Chapter 20
Ophthalmic Surgeon in Hong
Kong (1981-1982)
Introduction
Rizal left Europe for Hong Kong,
where he lived from November
to June
His1891
reason
for 1892
leaving
Europe were:
Life was unbearable
in Europe due
to his political differences with M.H
Del pillar and other in Spain
To lead propaganda movement in
Hongkong
To be near his beloved Philippines
and family
Farewell in Europe
Rizal left Ghent for Paris on
October 3,1891
He proceeded by train to
Marseilles and on October 18
1891. He boarded the steamer
Melbourne bound for Hong Kong
He brought with him a letter
of recommendation by Juan
Luna for Manuel Camus a
compatriot living in Singapore,
and 600 copies of the El fili.
Manuel Camus
- was a lawyer and a Philippine Senator.
He completed his education in Singapore
and returned to the Philippines in 1899 to
serve as an interpreter and translator for
the provost Marshal General of United
States Army.
During that time, he was a student and
was made as a mason on October 12,
1898 at Lt Zetland in the East lodge No
508 in Singapore and the Jurisdiction of
the M.W Grand Lodge of England. He then
became a senator of the Philippines on his
There were over 80 first class
passenger, mostly European
including 2 Spaniards
He befriended many missionaries
and one of them is Fr. Fuchs, a
Tyrolese, which he enjoyed playing
chess with.
Arrived in Hong Kong
On November 20, 1891- Rizal
arrived in Hong Kong.
He was welcomed by the Filipino
resident, especially his old friend
Jose Ma. Basa
He then established his residence
at No s DAguillor street No 2
Rednaxola Terrace, where he also
opened his medical clinic Rednaxola
Terrace
December 1, 1891 he wrote his
parent asking their permission to
return home.
Family Reunion in Hong
Kong
Before Christmas of 1891, he was
gladdened by the animal of his
father, brother and Silvestre
Ubaldo (his brother in law) in Hong
Kong
Not long afterwards his mother
and sister Lucia Josefa, and
Trinidad also arrived
OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN
HONG KONG
Dr. Lorenzo P.
Marques- a friend
and admires who
helped him to build
up a wide clientele
He successfully
operated on his
mother left eyes
so that she was
able to read and
right again.
Rizal was given moral support and
substantial aid in his medical
practice in Hong Kong from some of
his friends in Europe.
Mr. Boustead (The father of Nelly
Boustead)
-wrote to him on March 21, 1892,
praising hi for his medical
profession.
Dr. Ariston Bautista Lin
-sent him a congratulatory letter
and a book on Diagnostic
pathology by Dr. H. Virchow
Don Antonio Vergel de Dios
-offered him hi services for the
purchase of medical books and
instrument which he might need in
his profession
BORNEO COLONIZATION
PROJECT
Rizal conceived the
establishment of a Filipino colony
in North Borneo (Sabah)
He planned to move those
Filipino families to that British
owned island and carve out of its
virgin wildnesss A New Calamba
March 7 1892- he went to
Sandakan on board the ship Menon
to negotiate with the British
authorities for the establishment of
Filipino
colonywas successful
His mission
The British Authorities of Borneo
were willing to give the Filipino
colonists 100,000 acres of land , a
beautiful harbor and a good
government for 999years, for all
By April 20, he was back in Hong
charges
Kong
Writings in Hong Kong
Not withstanding the pressure of his
medical and his Borneo colonization
project Rizal continued his writings
Ang mga karapatan ng tao
tagalong translation of the rights of
man proclaim by the French
revolution in 1789
A La Union Espaniola(to the
Spanish nation) which is an appeal
to Spain to right the wrong done to
the Calamba tenants.
Sa Mga Kababayan (To my
Countrymen) explaining the
Calamba agrarian situation
Rizal contributed articles to the
British daily newspaper. The Hong
Kong Telegraph whose editor Mr.
Frazier Smith. The vigilant Spanish
censors soon discovered the
spread of Rizals Ideals and
immediately banned the Hong
Kong newspaper.
March 2, 1892 Rizal wrote Una
Visita La Victoria gaol (A visit to
Victoria goal). An account of his
visit to the colonial prison of Hong
Kong. He contrasted the cruel
Spanish prison system with modern
and more humane British prison
system.
He wrote articles in French
entitled Colonisation de British
North par de Families de Iles
Philippines (Colonization North
Borneo by Families from the
Philippines Island) He elaborated
on the same idea in another
articles in Spanish Project de
Colonization de British North
Borneo by the Filipinos
June 1892- La Mano
Roja( The red Hand) printed in
sheet form in Hong Kong. It
denounces the frequent outbreak
of International Fires in Manila
Decision to Return in
Manila
By May 1892, Rizal up his mind to
return to manila. This decision was
spurred by the following:
1. To confer with governor Despujol
regarding his Borneo colonization
project.
2. To establish the Liga Filipina in
Manila
3.To prove the Eduardo de Lete was
wrong in attacking him in Madrid.
Last Hong Kong Letters
Relatives and friends of Rizal
opposed his decisions to return
home because it was like bearding
the lions of their den. His sister
Trinidad tearfully warned him to
desist, for here, they will kill you
Not even the fear of death
could
deter
Rizal
for
his
decisions. He celebrated his 31st
birthday in Hongkong and on the
following day he wrote 2 letters
having a premonition of his
death, he sealed, inscribed in
each envelope to be opened
after my death and gave them
to his friend Dr. Marques for
safekeeping.
The first letter addressed to my
Parents, Brethren, and Friends.
The second letter addressed to the
Filipinos.
Rizal penned another letter in Hong
Kong for Gov. Despujol, incidentally
his third letter to that discourteous
Spanish chief executive. In this letter
he informed the governor general of
his coming to Manila and placed
himself under the protection of the
On the same date, Rizal and his
sister Lucia, widow of Herbosa, left
Hong kong for Manila. They carried
a special passport or safe
conduct issued by the Spanish
consul-general in Hong kong.
