Zhuang Jingan

Zhuang Jing'an, courtesy name Sunjing, was born in 1909 in the urban area of Haijiang County, Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province (now Xiangqiao District, Chaozhou). In his early years, his family was impoverished, and at the age of 14, he began working as an apprentice at a jewelry store in Chaozhou. In 1928, he traveled to Hong Kong to engage in business activities, mainly dealing in watch straps, gradually developing his career.

After the end of the Anti-Japanese War, Zhuang Jing'an founded Zhongnan Watch Company and served as its chairman. As the lifelong honorary president of the Hong Kong Chao'an Hometown Association, honorary president of the Guangzhou Overseas Tiao Ren Association, and a member of the fifth Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference for Hong Kong and Macau, he exerted influence through various social roles.

In his early life, he worked at Guangzhou Bafu Guangyichang Trading Company, and later, in 1931, he went to Hong Kong to operate small businesses. During this period, he established "Hong Kong Zhongnan Company" in Hong Kong, focusing on trade in watch parts and watch straps. Around 1938, his business gradually grew larger and became a sizable enterprise. During times of war and turmoil, he frequently extended aid, helping refugees in the Chaoshan region, providing materials and assistance to disaster areas, and actively participating in charity.

After Japan's victory in 1945, Zhuang Jing'an began actively involved in education, donating funds to establish Mian De Shantang Elementary School at the old site of Mian De in Chaozhou, supporting education for impoverished children. In 1952, the school became publicly funded, but he continued to donate funds to support education. In 1956, he independently founded Mian De Elementary School again, expanding it gradually and nurturing many students. During the Cultural Revolution, the school was temporarily closed, but in 1979, with restoration support from the Chaoshan government, Zhuang Jing'an reinvested funds to rebuild it.

He also invested in the construction of Mian De Middle School, which was gradually built from 1982 until its full completion in 1988, becoming one of the key middle schools in Chaozhou. By 1990, he had invested approximately 20 million HKD in educational initiatives, and also donated funds for the restoration of numerous historic temples and the promotion of culture, including the restoration of Kaiyuan Temple, Puto Mountain Temple, and other monuments.

Furthermore, Zhuang Jing'an was active in philanthropy, funding the Chaozhou Hanjiang Bridge, Chaozhou Sports Center, Anbu Overseas Chinese Hospital, and the preservation of historic sites. Particularly for the repair of ancient temples dating back a thousand years, he donated over 1.5 million HKD, making significant contributions to the cultural tourism of Chaozhou.

On October 31, 1995, Zhuang Jing'an passed away in Hong Kong at the age of 86. His contributions were widely recognized, and he was posthumously awarded Honorary Citizen of Chaozhou in 1995. His legacy embodies the belief that "wealth stems from society and is given back to society," leaving a profound influence.