Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Shao Chen-ching

Mr. Shao Chen-ching

邵振青字顯莎

Mr. Shao Chen-ch'ing was born at Hangchow, Chekiang province, in 1889 and graduated from the High Provincial College of Chekiang. After graduation be taught three years in several middle and normal schools. During the First Revolution in 1911-12, Mr. Shao was editor of the Han Ming Jih Pao, Kuomingtang paper, at Hangchow. Owing to his strong opposition against Yuan Shih-kai, his paper was proscribed by Yuan as a seditious organ, so in 1914 the Chekiang authorities were instructed by Peking to close down the Han Ming Jih Pao and to have the editor arrested and put into prison. Mr. Shao's life would have been taken if he did not have many friends to devise ways and means to save him. He remained in the prison for one year after which he was released and then went to Japan where he established the Tokyo Correspondence Service. Mr. Shao returned to China when Yuan Shih-kai's monarchical attempt was at its height. He became special correspondent for The Shun Pao and The China Times, two of the leading Chinese papers in Shanghai. After the downfall of Yuan, Mr. Shao went to Peking as special correspondent of the Shun Pao. In 1917 Mr. Shao organized the Peking News Agency, which was the first organization of this nature established by Chinese in China. The increase of telegraphic news items in the Shanghai papers since that time was due to the existence of the agency. Under the same influence, the papers in Peking underwent a reform in form as well as in spirit. He was the first man advocating the publication of Cabinet discussions for the information of the public. In 1920 Mr. Shao founded in Peking a daily paper called the Ching Pao and managed under the modern system. When the Anfu Party was in power, this paper made strong attacks every day, as a result of which it was finally suppressed and Mr. Shao was ordered to be arrested. He fled to Japan and subsequently became advisor on Chinese questions to the Asahi Daily News. He was the first Chinese who was engaged in that capacity by a Japanese press. After the downfall of the Anfu Party, Mr. Shao resigned from the Asahi Daily News and re-established his Ching Pao at Peking. In 1921 the Pehing Government University established the Journalism Society and Mr. Shao was invited to be a lecturer. During the past ten years, Mr. Shao has been devoting himself to journalistic work and has never accepted any appointment from the government. Mr. Shao is at present the President of the Ching Pao, the Peking News Agency, and special correspondent of the China Times of Shanghai. He was awarded by President Li Yuan-hung in April 1923 the Third Chiaho.