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The Kotewall Collection

 Collection
Identifier: 2018-011

Scope and Contents

Composed of letters, reports, manuscripts, speeches, news clippings, photos and artifacts documenting the life and work of Sir Robert Kotewall and his daughter Bobbie Kotewall. The content of the collection of Sir Robert Kotewall covers topics about General Strike during 1925-1926, Japanese Occupation, HKU-related occasions. It also includes materials about the service of Sir Robert Kotewall in the Government. Materials about personal content such as autobiography, diaries and private library’s collections are also included. Whilst the collection of Bobbie Kotewall covers, in large extent, personal content, including private correspondences, diaries and decorations, with some materials about her educational career.

Dates

  • 1896 - 1996

Creator

Language of Materials

Majority in English, some materials in Chinese

Conditions Governing Access

Permission of the donor is required to access the materials. Patrons who wish to consult the collection may apply for access permission by filling the application form, please email to Special Collections (libspeco@hku.hk).

Biographical / Historical

Sir Robert Hormus Kotewall CMG (羅旭龢; 1880–1949) was born and educated in Hong Kong. He was a prominent Chinese-Parsee civil servant, businessman and legislator who represented the Chinese community at that time. In 1896, he entered the government and served as the fourth clerk of the Police Department at the age of 16. After 23 years of service, he left as the first clerk of the Colonial Secretariat to run business. From 1923 to 1936, he was an unofficial Legislative Council member and from 1936 to 1941 an unofficial Executive Council member. In 1925, the workers in Hong Kong organized a large scale strike which was known as the General Strike and Boycott to express their discontent towards British imperialism. Commercial activities were suspended and some Chinese merchants were made bankrupted. Being the popular representative of the Chinese, Sir Robert Kotewall spared every effort in helping them to recover. He was urged to appeal to the British government for financial help in order to weather the storm. The appeal was soon approved by the government in Britain and his act was later known as "£3 million Speech". Kotewall was invited later to accompany Sir Cecil Clementi to negotiate with the Canton officials who were mostly friends of him and the visit was very successful. Sir Robert Kotewall had great interest in education. He had close connection with the University of Hong Kong where he held the position as the external examiner in Chinese and he was eager to promote the study of Chinese language. The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by the University in 1926. He also helped to establish the Fung Ping Shan Chinese Library by persuading Mr. Fung Ping Shan, who was close friend and business associate of him, to make donations. In addition to his duties as Legislative Council member, Sir Robert Kotewall involved in different public organizations either as member or consultant. He was decorated with the C.M.G. in 1927 and was knighted in 1938. During the Japanese occupation, he was asked to remain presence in the colony by the British Colonial government to safeguard the Chinese. However, he faced the trial after the British had resumed the control over Hong Kong on account of sitting as the Chairman of Chinese Representative Council which was set up by the Japanese during wartime. Later, Sir Mark Young, the Governor and Sir Cecil Harcourt, the Commander-in-Chief declared his innocence. In spite of that, his health deteriorated tremendously after the trial. Kotewall first married a Chinese women whose name was Grace Hung in 1901. He re-married in 1907 to Edith Lowcock who was the daughter of English Businessman Henry W. Lowcock.

Dr. Bobbie Madeleine Florence Kotewall OBE (羅怡基 1916-1996) was one of the daughters of Sir Robert Kotewall. She studied at St. Paul's Girls' School and Diocesan Girls' School for primary and secondary education. Upon graduated from University of Hong Kong in 1939 with the bachelor diploma in Education, she began her educational career by teaching at St. Paul Girls' School and St. Paul Co-educational College. During 1949-1952, Kotewall went to England for further studies. When she returned to Hong Kong , she took the position as the Principal at St. Paul's Co-educational College and devoted her time to be an educational leader. Resemble to her father Sir Robert Kotewall, she received several honours for her contributions in educational field and society. In 1961, she was appointed to be the Unofficial Justice of Peace. Two years later, she received the honour as the Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of British Empire. In 1971, University of Hong Kong conferred the Doctor of Laws honoris causa upon her, the same honour her father received 45 years ago. In 1978, Kotewall was bestowed the Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of British Empire. After serving at St. Paul's Co-educational College for 32 years, she retired in 1984 with the continuation in connecting with St. Paul's former staff and graduated students. Kotewall was also a faithful Christian who actively participated in church-related discussions. She remained unmarried until her death in 1996.

Extent

13 Linear Feet

Arrangement

This collection is divided into 2 sub-fonds: 1. Kotewall, Robert Hormus's Papers contain 14 series, 7 of which have been further arranged in subseries and files. The content is organized mainly according to subject, with the exception of Series A.3 Correspondence which part of it has been arranged both alphabetically and chronologically. The original sub-series and file names defined by Kotewall have been remained whenever possible. 2. Kotewall, Bobbie Madeleine Florence's Papers contain 6 series and half of them are further arranged in subseries. The content is organized according to subject and type.

Custodial History

Donated by Ronald Zimmern in 2013.

Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the HKUL Special Collections Repository

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