South China Morning Post
May 25, 2005
Pilgrims honour founding father
Nick Gentle
A group of about 100 Armenian pilgrims will arrive in the city over
the next couple of days to celebrate the life and times of one of
Hong Kong’s founding fathers.
Sir Catchick Paul Chater, an Indian-born Armenian, was among the most
influential men in 19th and early 20th century Hong Kong, playing a
role in almost every aspect of life, from the colony’s establishment
as a major port and the development of Central district to the
creation of a local dairy industry. Yet little is known about him.
The pilgrims will arrive tomorrow.
During their week-long stay, they will hold a congregation at his
grave in the Happy Valley cemetery, meet 23 of Chater’s descendants,
and hold talks and seminars about his life and times.
“Here, he is remembered with Chater Garden, Chater House and Chater
Road, but I don’t think people really know why they are called that,”
said Sonia John, chairwoman of the Armenian Church of Calcutta and
organiser of the pilgrimage.
Of particular interest to the visiting Armenians was the role Chater
played in establishing Kowloon’s St Andrews Church, which he paid for
100 years ago, and the continuing role his legacy plays in funding
the Armenian Church in India.
One of 13 children, he was born on September 8, 1846, to Armenian
parents in Calcutta. Orphaned at the age of nine, he moved to Hong
Kong aged 18.
“He was a very clever boy and it didn’t take him long to find his
feet,” Ms John said. “In his first month working in the bullion
market, he made $ 600.” From there, he never looked back, forming a
lucrative partnership and long -lasting friendship with Indian
businessman Hormusjee Naorojee Mody.
It was said that at one point, Chater was among the richest and most
powerful men in the entire British Empire.
A keen racegoer and successful horse owner, Chater left $ 50,000 to
the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the earnings of which were to provide
prize money for an annual event called the Chater Cup, which will be
run in its modern form – the $ 8 million Hong Kong Champions and
Chater Cup – on Sunday.
Chater died on May 27, 1926.
A service will be held on Friday to remember his contribution to Hong
Kong, St Andrews Church and the Armenian Church in India.