macau: A Study of Industrial Development''], V.F.S. Sit, R. Cremer, S.L. Wong, Hong Kong University Press, 1991, page 175</ref>

After constant negotiations leading to the [[Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau]] in 1987, administration of Macau was finally transferred to the [[People's Republic of China]] on 20 December 1999.

==Death and legacy==

[[File:Gate of Jardim Comendador Ho Yin.jpg|thumb|Jardim Comendador Ho Yin, Macau]] Ho Yin died on 6 December 1983 at [[Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong|Queen Elizabeth Hospital]] in Hong Kong of lung cancer.<ref name="Daily Report" />

In Macau, there is a street, Avenida Comendador Ho Yin, named in his honour.<ref>[http://www.dsat.gov.mo/pt/notice_detail.aspx?a_id=100977 Inspecção de veículos em 2014], Direcção dos Serviços para os Assuntos de Tráfego, 31 December 2013</ref> There is also a park, known as [[Comendador Ho Yin Garden|Jardim Comendador Ho Yin]].<ref>[http://m.cityguide.gov.mo/p/sightseeing/Detail/garden?id=7acf0deb-898a-4340-9ca1-733799e4b41c Jardim Comendador Ho Yin], Guia da Cidade, Macau</ref> The [[University of Macau]] is also the location of the Ho Yin Convention Centre.<ref>[http://www.umac.mo/fom/building_H.html Ho Yin Convention Centre], [[University of Macau]]</ref>

An asteroid discovered by the [[Purple Mountain Observatory]] in [[Nanjing]] in 1978 was named "5045 Hoyin (1978 UL2)" in his honour in 2006.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927152519/http://www.jtm.com.mo/news/20061207/03local_d10.htm “Hoyin” é nome de asteróide], ''[[Jornal Tribuna de Macau]]'', 7 December 2006 (in Portuguese)</ref> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ho, Yin}} [[Category:1908 births]] [[Category:1983 deaths]] [[Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Macau]] [[Category:Members of the Standing Committee of the 6th National People's Congress]] [[Category:Members of the Standing Committee of the 5th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference]] [[Category:History of Macau]] [[Category:Economy of Macau]] [[Category:People from Panyu, Guangzhou]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Guangzhou]] [[Category:Politicians from Guangzhou]] [[Category:20th-century Macau politicians]] [[Category:20th-century Macau businesspeople]]