Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Kuan Chiung

Mr. Kuan Chun

關学期之

(Kuan Chiung)

Mr. Kuan Chun who presides at the Mixed Court as Senior Magistrate, was born at Hanyang Hsien, Hupeh. After successfully passing the second series of literary examinations in the Manchu dynasty when the title of Master of Arts was conferred on him at quite an early age, he was appointed an expectant magistrate in the Province of Kiangsu. In 1902 Mr. Kuan attempted the third series of examinations but without success. In the following year, he became acting magistrate of the Mixed Court in the International Settlement of Shanghai, in which capacity he has enjoyed the confidence of the community and has been given the perfectship while still retaining his post. When ex-President Hsu Shih-chang became Viceroy of Manchuria, he and the Kirin Governor memorialized the throne for the transfer of Magistrate Kuan to Manchuria. But on account of the appeal made on the latter's behalf by the Consular Body in Shanghai, he remained in Shanghai. The year 1907 saw Magistrate Kuan promoted to be magistrate of the Kiangyin district. While the revolution in 1911 was in: full sway, Mr. Kuan was appointed by Liu Hsiang-sung, Taotai to return to his former office in the Mixed Court in deference to the request of the Shanghai community. The appointment was officially gazetted upon the establishment of the Republic through General Tseng Teh-chuan, Tutuh of Kiangsu. At that time, ex-President Li Yuan-hung was serving as Tutuh of Hupeh and he urged Mr. Kuan to return to his home province for an important appointment, but the repeated requests of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and the Consular Body in Shanghai induced him to hold his present office. The reorganization of certain sections of the Mixed Court as well as the just decisions rendered in the difficult and complicated cases that come before Mr. Kuan's tribunal has drawn a great deal of favorable comment from all interests. Magistrate Kuan is an excellent English scholar, although he had very little schooling in this language he has devoted much of his spare time to perfecting himself in this language, which is extremely valuable in his consulation with the foreign assessors of the court. For his distinguished services, he has been decorated by the Peking as well as other governments. He received the Second Class Tashou Chiaho in May 1919, the Second Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho in May 1920; and the Second Class Wen Fu in February 1922.