Secrets of Nam Ku Terrace (1): Who Was the Owner Doo Jackman?
Perched above Ship Street in Wan Chai, the old mansion at Nam Ku Terrace has been surrounded by construction for years. Plans submitted to the Town Planning Board show that the neighbouring site will be redeveloped into a 21‑storey residential tower, while the mansion itself will be preserved for non‑profit use and opened to the public.
The red‑brick residence, built in 1918, was home to two generations of the family of businessman To Chak-man, better known by his Westernised name Doo Jackman. Originally from Zhongshan, he had lived in Australia, which explains the English name.
Doo Jackman was deputy manager of Wing On Department Store, one of Hong Kong’s oldest and most famous retailers. Like the Kwok family who founded Wing On, he came from Zhongshan. The two families were close in both business and personal life: partners at work, linked by marriage, fellow Christians, and united in their outlook. As early as 1906, Doo and Kwok, together with Ma Ying‑pui of Sincere Department Store, set up Guangzhi National School in their hometown, giving back to China. Overseas Chinese of that era were especially patriotic.
On 20 February 1923, when Dr Sun Yat‑sen visited Hong Kong, he hosted a tea gathering at Yeung Sai‑yan’s residence. There he outlined his disarmament plan and sought financial support, proposing the creation of a fundraising bureau in Hong Kong. More than 40 leading merchants and industrialists attended, among them were Doo Jackman and his in‑law Kwok Chuen.
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