Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Fang Chi-fan

Mr. Fan Chiu-pah

方積蕃字椒伯

(Fang Chi-fan)

Mr. Fan Chiu-pah, the popular vice-chairman of the Shanghai Chinese General Chamber of Commerce who is in charge of the affairs of the chamber during the absence on sick leave of the chairman, Mr. Sung Hang-chang, was born in 1884 at Tsenghai, Chekiang, of one of the best known families. His grandfather, Mr. Fan Hsin-tsai, was one of the foremost merchants in Shanghai in the early days of the Settlement, having made his fortune in tea and silk. His name appeared quite frequently in the historical records of the "model settlement." Mr. Fan's father, Mr. Fan Chi-ling, was a Master of Arts under the Manchu regime, being successful in passing the second series of the literary examinations, but he died at an early age. Assuming the heavy responsibilities of the chief of a big family, Mr. Fan managed the affairs of the household in an excellent manner, devoting his energies and time to financial and banking activities in Shanghai as well as in Ningpo. When the Manchu Dynasty abolished the literary examinations and established schools for the education of young men, Mr. Fan subscribed over one hundred thousand dollars toward the organization of the Pei Yu School in Tsenghai. He was then 23 years old, he was appointed principal. After three years' service in this school, he became the principal of Chihai School in Ningpo, at the same time serving as member of the Educational Council of the City Administrative Council, and of the Advisory Board and as chairman of the Self-Government Society. Not satisfied with the educational qualifications, Mr. Fan took a course in law in the Cheng Chow Law School of Shanghai, from which institution he graduated in 1917. Mr. Fan was also promoter of the establishment of the Ningpo Association, the Ningpo Guild, and Ningpo Hospital, of which he is still serving as director. In 1918, he was appointed manager of the Tung Lu Bank, Shanghai, serving als) as chief of the Arbitration Board of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and a director of the chamber. In 1920, Mr. Fan was appointed a member of the board of directors of the Shanghai Mint and of Shanghai Bankers' Association. In the following year, he was made a director of the Ningpo-Shaoshing Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., and of the Chinese Merchants' Stock Exchange. In 1922, he was elected vice-chairman of the Chinese Chamber and of the Chinese Ratepayers' Association. It was in this year that he organized the Ta Yu Yu Oil Factory of which he is one of the directors. In 1923, Mr. Fan assumed his office as manager of the Nantao branch of the Commercial Bank of China and director of the Hung An Steamship Company.