Benjamin Wong Tape

Benjamin Wong Tape OBE JP (; 26 December 1875 – 16 June 1967) was a merchant in New Zealand and Hong Kong. Born to Chinese immigrants in Dunedin, he received his education at schools in Hong Kong and Dunedin. He became known in Otago and Southland as a trader, but also as a translator. He permanently moved to Hong Kong at the age of 30, and had a prominent role with many organisations there. He was a member of the Urban Council of Hong Kong on two occasions.

Early life

He was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1875 after the arrival of his parents in the country. His father was Forsigh Wong Tape, a merchant from Sunning in the Taishan county, Guangdong province, China, and his mother was Hie Toy. His father was leading a group of Chinese diggers to Otago for prospecting gold. His parents were married by the minister of Knox Church, Donald Stuart, on 20 March 1875.

Due to his occupation as a trader, his father travelled frequently between New Zealand and Hong Kong, and Wong Tape often accompanied him. He received his education at Victoria College in Hong Kong and, after his father's death in 1891, at Otago Boys' High School. He lived in Hong Kong from 1894, where he married Emma Kwai-Chun (born 1874 ), but returned to Dunedin in 1898 without his wife. ). He was awarded an OBE in 1948.