Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Kuang Fu-shao

Dr. Fong Foo Sec

邮富灼字幅西

(Kuang Fu-shao)

Dr. Fong F. Sec was born at Sunning, Kuangtung Province, in 1869 and entered a private primary school in his home village when he was eight years of age. His father was a farmer and Dr. Fong was one of eight children. At that time many Chinese in South China were going to America to work on the western railways. In 1882, accompanied by neighbor villagers Dr. Fong embarked for the United States. The steamer that took him to America was the s. s. China. Through the recommendation of an American family, he obtained work and his weekly wage was one dollar. Being anxious to acquire a knowledge of the English language, Dr. Fong entered a night school. A Chinese Christian pastor, Chin Toy by name, took an interest in him and assisted him materially. He soon became a Christian. The Salvation Army was at that time active on the Western coast of America and Dr. Fong became an enthusiastic worker. He soon left Sacramento and went to San Francisco, where he underwent a course of training for six months. He travelled up and down the Pacific Coast in the interest of the Army and was afterwards assigned to duties at its headquarters in San Francisco. He took a course in shorthand and typewriting and later obtained a position as stenographer to the Chief Officer of the Salvation Army on the Pacific Coast. He remained with the Salvation Army from 1885 to 1893. In 1897 he entered Pomona College, one of the leading institutions of learning in California and supported himself by working about the College campus. Altogether five years were spent in Pomona College, where he did the high school work and spent his freshman year. From Pomona he went to the University of California and after a study of three years he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Letters, in 1905. Having obtained a scholarship at Teachers College, Columbia University, Dr. Fong proceeded to that university to specialize in English and education for one year, at the end of which time the degrees of M. A. and M. E. were conferred upon him. At that time Liang Chen-tung was Chinese Minister at Washington and he recommended Dr. Fong to Tsen Chun-hsuan, who was then the Viceroy of the Liang Kuang Provinces, and in the summer of 1906 Dr. Fong was appointed professor of English in the College of Foreign Languages and Provincial College in Canton. On his return to Canton Dr. Fong found his parents still living. He taught school for one year and in the autumn of 1907 went to Peking where he competed in an examination for returned students and won the degree of Chin Shih which was equivalent to the degree of Doctor of Literature. After passing the examination, Dr. Fong was given an appointment in the Ministry of Communications; however, he had no inclination for official life, so in 1908 he became editor-in-chief of the English editorial department of the Commercial Press, which position he is still holding. Dr. Fong has written a number of textbooks specially adapted to the needs of Chinese students of English, among which books may be mentioned the following: Language Lessons, A Classroom Conversation Book, Elementary and Intermediate Composition, Stories from Shakespeare. In raising the standard of the English books published by the Commercial Press, Dr. Fong has made his chief contribution to educational development in China. In 1922 the Pomona College conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws upon Dr. Fong. That College had only twice before in its history awarded this degree. Notwithstanding his busy life he has found time for work of social usefulness, and in the numerous offices which he has been and is holding in a social capacity may be mentioned the following: Chairman (for many years) of the National Committee of the Y. M. C. A. of China, member of committee of management of the Institution for the Chinese Blind, director of the Shanghai Chinese Y. M. C. A., member of Field Board of Shangtung Christian University, honorary president of Nanyang Commercial Academy, member of the executive committee of the China Christian Educational Association, member of the executive committee of the Forestry Fund, Elder of the Cantonese Union Church in Shanghai. Dr. Fong's present address is c/o Editorial Department, Commercial Press, Shanghai.