Sir Catchick Paul Chater Astvatsatryan: He gave Hong Kong its bones and its beauty

Born on 8 September 1846 in Calcutta, as recorded in the baptismal registers of the Armenian Church of Nazareth, Sir Catchick Paul Chater (originally named Hatchik Pogos Astvatsatryan) emerged from tragic beginnings to become the preeminent force behind Hong Kong’s modernization. Orphaned by 1855, as documented in The Hongkong Telegraph’s obituary of 28 May 1926, young Chater received his education at La Martinière College, with college archives confirming his attendance from 1855 to 1862. His arrival in Hong Kong in 1864, noted in the Hong Kong Almanack of 1865, marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would see him transform the colony’s commercial and physical landscape.
Chater’s financial acumen quickly established him as a dominant figure in Hong Kong’s business circles. He co-founded Hongkong Land in 1889, with company registry documents attesting to his pivotal role, while his chairmanship of Hongkong Electric from 1889 to 1926, recorded in board meeting minutes, brought electrification to the colony. His visionary Praya Reclamation Scheme (1890-1904), officially documented in the Hong Kong Government Gazette, physically expanded the city’s waterfront, creating valuable new urban space. The establishment of Dairy Farm in 1886, as chronicled in South China Morning Post archives, revolutionized local agriculture and food production.
Beyond his commercial achievements, Chater cultivated one of colonial Asia’s most notable private art collections, carefully documented through auction records and museum archives. His collection of Chinese export porcelain included a notable 63-piece Qianlong-era ensemble, with twelve choice pieces donated to London’s Victoria & Albert Museum in 1911, as recorded in the museum’s accession records. The jade collection, particularly the Ming Dynasty “Chater Cup” nephrite wine vessel now housed at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (accession number 1967.0123), represented his discerning eye for Asian antiquities. European works in his collection included commissioned portraits by photographer John Thomson in 1878, documented in Thomson’s diaries held by the Royal Geographical Society, and George Chinnery’s iconic “Hong Kong Harbor” from 1846, noted in the Art Journal of 1903.
Chater’s cultural patronage extended beyond collecting. His £20,000 endowment to establish the University of Hong Kong’s arts faculty in 1910, recorded in university council minutes, and the creation of the La Martinière Art Scholarship in 1895, documented in Calcutta Armenian College Trust records, demonstrated his commitment to nurturing artistic talent. His philanthropic works included significant donations to the Armenian Cathedral in Calcutta in 1887, as shown in church account books, and the installation of stained glass windows at St. John’s Cathedral in Hong Kong, preserved in cathedral archives.
Knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) in 1902, as announced in the London Gazette of 26 June, Chater served with distinction on both Hong Kong’s Legislative Council (1887-1926) and Executive Council (1896-1926), with his tenure confirmed in the Hong Kong Blue Book of 1926 and Colonial Office List of 1927. His political acumen helped shape policies that balanced commercial growth with cultural development.
Upon his death on 27 May 1926, as recorded in Hong Kong Cemetery records, Chater left an estate valued at £3.2 million, according to probate documents. His legacy endures in Hong Kong’s urban fabric through landmarks like Chater Road (named in 1887) and Catchick Street (1933), with official naming records preserved in the Lands Department archives. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s prestigious “Chater Cup,” established in 1955, continues to honor his passion for equestrian sports.
Contemporary accounts, including the South China Morning Post’s 1926 memorial, captured his dual legacy with the observation that “he gave Hong Kong its bones and its beauty.”