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It was in this year that US President Theodore Roosevelt adopted a resolution remitting to China much of the American Share of the Boxer Indemnity in the form of scholarships for Chinese students. A preparatory school was required, and Tong took part in the preparation of the school.

A Students-to-Study-in-US Department was founded in 1908 and Tong was sent to the US for conveyance of acknowledgement.

In August 1909, it was in the Forbidden City, Peking (Beijing), that a national examination was held for the first students to study in the US in the 20th century. Tong Kwo On, one of the examiners, enrolled only 47 out of 630 candidates from across the country as the first –contingent students to study in America.

Tong Kwo On, sitting on the right, with the first-contingent students to study in the US

The national examination conducted in three successive years had selected 180 outstanding children whom Tong escorted from Shanghai to various schools in America each year.

Second-detachment students to study in the US, with Tong Kwo On sitting in the front on the right [Photos provided by Tang Guo'an Memorial Hall]

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Teaching building of Tsing Hua School built in 1911 [File photo]

Tsing Hua School was founded on April 29, 1911 and opened in August. Nevertheless, The Revolution of 1911 took place two months later to overthrow the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which resulted in the shutdown of the Qing government-owned school in November.

Tong was the only one left on the tranquil campus.

He might have taken the chance to hold a post in the new government, but instead organized school rangers and managed the school operations on his own.

Tsing Hua School resumed operation the next May, and Tong was appointed superintendent. The new government adopted Tong's proposals for restructuring the school, copying the western educational system and implementing the school president liability system. Tsing Hua School was renamed Tsing Hua College on Oct. 17, 1912 with Tong Kwo On as the first president.

Gate of Tsing Hua School [Photo by Liang Zhenxing]