Launch of The Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas (French edition)
The 'King of Pearls' - Mr Robert Wan
'King of Pearls' Launches Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas
The 'King of Pearls' -
Mr Robert Wan
Mr. Robert Wan, known in the business circles as the 'King of Pearls', launched the French edition of the Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas at the Chinese Heritage Centre on Monday, 25 September 2000. As a businessman responsible for more than half of French Polynesia's pearl production, he provided sponsorship to translate the Centre's original English edition into French.
The Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas was first published by the Chinese Heritage Centre and launched by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Centre in late 1998. Chinese Heritage Centre Director, Professor Kee
Pookong, said "the publication is the most authoritative and comprehensive book on the diverse Chinese communities in the five continents".
"It has made a major contribution to a worldwide understanding and appreciation of the Chinese communities in their adopted homes", added Professor Kee.
Professor Kee said the publication of the French edition of the Encyclopedia is an important achievement as France and other Francophone countries have been significant areas of Chinese migration and settlement.
Sponsor of the French edition Mr Robert Wan, Founder of Tahiti Perles
Chinese Heritage Centre Director, Professor Kee Pookong presenting Mr Wan with a gift
Traditionally, France has also been an important source of scholarly knowledge on China. "The French edition of The Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas should boost Sinology, the study of all things Chinese in France and the rest of the French-speaking world", according to Professor Kee.
Professor Kee also said that a Japanese edition of the Encyclopedia is expected to go into production soon. This will enable many more readers across the world have access to to the wealth of information contained in the book. The Centre Director said he wishes to see a Spanish edition produced in the near future, as this will complete the translation of the Encyclopedia into all the major languages of countries where substantial communities of Chinese have taken roots.
