Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Kuan Keng-lin

Mr. Kuan Keng-lin

期要赌字類人

Mr. Kuan Keng-lin was born at Nan-hai hsien, Kuangtung province, in 1880. He became a Metropolitan graduate in 1904. Subsequently, he went to Japan and studied in the Hung Wen school. Upon his return to China he joined the Peking Government University, where he studied politics and law. Upon the completion of these courses he was appointed a junior secretary of the Board of War. In 1905 he accompanied Viceroy Tuan Fang and Grand Councillor Tai Hung-tse on their mission to America and Europe to study constitutional forms of government and received decorations from the governments of Prussia, Russia, Sweden and Italy. In 1906, he returned to China and resumed the office of secretary of the Board of War, acting concurrently as eduoational superintendent of the School for Cantonese in Peking. During 1906 he was transferred to the Board of Communications. In 1907 he was appointed junior secretary of the railway department and acted as chief of General Affairs and Railway Affairs. Later he was promoted and was in charge of Telegraph Affairs. In 1908 he became sub-director of the railway department, with rank of senior secretary. In 1911, Mr. Kuan was appointed associate director of the Peking-Hankow railway administration. From 1912-1915, he was director of the administration. For his meritorious services he received the Fourth Class Wen Hu and the Third Class Chiaho. In 1912, he founded the Railway Association, together with Liang Shih-yi and Yeh Kung-cho, and was elected chief Secretary of the Association. In 1916 he became secretary of the Ministry of Finance. The next year he was appointed director of the railway department of the Ministry of Communications. During his connection with the Ministry he was chairman of the Transportation Conference for the codification of railway laws and vice-chairman of the Conference for Railway Sanitation. He received the Third Class Wen Hu in recognition of his distinguished services. He was also elected vice-chairman of the Railway Association, being reelected in 1918. In 1918, Mr. Kuan was appointed chief of the Through Traffic Department and received the Third Class Paokuang Chiabo decoration. He was also appointed a member of the Finance Commission in the President's office. In January 1919, he was appointed acting counsellor and concurrently chief of the Transportation Bureau of the Ministry of Communications, and received the Second Class Tashou Chiaho decoration. In June 1919, he became a Councillor of the Ministry. The following January, he was awarded the Second Class Paokuang Chiaho. In August 1920, he was given the concurrent position of Director General of the Hankow-Canton-Szechuen Railway and appointed a member of the committee on International Communications. In September 1920, Mr. Kuan was appointed a member of the Famine Relief Commission of the Ministry, and in November he received another concurrent position as executive member of the Railway Finance Commission. He helped draw up plans for the establishment of the Communications University. In February he was relieved of all other posts. He only retained this position until August 1921. Mr. Kuan was awarded the Second Class Tashou Paokuang Chiaho and was appointed a member of the Railway Location Commission. In March 1922, he was appointed executive member of the Commission on Communications in connection with the rendition of Shantung. In June 1922, he was appointed president of the Communications University.