SIR KHACHIK PAUL CHATER, Father of Hong Kong

The most famous Armenian of all times who lived in China was Khachik Pogose Asdvatsadoorian, known as Paul Chater. He worked as Senior Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong, was a member of the Governor’s executive and legislative councils, owner of many companies, as well as the Hong Kong General Governor’s first adviser for 40 years.

  Khachik Asdvatsadoorian was born in Calcutta (India), on September 8, 1846, into a large family of Armenian traders. He was baptized in the Armenian church of Holy Nazareth in Culcatta. His father was a member of the Indian civil service.

  At the age of seven, Khachik lost his father, and 2 years later, his mother.

  The children were taken to an orphanage. Paul gained entry into the La Martiniere College in Calcutta on a scholarship. At the age of 18, he moved to Hong Kong to bring his brothers and sisters together.

  In the early days in Hong Kong, he was an assistant at the Bank of Hindustan, China and Japan.

  Due to his diligence and exceptional business skills, Paul soon became very rich. An owner of major banks, land and fleet. He soon became one of the richest and most influential figures in Asia and Hong Kong. Due to him, Hong Kong nowadays has its unique place in world economy.

  In 1886, he helped Patrick Manson establish the first Dairy Farm in Hong Kong

(nowadays known as “Dairy Farm International Holdings”). The same year, he entered the legislative council. He supported the construction of Hong Kong university, many schools, hospitals, blocks of apartments, as well as the Hong Kong Fleet.

  In 1889, he established the Hong Kong Land which commenced the land reclamation project under the Praya Reclamation Scheme, under which the sea shore was made into land at Victoria city and more than one thousand houses were built for thousands of people.

  In 1897, he was awarded Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by the British government and in 1902 he was knighted and called Sir Paul Chater.

  “This young Armenian from Calcutta filled all of Hong Kong. He is everywhere, nothing is done without his knowledge and participation. He is the Father of Hong Kong,” a  historical document read.

  Chater was a major philanthropist to worldwide Armenians.

  Throughout his life he donated huge amounts of money to Hong Kong, Calcutta, London, Paris and Beijing Armenian social, religious and educational causes. He also supported Armenian churches in India, orphans of Armenian descent, built a home for the Armenian elderly in Calcutta, named the Sir Catchick Paul Chater Home. To help the Armenian Genocide survivors he founded “Armenian migrants’ charity Foundation” in Britain.

   Khachik  Asdvatsadoorian died in 1926 and was interred in the Hong Kong cemetery. Because of not having children, part of his estate went to the Armenian Church of the Holy Nazareth in Calcutta and other churches in south–east Asia. The rest went to the college where he studied. In return, the college made a decision to accompany the morning hymn with such lines, “We are grateful to our benefactor, honorable Paul Chater,” recited in front of Chater’s picture. The Armenian church in Calcutta named the auxiliary building at the church after “Sir Paul Chater”.

  Nowadays several buildings, streets, parks, and metro stations are named after Chater in Hong Kong.