Tso Seen-wan, (, 10 November 1868 – 20 January 1953), also Ts'o Seen Wan, S. W. Tso or S. W. Ts'o, was a distinguished Hong Kong lawyer, politician, businessman and educationalist.
Formerly served in Legislative Council, Sanitary Board and District Watch Force, Tso greatly contributed to Hong Kong's education and medical care in the early 20th century. He raised fund for several colleges, including the University of Hong Kong, and co-founded Alice Memorial Hospital and Ho Miu Ling Hospital.
Early years
Tso Seen-wan was born on 10 November 1868 in Portuguese Macauwith ancestral hometown in Heungshan, Kwangtung, eldest son of Tso Wai-chuen (), a well-known merchant of that territory who was the first Chinese in Macau decorated by the King of Portugal with the Insignia of "Comenda de Nossa Senhora da Conceição", who also received the Honorary title of the 2nd Degree with the Red Button and Peacock's Feather conferred on him by Guangxu, the Emperor of China, in 1880.
After finishing his studies in Macau, Dr. Tso went to Shanghai where he received higher Chinese education. He went to England in 1886 with the financial support of prominent businessman Wei Yuk, and entered Cheltenham College. In due time he passed his law examinations and was connected with well-known law firms and was enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature of England before returning to Hong Kong in 1897 where he set up his own law practice after recognised as solicitor in Hong Kong. He was joined by P. M. Hodgson in 1927 under the firm name of Messrs. Ts'o and Hodgson. Through his association with two leading members of the Chinese community, Ho Kai and Wei Yuk, he soon became a leader in the public affairs of the Colony of Hong Kong.
Social services
Educational
Tso actively contributed to local social services, with chief interest in educational, especially Western education, and medical work among the Chinese.
Tso, along with others, co-founded St Stephen's College and St. Stephen's Girls' College in 1903 and 1904 and sat as council member of both, whose students from the former college could continue their study in Britain.
Tso was also appointed to the council of St. Paul's College in 1913, and twice handled the fund-raising for college's expansion in 1918 and 1925. He advocated the foundation of Government Vernacular Middle School, the first Chinese language government school opened in 1926. Tso co-founded Munsang College in Kowloon during the development of Kai Tak in 1926, served as the chairman-for-life of the college council until his death.
Another major contribution to the education is the founding of the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Tso was the Honorary Secretary of the 1909-created Chinese sub-committee to raise the Endowment Fund, and donated 500 HKD as contribution. Tso had been an active member to the University Court, Council and different Commissions of the University of Hong Kong after HKU established in 1911 despite early rejections. He was also a member of the Board of Control of both St. John's Hall and Morrison Hall, the University Hostels. Tso was conferred with Honorary Doctorate in Law for his work in 1924 by HKU.
In April 1920, Tso was appointed to the Board of Education of Hong Kong soon after its creation by Governor Stubbs, and served until April 1940.
Medical
In the early colonial era, Chinese were inaccessible to Western medical service due to the limited hospitals in the colony. Tso therefore urged the expansion of hospital service. After appointed as financial director of Alice Memorial Hospital, Tso helped the foundation of affiliated maternity hospital and nursing school, with the addition of Ho Miu Ling Hospital in 1900s. He chaired Alice Memorial Hospital in 1930 and again raised fund for the relocation of Nethersole Hospital.
In 1910, Tso was elected to be Chinese Public Dispensary Committee () member, and chaired the board of director of Sai Wan Public Dispensary from 1911. During his chairman tenure, he enormously helped the medical services of Western District, including the cowpox vaccination campaign in 1915 and 1916 after smallpox disease spread in the district. The infection wave ended with the vaccination effort, and is said to have helped lowering the infection rate in the next two decades.
Tsan Yuk Hospital, then located in Sai Ying Pun, was established with Tso's effort to meet the maternity demand. Tso was named as the supervisor of the new hospital thereafter.