Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Li Ju-hsiung

Mr. James Hsiong Lee

原汝熊字樹雄

(Li Ju-hsiung)

Mr. James Hsiong Lee is a native of Ningpo, Chekiang, and was born in 1891. His great grandfather, known as Bai Wha Shan Cheng, was one of the most famous Chinese poets and his elder brother, Z. Y. Lee, returned student from England, is the first aviator in China. In early years Mr. Lee received his education in an old school and won his high degree in Chinese literature. He left school when he was quite young, and entered into business in Shanghai in 1912. Thereafter his time and energy have been mostly devoted to the development of commerce and industry. In 1915 Mr. Lee was appointed by the Board of Agriculture and Commerce as one of the Trade Commissioners to the U. S. A., where he travelled over a great many large cities, attended the Panama Exhibition and visited various famous industrial plants. Mr. Lee has held many responsible positions, such as general manager of Kiangsi Land Investment Co., managing director of Wah Foo Commercial Bank of China, president of Wuhu City Telephone Plant, manager of Lee Bros. & Co., special inspector of the currency bureau for Shanghai, advisor to the Bureau of Enemy's Property and advisor to the Governor of Chekiang. In 1919 Mr. Lee organized a Telephone plant in his native city of Ningpo. At the outset the number of subscribers was scarcely over two hundred, but it has now passed one. thousand. He also established the Tanang City Light plant. He is now the president of both plants and director of the Chartered Stock & Produce Exchange of Shanghai, the Polo Coal Mining Co. and the Union Bank of China. Besides his business activities, Mr. Lee is also connected with many social institutions, such as director of the Ningpo Guild, the Charitable Institute, is a member of the General Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai and the Association of Chapei and the World's. Chinese Students' Federation. He is a member of the Union Club. In 1920 Mr. Lee realized the necessity of forming an important establishment in order to promote the industrial and commercial enterprises in China. In pursuance of this object a company was organized the next spring, called the Foong Shen Industrial & Commercial Development Corporation, of which he was subsequently elected vice-president and assistant general manager.