Format: Person

Linked To

Other relative

FONG HAM

Subject (person)

FONG HAM

Subject (organisation)

Related collection

Anne Atkinson Collection

Contributor

School of Social Sciences

Document

Subject of (11)

Organisation

Subject of (2)

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JOCK SIGN

Description

Biographical informationJock Sign was born in Chin Kai, Guangdong, China in July 1869. He migrated to Western Australia in September 1889. He was five feet seven inches in height. He was a nephew of Fong Ham and was brought to Australia to assist in running the family business: See Sing & Co. He visited China in 1894 and 1897 (SRO 1900-2094).

In 1897, he worked as a clerk and assistant manager in their Cossack and Roebourne operations. By 1903 he had become a Partner in the company and had a share in the business valued at £170.

In 1899 and 1905 he applied for his wife, Yu Shi, and two children (Hong Fook and Kum Fong) to enter Western Australia. Immigration officials, however, noted that 'His wife and family cannot be allowed to land unless they can pass the educational test prescribed by the Act'. The timing of his request coincided with outbreaks of Bubonic Plague and then the implementation of the 1901 Immigrations restrictions prevented the family from reuniting.

Jock Sign moved to manage the Broome branch of See Sing & Co. around 1902 and stayed there until 1917. He was governing director of a Chinese syndicate that operated a lottery in Broome. Almost everyone in Broome bought tickets in this lottery and the prizes ranged from 300 to 500 pounds per draw.

He travelled overseas three times: in 1897; October 1903 to November 1905; and January 1911 to July 1913. He left Western Australia permanently in January 1917 and died in Chin Kai, Sunning District, in China in 1919. When he died, his interests were worth 985 pounds and included stakes in Jock Sign & Co., Broome and See Sing & Co. Roebourne (Nor-West Echo 30th June 1923, pg 1). He left everything to his wife.Other nameJock Sign (differentiated name)SIGN Jock (also known as)Chuck San (also known as)Date of birth1869Date of death26th December 1919

Document

AAC-Box-001-0600

AAC-Box-001-0612

AAC-Box-004-Binder-2-0008

AAC-Box-004-Binder-3-0106

AAC-Box-2-0036

Box 007 Miscellaneous Notes 0033

Box-007-Sorb-Box-0173

Box-007-Sorb-Box-0503

Jock Sign Obituary

Jock Sign in 1900-0032 1899-2094

Jock Sign letter to Colonial Secretary

Organisation

Jock Sign & Co. (later Ah Ming's Store)

See Sing & Co.

Person

FONG HAM

Photograph of Jock Sign aged 35 from his Certificate of Domicile 1903 (source: NAA: K1145, 1903/33)

Family

SpouseYu ShiChildHong FookKum Fong (female)Other relativeFONG HAM

Connections

Subject (person)FONG HAMSubject (organisation)See Sing & Co.Jock Sign & Co. (later Ah Ming's Store)Subject (place)BroomeCossackRoebourneSubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaGamblingShop keeperRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA CoD File 1903NAA CEDT File 1910NAA CEDT Extension File 1913NAA CEDT File 1916NAA War Registration File 1916-1920 <Not digitised #4272572>Article on Jock Sign's Will 1923

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceChinaDate1869

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDateSeptember 1889

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceCossackDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceBroomeDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationTravelled toPlaceRoebourneDate[date unknown]

UWA Collected

JOCK SIGN

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA