James Choy Hing

Choy Hing - manager Sun Department Store.

Choy Hing, manager Sun Department Store

Image Courtesy of: Howard Wilson

<p>Hing Choy (蔡興) (1869-1957) was born and grew up in Waisha village, Zhongshan. After attending schools in Hong Kong and Shanghai, he came to Australia in 1889 and founded Wing Sang & Co with Ma Ying Piu and several other fellows from Zhongshan in 1890. Following the success of Wing Sang & Co. in the fruit and vegetable trade,</p>

<p>In 1900, he joined Ma Ying Piu to establish the Sincere department store in Hong Kong and became chairman of the Board. In 1912, he moved permanently from Sydney to Hong Kong and established the Sun Company Store with his brother Choy Chong (蔡昌)(1877-1953). The first Sun Company was located on Des Veoux Road in Central, opposite the Sincere Department Store. Later, the Sun Department Store were opened in Guangzhou in 1918 and Shanghai in 1936. The Sun Company was one of China's 'four big department stores' before 1949.</p>