Saturday, March 24, 2007

动画:缇萦救父



关老师终于把缇萦救父的动画放上youtube!请观赏。

Saturday, March 17, 2007

胡亚基生平

胡亚基

胡氏乃十九世纪初,新加坡妇孺皆知的侨领,与英殖民地当局高层人员有深交之情;为何西人只知有黄埔,而不知有Hoo Ah Kay?

胡氏出生于广州之黄埔,十五岁南来新加坡佐理其父经营牛肉、面包以及蔬菜之业,供英军舰商船和市民之用。其父辞世之後,承业开托,自设面包厂。东来之英军舰,一切必需物品均由其供给,市面上所需之牛肉,面包等物,亦仰给於黄埔公司(Whampoa & Co)

胡氏热心于英殖民地政府办的教育事业,供给莱佛士女校学生学费,促进女子入学读书风气之成长。胡氏除了当地公益之事外,也热心于募款宗归中国助赈。

新加坡人每到植物园,相信会想起胡氏吧!胡氏在一八五九年十二月以东陵六十英亩私产,交换政府在新加坡河旁潮湿之区域,俾政府开辟植物园之需用,除此,在这之前,他在现今广惠肇方便留医院附近建一别墅,筑一园囿,每逢佳日良辰,开放给市民观游,可谓开与众共乐之风。

胡氏是个有胆色,敢闯敢做之辈,他是新加坡第一位采办贩卖美国冰块之商人,由于当地人无用冰块之习惯,生意终于做不成此其一。新移民中,私党帮派之间,常有火拼;胡氏挺身调庭,对安定社区,功德无量,此其二。对能引起种族冲突之谣言,胡氏及时尽力辟谣;对国事纷争引起的义愤,胡氏能妥善化之,此其三也。

鉴于此,英人特别赏识他稳定殖民地社会之才能,一八六九年十二月二十一日,特任他为立法会议之非官吏议员;数年之后,又任他为行政会议之特殊会员,凡此二职实开华人「优而则士」之先河。当然任凭其聪明才智如何之高超,亦不能有所得罪。比如在一八七三年当星洲主要市民集会反对建议华工人口条例时,其中三名非官吏议员辞职,独胡氏恋栈不辞。

Hoo Ah Kay (Whampoa)

Hoo Ah Kay was also known as Whampoa after his birthplace near Canton, China. In 1830, as a 14-year-old boy, he came to Singapore to help his father in the family business. His father arrived in Singapore during the early days of the Straits Settlements and had a shop at the corner of Bonham Street and Boat Quay which supplied the docking ships with food such as beef, bread and vegetables.

His facility in English was a definite asset in dealing with European merchants and he soon became one of the key businessmen of his time. Hoo Ah Kay continued the business after his father died. His shop, Whampoa & Co. soon supplied provisions to the British navy. He was well known for his bakery in Havelock Road, his house, Whampoa Garden and his warehouse, Whampoa ice house in Clarke Quay.

Whampoa held many prominent positions. He was the first Chinese to be made a non-official member of the Legislative Council in 1867. He was also the Singapore Consul for Russia, China and Japan. His influence, advice and services were often welcomed by the Governors. He was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Victoria. He died at the age of sixty-four on the 27th of March, 1880.

他是谁?