Full Name George Kwok Bew Died 1932 Name George Bew | Citizenship Australian Other names Kwok Bew
Guo Biao | |
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Born c. January 1868 Canton, China (now Guangzhou, Guangdong, China) Occupation Merchant
chinese community leader
political activist Spouse(s) Darling Young (1896–1932), his death Children 8 (4 sons, 4 daughters) | ||
George Kwok Bew, also known as Guo Biao, George Bew and Kwok Bew, (c. January 1868 – 3 January 1932) was a Chinese Australian merchant, Chinese community leader and political activist.
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Early life
George Kwok Bew was born circa January 1868 in Canton, China. His father was Chap Hing, a local farmer and his mother was Fung Size, a homemaker. Kwok left for Australia in 1883, after his father died.
Career
Kwok cofounded and partially owned Sydney's first fruits and vegetables wholesale store, Wing San and Co. (Chinese: 永生果阑). and was also a partner of Australian banana importer Sang on Tiy, a merger company formed by Wing San and two other fruit companies. Around 1899, he was already at full swing, handling around six thousand banana bunches from North Queensland every week. Kwok is regarded as one of the most prominent fruit merchants then in Sydney. Kwok heavily petitoned against the Immigration Restriction Act 1901 and was strongly against racism. He became a naturalised citizen of Australia in 1901. He was the president of Sydney's Kuomintang. In 1917, Kwok and his family relocated to Shanghai, China, following an invitation from revolutionary Chinese leader Sun Yat Sen. There, he became the central mint's head.
Personal life
In 1896, Kwok wed Darling Young, a fellow merchant's daughter. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters. Before moving to Shanghai, Kwok's children could not understand the Chinese language. In 1996, the Kwok family made "the biggest single foreign property investment" of that year when they purchased 333 Collins Street in Melbourne.
Death
He died in Shanghai, China, on 3 January 1932, survived by his wife and his eight children.