J. D. Humphreys
Dr. John David Humphreys (died November 1922) was an English merchant in Hong Kong.
Humphreys was trained for a commercial career and spent some time in India when he was young. He was attracted to Australia by the gold discoveries and spent years working on the field. Subsequently he moved to Hong Kong in 1867 and became bookkeeper to A. S. Watson & Co., Ltd.. In the following year, his employers left him and Mr. Hunt to take in charge of the business. Humphreys purchased Hunt's interest and became the sole proprietor in 1871.[1]
Humphreys expanded the A. S. Watson & Co., Ltd. by establishing a small aerated water factory and opening branches in various districts and setting up branches all over China. In 1886, he turned it to a public company. He ceased to be general manager in 1896, and his firm of John D. Humphreys & Son became general managers of the A. S. Watson & Co.[2] and also Hong Kong High Level Tramways Co., Ltd, Olivers Freehold Miners, Ltd., and the New Balmoral Gold Mining Co., Ltd. He acquired the Mount Austin Hotel when it was winding up and sold it to the Military Authorities in 1922. He was also the first Chairman of the Kowloon College and provided financial support to the school.[1]
Humphreys was also the one of the first unofficial members elected to the Sanitary Board, together with J. J. Francis. They were dissatisfied with the limited power of the unofficial members and the neglecting and mismanagement of the municipal affairs by the governmental departments. In 1894, he brought forward his motion for the reconstruction of the Board with unofficial majority.[3]
He died in November 1922 in England.[1]