Rong Hongyuan

Rong Hongyuan (1906–1990), courtesy name Puren, was a native of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. His father was Rong Zongjing. In 1919, Rong Hongyuan was admitted to the affiliated middle school of Jiaotong University. In 1923, he entered the Railway Management Department of Jiaotong University and after graduation, continued his studies at St. John’s University, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree.

After graduation, he engaged in managing the Flower Yarn Department at Shanghai’s Maoxin, Fuxin, and Shenxin General Companies, gradually taking on positions such as vice factory director and factory director of Shenxin Second Textile Mill. In 1938, Rong Hongyuan came from Hong Kong to Shanghai to serve as General Manager of Shenxin Textile Corporation. Relying on several textile mills within the concessions, he actively expanded production and achieved profitability.

In 1942, he founded Xiesheng Real Estate Company, and in 1944, established Sanxin Bank, serving as chairman of the board. After the end of the Anti-Japanese War, he resumed operations in Shanghai, establishing Hongfeng Spinning Mill and Flour Mill, and acquired Wuhu Yuzhong Spinning Mill as well as Guoguang Dyeing Factory in Shanghai, significantly enlarging the enterprise scale.

Under his leadership, the Rong family enterprise conglomerate formed three systems: the headquarters, the General Management Office, and three entities—Shensi Textile, Fuwu Textile, and others. Rong Hongyuan also served as general manager of Hengda Spinning Mill, Hongfeng Textile Company, Hongfeng Flour Mill, Hongfeng Iron Works, Hongmao Warehouse and Packing Mill, as well as chairman of Jianxin Shipping and director of the Shanghai Bank.

He also served as dean of the China Textile Dyeing Engineering College, actively supported education by assisting in establishing the China Textile Institute and supporting Lixin College of Accounting, which was later named “Zong Jing Hall.” Additionally, he was prominent in social welfare, serving as chairman of the Shanghai Citizens’ Emergency Medical Assistance Society, providing emergency medical aid to thousands.

In industry and politics, he held roles such as supervisor of the National Industrial Association, director of the National Textile Federation, executive director of the Shanghai Industrial Association, and director of the Six District Cotton Spinning Federation. In 1948, he was elected as a delegate to the First National Assembly and also served as a senator of Shanghai.

After 1949, Rong Hongyuan left China, moving to Hong Kong to operate Dayuan Spinning Mill. He later moved to Brazil, continuing in the flour and textile industries, living abroad for the rest of his life. He passed away in Brazil in 1990.

In terms of economic thought, Rong Hongyuan emphasized that enterprise expansion should be integrated with the real estate and financial sectors. He demonstrated a strong patriotism, opposing the takeover of Chinese enterprises by enemy puppet governments and foreign companies. He advocated increasing raw cotton production and proposed expanding domestic textile enterprises to revive China’s textile industry. At the 1947 National Textile Industry Association meeting, he co-submitted a proposal to promote the cotton planting movement.