Chan Ayin (aka Chan Oi Ting / Chen Shan-yen)
陳言 （陳靄庭／陳藹亭／陳善言）
(1846–1905)
Class of 1864 - One of China’s First Diplomats
1864屆畢業 — 首代中國外交官
Chan Ayin was born in Xinhui, Guangdong. He studied at St. Paul’s College from 1856 to 1864. A translator, editor, and diplomat, Chan founded the Chinese Mail (aka Wah Tsz Yat Po), Hong Kong’s second-ever Chinese-language newspaper.
After graduating from the College, Chan first worked as an interpreter and secretary at the Magistrate’s Court. He joined the China Mail in 1871 as a sub-editor, one of the first Chinese to do so. The following year, he founded and edited the Chinese Mail. In 1873, he co-founded the General Chinese Printing Office and translated Wang Tao’s Report on the Franco-Prussian War into English. In 1874, he co-founded the Universal Circulating Herald, the first newspaper fully financed by Chinese capital, and was its chief manager.
Chan saw Chinese newspapers as a platform for Chinese merchants and intellectuals to broaden and articulate their thoughts. His newspapers frequently reported news in China and commented on local and national governance.
Chan advocated China setting up diplomatic missions and later served the Qing government. He sailed to the Americas in 1878 and began working at the Chinese Legation in Matanzas, Cuba, in 1879. He was promoted to consul-general in 1886. During his time there, Chan worked to improve the treatment of Cuban-Chinese workers. He returned to China in 1889.
Chan later managed the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company at Kaiping (1897–99), and supervised the Shanghai–Woosung and the Shanghai–Ningbo railways.