Kiu Ling

The members of tongs who owned shops and restaurants were most respected because the other tong members depended on these owners for jobs. “These leaders were the big shots, kiu ling in Cantonese, meaning a leader in an overseas community” (4). The Kiu lings were dynamic and generous members of the community, and subsequently became the elected officers or members of executive boards within their associations.

(flickr.com)