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4 children of the Wong family are taught Cantonese by Mr. Yu at a school in Pennyfields, in the heart of London’s Chinese East End. Looking at the studious pupils with a benevolent smile is the man in the painting on the wall: Sir Robert Hotung, father of the woman who founded the school. Hotung was an influential businessman and philanthropist. He grew up in Hong Kong with parents Charles Bosman, of Dutch Jewish ancestry, and Sze Tai, who originated from Shenzhen. At 32, Hotung became manager of European business affairs in Hong Kong; by the age of 35, he was the richest man in the city. Hotung and his children would become generous benefactors of hospitals, cultural organizations and educational charities.
The Chung Hwa-school in Pennyfields was set up above a restaurant by Hotung’s daughter Irene. It became Britain’s best-known Chinese school and played a pivotal role in the preservation and dissemination of Chinese culture.
