Dr. Seaker Chan (1914-1973), courtesy name Zhongcheng, was born in Fangcheng, Guangdong Province. His father named Chan Wai Chow who was the former salt commissioner of Guangdong and Guangxi. In his childhood, Dr. Chan was blessed with talent and was an ambitious person. He first studied in the national University of Sun-Yat-sen, and then transferred to Lingnan University. After graduation, he went abroad for further studies, and received Master’s degree from Columbia University of the US. In 1938 Dr. Chan returned home to teach at Dept. of Politics in the School of Law in Fudan University in Beibei, Chongqing. Dr. Chan’s was then appointed the county magistrate of Fangcheng, secretary of Hainan Becoming Province Preparatory Council, and the executive councilor in the National Government of the Republic of China etc., enjoying immense high reputation.

    In the late 40s, Dr. Chan retreated from Guangdong to Hong Kong with his father. Then he committed himself to business, school buildings and social welfare.
    On business, Dr. Chan first operated some tung oil business. At the breakout of the Korean War, he transferred to real estate business. At the same time he entered the film industry, opened theaters and became chairman of the Films Distribution Association, contributing a lot to the early development of Hong Kong film industry. With a great foresight, Dr. Chan then invested in stock business, becoming a pivotal figure at the time.
    On education, Dr. Chan felt the monumental importance of education. In order to cultivate young talents, he founded Xiangjiang School, Xiangjiang Chinese and English Secondary School, Kowloon Renbo English School, Madam Chan Wai Chow Memorial School, Chan Wai Chow Memorial Secondary School and the First Primary School of Hong Kong and Kowloon Kaifong Association etc. Dr. Chan assumed positions of school head and supervisor. During his office as the head of Xiangjiang School, Dr. Chan went to teach himself. Countless students benefited from his teaching and extolled his mentoring and kindness. In the early 70s, Dr. Chan spent more than ten million yuan to purchase Tat Chee Avenue campus, built secondary schools there, continue to employ good teachers and improve the facilities. Students from different places are then attracted to the school. Regarding his tremendous contribution to the society, education and economy, the Hong Kong government appointed Dr. Chan as a member of the Education Advisory Committee. Trinity College of the US and the Liberal Church of England awarded respectively Dr. Chan Ph.D. in economics and culture.
    With such outstanding achievements in both business and education, yet Dr. Chan was ever humble and modest. He bent himself to his career and exerted himself to the uttermost. He regarded etiquette and moral virtues as most important in household management and stressed on filial piety, therefore family members respect their elders. Dr. Chan was strict with his own children to be well-disciplined while he treated other people with magnanimity and generosity, and employees of his thus all trusted and admired him for his noble character. Being an honest and benevolent man, Dr. Chan served the society with both money and efforts, always helping the needy out of troubles. He once worked as the chairman of Kai Fang Research Association in Hong Kong and Kowloon Districts, president of North Point Kai Fong Association, founder of Hong Kong Gee How Oak Tin Association, as well as the founder and director of the Community Chest of Hong Kong. Though shouldering several posts at the same time, Dr. Chan strived to work hard at all public affairs no matter big or small, especially for the North Point Kai Fong Association. For two decades, Dr. Chan dedicated himself to related Kai Fong affairs for the benefit of residents there. Meanwhile, he generously donated money for the construction of North Point Kai Town Hall, providing residents in the Kai Fong an excellent place for recreation.
    On April 16th 1973, breaking down from constant overwork, Dr. Chan died of a heart attack. Indeed the pass away of a sage left us with such infinite lament and sorrow. In November 2011, Mr. Anson Chan, chairman of Hong Kong Bonds Group of Companies, established through a donation the Dr. Seaker Chan Center for Comparative Political Development Studies to commemorate Dr. Chan’s teaching experience in Fudan University.