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Sir Catchick Paul Chater, C.M.G., his real name is Khatchik Boghos Asdvadsaderian, was born in Calcutta in 1846 and first came to Hong Kong in 1864 as an assistant in the Bank of Hindustan, China and Japan. In 1876 he resigned from the Bank and started business as an exchange and bill broker in which occupation he amassed a considerable fortune. In 1886 he was appointed an unofficial member of the Legislative Council and subsequently served on the Executive Council. He was knighted in 1902 and after a life of constant activity aimed at the improvement of Hong Kong and the welfare of its population died in 1926.
Quite soon after his first arrival in Hong Kong Chater developed an interest in the historical aspect of Chinese relations with Western Powers, particularly with the British, and from this interest grew the collection of paintings, lithographs and prints which formerly decorated his large house, Marble Hall in Conduit Road. This collection gave an unique pictorial record of Sino-British relations during the XIX century. Although from an artistic point of view it contained much which was the work of spare-time artists-sailors and travellers with only limited gifts with brush or pencil-its historical value was considerable.
For this reason it was singularly appropriate when at his death Sir Paul Chater bequeathed his Collection to the Government of Hong Kong to be housed in Government House, the Secretariat and other Government buildings.
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