Stanley Kwan (關士光), best known as the "Father of Hang Seng Index" (恒指之父) is a Hong Kong banker, writer, and history enthusiasts. Kwan was born in a traditional Chinese banker family in January 10, 1925. His uncle Kwan Wai Chow (關懷州) owned two money shop (銀號) in Sheung Wan, where his father Kwan Tsai Tung (關濟東) worked. In 1931, Kwan went to Western District School (西環小學), which was registered as an "overseas Chinese" school with the Nationalist government's Ministry of Education (南京國民政府教育部). In every morning assembly, he would sing *San Min Zhu Yi (三民主意)* and recite Sun Yat-sen's *Last Will and Testament*. This upbringing nurtured his sense of patriotism and care for the motherland. In 1937, he began attending King's College, but the second world war broke out before he could finish high school education.
In 1943, he finished a translator training of the Military Affairs Commission (國民政府軍事委員會), acquiring Lieutenant title. He was dispatched to the Burma campaign to helped train driver and supervise the building of the Burma Road (滇緬公路). After the war, Kwan had gone through different careers until he entered **Hang Seng Bank** in February 1962 to lead a the research department. Under the direction of Ho Sin Hang (何善衡), Kwan researched and created the *Hang Seng Index (恒生指數)* that was officially published on November 24, 1969. In 1974, he was commissioned by the Hong Kong government to research and further release released the *Hang Seng Consumer Price Index (恒生消費物價指數)*. To this date, the Hang Seng Index is still the ultimate capitalist measurement of Hong Kong's market.
Kwan retired in 1984 and immigrated to Toronto, Canada in the same year. Other than enjoying the new life in his apartment in Scarborough, he began writing miticulously. He published his Chinese autobiography **七十年來家國: 一個老香港的回憶** in 1999 and English bautobiography **The Dragon and the Crown: Hong Kong Memoirs** in 2011. He also wrote several private papers on Battle of Hong Kong, China's issues, and his new found faith in Christianity. He passed away in Scarborough Grace Hospital on December 31, 2011.
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This archives document three important aspect of Stanley Kwan's life. It includes materials from his banking career in Hang Seng Bank, introducing to the development of Hang Seng Index and Hang Seng Consumer Price Index. As he retired, he dedicated himself into writing history. His two books *七十年來家國: 一個老香港的回憶* and *The Dragon and the Crown: Hong Kong Memoirs* both had a launch at the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library. With this association, his archives also include the full publication records, including drafts, research materials, manuscripts, correspondence with publisher, and book launch documents. Also included are his personal records and papers written that tell about his perspectives in life and connecting with the rest of the Hong Kong and Chinese Canadian community.
Arranged in three series according to the originating purpose of the materials.
Further accruals are not expected.
Materials in this archives were created and maintained by Stanley Kwan during his life. The records were created both in Hong Kong, and in Toronto. After his passing away in 2011, his archives remained with his two daughters in Toronto. They were brought into the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library by his newphew Cheuk Kwan in three deposits across November 2025 to January 2026, who also acted as the liaison for this donation.
**Related books in the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library**
The Dragon and the Crown - Hong Kong Memoirs [(HC470.3 .K93 2009)](https://librarysearch.library.utoronto.ca/nde/fulldisplay?query=dragon%20and%20the%20crown&tab=Everything&search_scope=UTL_AND_CI&searchInFulltext=false&vid=01UTORONTO_INST:UTORONTO_NDE&lang=en&docid=cdi_proquest_ebookcentralchapters_677294_2_4&adaptor=Primo%20Central&context=PC&isFrbr=true&isHighlightedRecord=false&state=) or [Read Online](https://archive.org/details/dragoncrownhongk0000kwan/).
七十年來家國 : 一個老香港的回憶 [(CT1552 .K83 A3 1999)](https://librarysearch.library.utoronto.ca/nde/fulldisplay?query=%E4%B8%83%E5%8D%81%E5%B9%B4%E4%BE%86%E5%AE%B6%E5%9C%8B&tab=Everything&search_scope=UTL_AND_CI&searchInFulltext=false&vid=01UTORONTO_INST:UTORONTO_NDE&lang=en&docid=alma991106160776106196&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&context=L&isFrbr=false&isHighlightedRecord=false&state=) or [Read Online](https://archive.org/details/jiuqinianlaijiag00guan).
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Original folder title: Hang Seng Consumer Price Index 恒生消費物價指數
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Includes the original version of 1974, as well as the 1980 and 1985 revision.
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Research Report written by Master of Business Administration stuent at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This is a gift from the author, Roger Luk and Robert Young, to Stanley.
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Includes historical figures and fact sheets of Hang Seng Index. Also includes published materials explaining its history and concepts.
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In 1999, the survey and publication of the Hang Seng Consumer Price Index was taken over by the HKSAR Census and Statics Department. This file includes eight brochures from the department in relation to the Index.
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Includes Hang Seng Indexes Monthly Bulletin (恒生指數系列 每月資訊), A Guide to Hang Seng Index (恒生指數淺釋), Hang Seng Indexes Monthly Bulletin (恒生指數系列每月資訊) etc.
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Near-completion manuscripts. Includes draft for Chapter 6 "回歸祖國" that was not included in the final publication.
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Original folder title: 七十年來家國 Published by University of Toronto - York University Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies 1999
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Includes correspondence with Canada-Hong Kong Resource Centre, Roger Luk (陸觀豪), other acquitance and families. Also newspaper clippings about the publications. There is also mention of Stanley's intention to rewrite his book.
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Original folder title: New China Bank 第一部 Part One
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Includes research materials about the Kwan's family, Tang's family (Stanley Kwan's uncle), and Chan's family (Stanley Kwan's in-laws) history.
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Original folder title: New China Bank 第二部 Part Two
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Includes research materials on the Second World War, especially wartime translators.
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Original folder title: New China Bank 第三部 Part Three
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Includes research materials on foreign diplomacy.
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Original folder title: New China Bank Chapter IV 第四部 傳奇的銀行從業員生涯
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Includes research materials on the history of Hang Seng Bank. Corresondence with Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong requesting for advanced data.
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Original folder title: New China Bnka Chapter V 第五部 二次大戰投筆從戎
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Includes correspondence with family memories dicsussing their histories, and other family histories materials.
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Original folder title: New China Bank VI 第六部
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Includes research materials on politics of China and its dynamics with Hong Kong.
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The files are provided by editor Babara Yang. Also includes Author-Publisher Agreement an ebook addendum between Stanley Kwan, Nicole Kwan, and the Hong Kong University Press
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It was titled "Hong Kong Memoir 1925-1997: The Dilemmas of Patriotism" in this version
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The images are burned on a CD
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Original folder title: "Dragon & the Crown" Photos + Caption
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Captions are provided for the photographs
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Includes news about book launch at the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library.
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Original folder title: The Dragon and the Crown (Toronto book launch and prmotion) Published by Hong kOng University Press 2009
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Includes press release, newpaper clippings, speeches, book review, and correspondence.
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Includes photographs taken at Oakland Public Library Asian Branch and Stanford University. Stanley is accompanied by his niece Nicole Kwan.
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Original folder title: The Dragon and the Crown (Vancouver and Hong Kong book promotion)
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Stanley traveled to Vancouver for a luncheon and several interviews regarding the Dragon and the Crown during October 18-25, 2009.
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Correspondence regarding royalty and reprinting of his book The Dragon and the Crown. Also includes the Press's catalog between 2009 and 2011.
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Includes photographs of Stanley's parents, siblings, the places they grew up in, his career, and family.
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Includes photographs taken with newphen Cheuk Kwan, niece Nicole Kwan, and mother Tang Shiu King (鄧肇瓊).
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Unpublished biography of Leung Nai [Wa] (梁乃強) written by Leung Nai Hei (梁乃熙), maternal cousin of Stanley and son of Leung Ki Chai (梁杞儕) and Tang Shiu Chun (鄧肇真). It is a memoir of Leung Nai Wa career in the Kuomingtang (國民黨) army.
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Poems written by Kwan Sai Kwong (關世光), Stanley's paternal cousin and son of Kwan Wai Chow (關淮州). The selected poems were written by Sai Kwong after he resettled in Hong Kong in 1995.
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Unpublished autobiography of Leung Nai Hei (梁乃熙) written in the UK. It is a reminiscences of his youth in China.
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Original folder title: Pending
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Includes draft manuscripts titled "'In Sickness and in Health'" - Caregiving with Love", "A 20-Year Journey to Christian Faith", "Yu Hanmou - A Soldier for Life", handwritten letters from sibling Sai Kwong (關世光) and Tse Kwong (子光), and the Kwan Family Tree.
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Original folder title: 人頭稅平反, Chinese Resentments, US Obama
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Materials collected by Stanley about Anti-W5, Head Tax on Chinese, Tiananmen event etc.
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Original folder title: Stanley Interview 11/15/01
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The interview was conducted and recorded by Cheuk Kwan, Stanley's nephe, and Cheuk's daughter.
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Original folder title: Stanley Interview 3/29/02
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The interview was conducted and recorded by Cheuk Kwan, Stanley's nephew.
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Stanley's wife, Wing Kin, lived in the Yee Hong Centre from 2005. This file includes the article written by Stanley for the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation (頤康基金會) monthly issue and a letter that called for donation.
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Original folder title: China 2008
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Original folder title: COALITION OF COMMUNITIES CALLING ON ALL MEMBRES OF THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT TO SUPPORT 'COMFORT WOMEN' MOTION 291
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Documents and a CD distributed from the Canada Association for Learning & Preserving the History of WWII in Asia (Toronto ALPHA).
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Original folder title: IMPORTANT EMAILS AND DOCUMENTS
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Includes correspondence between Stanley and his close families, discussing occurance in China and Hong Kong. Also includes an article "The Year 2009 in Retrospect", his speeches, and records of his book launch.
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Publication of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (中僑互助會). This includes an interview with Stanley Kwan.
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Original folder title: China Hong Kong
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Includes article "恒指之父 病逝加拿大".
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