Created on 19 August 2020
Herbert K Lau
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Shanghai Rotarian David Kwok From Textile Industrialist to Deputy Provincial Governor By Herbert K. Lau (劉敬恒) (Rotary China Historian) 中文版在第11-19頁上海扶輪人–郭棣活從紡織工業家變身到副省長 1 January2019 扶輪社員郭棣活Rotarian David Kwok (郭棣活) “Dave”, a textile industrialist who was the last guardian of the Shanghai Rotary Club (上海扶輪社), though it was terminated on 16 October 1951, until 1958 he moved to Guangdong Province (廣東省) and accepted the appointment by the Central Government to serve as Deputy Governor, Guangdong Province, The People’s Republic of China(中華人民共和國廣東省副省長). Dave first joined the Shanghai Rotary Club on 25 June 1930 (Classification: Cotton Factory –Cotton Goods Weaving). During that era, he was the Sub-Manager of the Wing On Textile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.(永安紡織股份有限公司) which was one of the largest textile mills in the country. Though Dave had never been a president of the Club, he maintained his constant dedication to the First Avenue “Club Service” throughout his membership with Rotary though there had been various difficult times in the Republican China.After the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, the Shanghai International Settlement (上海公共租界) was captured by the Imperial Japan’s Forces. Shanghai Rotary Club was not feasible to function normally under the military administration while some of the American and European members from the allied nations were detained in the concentration camps. Being the local industrial and commercial leader from the Wing On group of companies, Dave and his Kwok brother Rotarians wereable to survive and helped coordinating with someother members into the humanitarian refugee relieves.
2Upon the War Victory in September 1945, Dave, together with his Kwok brother Rotarians, joined the leadership of President William Zu-Liang Sung(沈嗣良) to reorganize the broken Shanghai Rotary Club.On 5 December 1945, President Sung wrote to Rotary International enquiring for the reinstatement of the Club Membership, stating that the officers and Board of Directors elected in 1941, and whose activities were discontinued under force majeurein December of that year, would continue to function until the end of the Rotary Year, i.e. 30 June 1946.The reply soon arrived and that Shanghai Rotary Club was re-admitted to Rotary International on 27 March 1946, after the normal membership application procedures with 70 members on the roster. The regular meeting venues, prior to a suitable location be selected, were generously arranged by Dave as: (a) every second Thursday 12:15 p.m. at The Oriental Hotel (大東旅社) located at the Wing On Department Store Building (永安百貨公司大樓); (b) the other Thursday meetings would be in the afternoon but the venue would be rotating.The Club went on functioning well with its normal activities even after the establishment of The People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949. However, the outbreak of the Korean War on 25 June 1950 made the two nations of the socialistChina and the United States in hostility. Communications between was disconnected. Non-Chinese residents were encouraged to leave China, and that the dropping of membership made the Rotary clubs almost dissolved. There was no option for the Shanghai Rotary Club to go onand decided to disband, and that the Club was eventually terminated by Rotary International on 16 October 1951.The Club Secretariat located at Room 103, MetropoleHotel (No.180 Middle Jiangxi Road, Huangpu District) (都城飯店-黃浦區江西中路180號) was then closed.At that moment, Dave shouldered the responsibility to be the “last guardian” of Shanghai Rotary Club secretariat to keep safe all the property and archives inside the warehouse of his own family business operation –Wing On Textile Mills–which werelater in 1956transformed into a State-Private Ownership of Wing On Textile, Printing & Dying Company(公私合營永安棉紡織印染廠)under the socialist state policy. The entire Rotary property was then kept inside the warehouse until 17 May 1965 when The Shanghai Municipal Archives (上海市檔案館) acceptedto be the permanent custodian.The Kwok Family in RotaryThe Kwok Pui-Fun Family (郭沛勳家族), beginning from David Kwok the third generation, is a provider of many Rotarians in the Rotary China History:–(1)Edward Kwok (郭棣昭) “Eddie”, younger brother (胞弟) of Dave, joined the Shanghai Rotary Club on 17 November 1948, with classification “Cotton Industry –Cotton Goods Finishing & Dying”. He was the Manager of the Wing On Printing & Dying Works (永安印染廠).(2)David Kwok,Jr. (郭志威), the eldest son of David Kwok “Dave”, was born in Shanghai and joined Shanghai Rotary activities when was a boy, is a former Rotarian for 27 years prior to retirement: Hong Kong Rotary Club (1970-1980, 1983-1992); Midland Rotary Club, Midland, Michigan, U.S.A. (1980-1983), and Vail-Eagle Valley Rotary Club, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A. (1992-1997).(3)Allen Gokson (郭植芳) “Allen”, was Dave’s younger clan-brother (堂弟)of next family branch, and so the family name in English is differed for easy identification. Allen was
3the eldest son of Gok Son (郭順) (郭和輝) —a founder and General Manager of the Wing On Textile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Allen joined the Shanghai Rotary Club on 4 April 1939, sharing the same Classification with Dave: “Cotton Factory –CottonSpinning”. Therefore, his membership was “Additional Active” (增額現職社員) (an old fashion category abandonedin this century). Allen was the Manager of the Wing On Textile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.He was a well-known philatelist.(4)Dr. Philip Kwok (郭志權博士), S.B.S., J.P., nephew (堂姪) of Dave, was President 1980-1981 of Hong Kong Rotary Club(香港扶輪社), and who was traditionally the convener to preside the monthly Joint Presidents’ Meeting of Hong Kong and Macao.At one of the joint presidents’ meetingsduring the year, it was then decided a need of an independent office of Rotary Information Center (RIC) to serve 20 to 25 clubs collectively in Hong Kong and Macao, with a paid executive to run the supportingservices directed by a supervisory committee. Philip was invited to serve as the first Chairmanof the SupervisoryCommittee. Under his generous offer, the RIC was located, free of charge, inside the Wing On Life Building(永安人壽大廈)in Central District, Hong Kong. Such sponsorshipby the Wing On Group was carried on until1985 when a permanent premises was purchased in Causeway Bay to house theRIC(14/F, Capital Commercial Building, 26 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong).(5)John G. O. Kwok (郭志安), nephew (堂姪) of Dave, affectionately known as “Long John” who is a tall man, was President 1985-1986 of Hong Kong Island East Rotary Club(香港東區扶輪社).John used to be the first voluntaryfront-linesupporter of the Rotary district events, such as conferences and assemblies, by offering the physical setting designed and produced by the Art Room of his Wong On Department Store (永安百貨有限公司).He usuallywas the last one to leave the venue after clearing.(6)Russell Kwok (郭志仁), nephew (堂姪) of Dave, was President 1985-1986 of Hong Kong Rotary Clubwho was traditionally the convener to preside the monthly Joint Presidents’ Meeting of Hong Kong and Macao.Russell has been chairman of several district-wide conferences and assemblies.(7)Linnet Kwok (郭錦連), daughter of Russell Kwok and grand-niece (堂姪孫女) of Dave, President 2018-2019 of the Shanghai Rotary Club is the fourth member from the Kwok Family to serve the Club. Born in the United States, Linnet joined the Club in April 2014 with classification “Human Resources”.Other than these 8 Kwokmembers served Rotary inShanghai, Hong Kongand the United States, respectively, there had been another 2 Kwok brothers from the same Guangdong native Kwok Clan of Heung Shan Xian (香山縣) also served the Shanghai Rotary Club:–(1)Percy Kwok (郭寶樹) “Bo”, President 1948-1949 of Shanghai Rotary Club, joined the Club on 27 October 1927 with classification “Finance -Exchange Brokerage”. He had been Vice President in 1930; Director in 1931-1934, 1941, 1945-1947; and served Sergeant-at-Arms in 1935, 1939-1941,1945-1947.His father George Bew Kwok (郭標) was one of the 5 founders of the Wing On group of companies in Hong Kong and Shanghai, operating department stores,textile mills, banks, insurers, hotels, etc.(2)Leon O. Kwok (郭禮安) “Leon”, younger brother (胞弟) of Percy Kwok, who joined Shanghai Rotary Club on 15 May 1939 with classification “Dry Goods & General Merchandise -Department Stores”, when he was the Managing Director of The WingOn Company (Fed. Inc., U.S.A.), also a director of Shanghai Wing On Co., Ltd.
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Shanghai Rotarian David Kwok From Textile Industrialist to Deputy Provincial Governor By Herbert K. Lau () (Rotary China Historian) 11-19-- 1 January2019 Rotarian David Kwok () Dave, a textile industrialist who was the last guardian of the Shanghai Rotary Club (), though it was terminated on 16 October 1951, until 1958 he moved to Guangdong Province () and accepted the appointment by the Central Government to serve as Deputy Governor, Guangdong Province, The Peoples Republic of China(). Dave first joined the Shanghai Rotary Club on 25 June 1930 (Classification: Cotton Factory Cotton Goods Weaving). During that era, he was the Sub-Manager of the Wing On Textile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.() which was one of the largest textile mills in the country. Though Dave had never been a president of the Club, he maintained his constant dedication to the First Avenue Club Service throughout his membership with Rotary though there had been various difficult...