近代中國駐外領事與海外華人社會領袖角色的遞換--以駐檳榔嶼副領事謝榮光(1895-1907)為例

Abstract

在十九世紀末至二十世紀初時，謝榮光是檳榔嶼華人社會中極具影響力的人物之一。他不但是當地著名的富商與慈善家，更重要的是他還擔任過清朝政府派駐檳榔嶼的副領事。由於當時檳榔嶼的華人人口，主要係以閩南和廣府兩大方言群為主，而身為客家籍富商的謝榮光，卻能順利出任副領事一職，著實令人有點訝異。然而，關於謝榮光此方面的研究論著，卻是異常的缺乏。是故，為了填補此片研究的不足，以及重構謝榮光與檳榔嶼華人社會的歷史，本文除了運用英國的海峽殖民地檔案之外，典藏於中央研究院近代史研究所檔案館，以及北京第一歷史檔案館的相關史料，皆是本研究的主要依據。此外，為了比較和補充官方資料之不足，本文亦輔以當時在南洋地區出版的報章，以及碑銘方面的資料。除了闡述謝氏的發跡，以及仕宦經歷之外，本文亦會對謝氏在1895年至1907年間，所參與的社會活動作初步的分析，以期在釐清謝氏成為華人社會領袖歷程的同時，亦可檢視其在當時華人社會的角色與貢獻。

Diplomatic relations between Ch`ing Dynasty and British Malaya began in 1877 with the first Chinese Consulate being set up in Singapore. Penang began to have a Chinese Consulate in 1893. Between 1893 and 1911, a total of five persons had held the office of Chinese Vice Consuls in Penang. However none of them were officers sent over from China but all were local Chinese leaders. While all five were Hakka merchants, one of them was Hsieh Yung Kuang(謝榮光). This article will examine a Hakka merchant- Hsieh Yung Kuang, who was struggling for his life and later developing his career in Sumatra and Penang. The highlight of his life was the period between 1895 and 1907,especially when he serviced as the Chinese Vice Consul in Penang(1895-1903,1906-1907), the highest ranking officer appointed by the Ch`ing Dynasty. This article will focus on discussing Hsieh`s benevolence and other activities and relationship among the different Chinese dialect group communities in Penang.