The Lee Mong Kow Family 1905 - Chinatown Victoria, BC
N 48° 25.764 W 123° 21.950
10U E 472937 N 5364092
Located at 613 Fisgard St. in Chinatown, Victoria, BC
Waymark Code: WM24AV
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 09/01/2007
Views: 167
LEE MONG KOW (1863 – 1924)
Lee Mong Kow a.k.a. Cherk Ming: Born 1863 of Chinese ancestral village in China’s Quangtung province, Poon Yee district, Ling Tong See Dai Pin village.
When he was only nine years old, his father passed away in 1872. He and his mother lived in the village then in Hong Kong until he emigrated to Canada in 1882. His mother joined him eight years later in 1890. In Victoria he married Seto Chang Ann in 1893 and have seventeen children, thirteen survived to adulthood.
In his youth, Mong Kow showed signs of good intelligence with exceptional talents. As he matured to adulthood, these traits stood him in good stead in a very positive way. His personal integrity and his trustworthiness are noteworthy. With his proficiency in English and his social interaction with the white population in Victoria he was appointed as “interpreter” at the Canada Custom House in 1885 . At that time Victoria was first port of entry into Canada, so he was indeed a valuable asset to the government. With the vast movement of people and importation of merchandise rapidly increasing, in1911, the government transferred Mong Kow to the immigration department and he became the “interpreter” for this department for a decade. During this period he assisted many Chinese in cutting bureaucratic red tape. He was very sensitive to the needs of the Chinese and he did all he can to alleviate their anxieties. He assisted them in all their interpreting needs and welfare.
While being engaged as official government interpreter, he was in business as well. Around 1895 he became a partner in a tailor shop (old address #7 Cormorant Street) named Gum Jern . Later about 1902, he went into partnership operating a Chinese Medicine Herbal Store at 541 Fisgard Street called Shon Yuen. He was also involved in real estate, the Sheam and Lee Building.
1896 was an important year for Mong Kow. Qing dynasty Emperor Kuang Hsu dispatched his highest ranking personal representative Chief Foreign Minister, Lee Hong Jern to Canada and Victoria in particular especially to meet with Lee Mong Kow. He wished to know the general welfare of the Chinese in Canada and the trade between Canada and China. They discussed all pertinent subjects at some length. After their meeting, Chief Minister Lee Hong Jern as the authorize personal representative of Emperor Kwang Hsu, conferred an Imperial title of Prefect in a Prefecture and an Imperial Decoration of Honour of the First Order
to Mr. Lee Mong Kow, honours well deserved. This is comparable in Britain as the Order of the British Empire or in Canada, the Order of Canada, and depending on the rank it may be as high as a Knighthood. However it did gave him an entrée into the Imperial Court. In 1915, the Chinese Consul Lum Sic Woon on behalf of President Yuan Shikai of China , conferred upon him The China’s Gar Wor Medal of the Sixth Order. This Award can be interpreted as successful achievements in his duties.
Lee Mong Kow was very active in the Chinese community. He served as Vice President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in 1898 and on the executive board of directors for many ensuing years
Recognizing the importance of maintaining the Chinese language and culture, in 1899 Mow Kong with his friends and colleagues started the Lock Quun Chinese School which he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Later this school became known as the Chinese Public School He served as the first principal and the ensuing twelve years.
In 1904 with his many good friends and businesses at that time, Tai Yuen, Wah Yuen, Suen Yuen, Ying Cheong Lung and other prominent Herbal stores. Mong Kow raised several thousand dollars to publish a book, “Catalogue of Certified Chinese Herbal Medicine, new edition” for distribution worldwide where there were Chinese or interested parties. With this fund, he also made three sets of ‘printing type sets’, one set was sent to Quangtung Kwong Gnai Hospital, second set was sent to Hong Kong Chung Wah Hospital and the third set was sent to Shanghai Kwong Shing Association.
Mr. Lee Mong Kow was a man of great integrity. He served his community with great enthusiasm and volunteered his services without hesitation. His sincere caring for his fellowman is best portrayed by this story. When he heard of the big fire in Ottawa in l900, without hesitation and on his own initiative, he canvassed his friends and business colleagues for a large sum of money to send to Ottawa for the fire victim’s relief. He was the ultimate example of the ancient Asian concept of Filial Piety.
In 1920 he retired. The family traveled to Hong Kong on the Empress of Russia. In Hong Kong he was appointed Chinese Manager of the Canadian Pacific Steamship. He passed away in 1924 and his son, Lee Yook Quan assumed his father’s position in the steamship company.
Today Mr. Lee Mong Kow is well remembered by the Chinese community, his contribution to the Chinese Public School, his contribution to the Lee Association, his contribution to the Chinese business community and maintaining the Chinese language and culture. Perhaps the result of the Imperial titles conferred upon him by the Qing Emperor, his omnipresence in the Victoria community in his era, he was often referred as the Chinese Consul, and his home in Victoria, a white house on Johnson Street (no longer there) has long been referred as the home of the Chinese Consulate. A large picture of the original house hang prominently in the present day business of McCall Brothers Funeral Home and a bronze plaque to designate the place where the house once stood, a fitting memorial.
Prepared by: Jack Wai Yen Lee, C.M.
July 2nd, 2004
Please note: This concise biography was compiled for the pleasure of Mr. Lee Mong Kow’s family, descendants, relatives and friends. It is not meant to be an exact science of genealogy research.
Sources:
Lee Mong Kow’s family records
Lee Association publications
B.C. Archives
Family oral interviews
Oral history of friends and relatives, past and present.
Observations of friends and relatives, past and present
CCBA and Chinese Public School Publications
Dr. David Chuenyan Lai : The Forbidden City
Dr. David Chuenyan Lai :Towns within Cities
Pictures from B.C. Archives
Pictures from Chinese Public School
Pictures from Lee Mong Kow family
Personal pictures
City: Victoria
Location Name: 631 Fisgard St.
Artist: Maltby
Date: 2007
Media: Acrylic
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
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