Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Ch'i Yao-shan

Mr. Ch'i Yao-shan

齊耀珊字照巖

Mr. Ch'i Yao-shan was born af I-tung Hsien, Kirin Province, in 1867. Through competitive examinations, he became a Chu-jen, Provincial Graduate, in 1889 and a Chih-shih, Metropolitan Graduate, in 1890. He began his career as secretary of the Imperial Chancery and a companion of the Emperor in study. Later the rank of sub-prefect was conferred upon him. Various official positions he held in the Ching regime were as follows: Expectant Prefect of Hupeh, chief secretary to the Governor of Hupeh, chief of the police at Wuchang, Acting Prefect of Ichang, Proctor of the Hupeh Mint, chief secretary of the Hupeh Reorganization Bureau, director of the army Medical College, assistant chief of staff of the army training headquarters in Hupeh, secretary to the Viceroy of Hupeh and Hunan, director of the silver mint in Hupeh, chief Instructor for the Hupeh army training headquarters, chief adjutant of the Southern force in the autumn manoeuvre at Changteh, Honan, director of the Hupeh Reorganization Bureau, director of the Martial Court in Hupeb, director of the Szechuen Salt Administration at Ichang, Customs superintendent at Chinchow and Ichang, Customs Taotai at Hankow, superintendent of Foreign Affairs at the same place, acting Educational Commissioner. From January 1913 to July 1913 Mr. Ch'i was Chief of the Salt Reorganization Bureau which later became the Salt Administration. In April 1915 Mr. Ch’i was appointed Acting T'san Cheng of the T'san-Cheng-Yuan or the State Advisory Council. In June 1915 he was appointed President of the Commission for the Consideration of People's Livelihood. In August 1915 he became a substantial Tisan Cheng. In October 1915 he was conferred the Fourth Order of Chiaho. In January 1917 Mr. Ch'i was appointed Shengchang, or Civil Governor, of Chekiang. This position he held for more than two years. In June 1920 he was appointed Shengchang of Shantung which post he held until October 1920. In May 1921 Mr. Ch'i joined the Cabinet as Minister of the Interior. In June he was given a concurrent position in the Director Generalship of the Metropolitan Municipal Office. In July he became President of the Bank of Agriculture and Commerce. In October, Director General of the Famine Relief. In November he was conferred the First Order of Tashou Paokuang Chiabo. On December 24th, when the Cabinet was reorganized, he was trarsferred to be Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. On December 27th, he was given the concurrent position of Acting Minister of Education. In January 1922, Mr. Ch'i was given another position, namely, the President of the Commission for the Investigation of Food supplies. In January he was relieved of both the Director-General of the Famine Relief Bureau and of the Municipal Office. In April he was relieved of the post of Acting Minister of Education. In June he was removed from the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. In November 1922 he was conferred the First Order of Wenfu. Mr. Ch'i is now the President of the Bank of Agriculture and Commerce. He has been residing at Tientsin ever since he retired from Peking.