Associação Comercial da Comunidade Chinesa Timorense
The Associação Comercial da Comunidade Chinesa Timorense (ACCCTO, tetum Assosiasaun Comunidade Xineza Timor-Oan ) represents the interests of the Chinese in East Timor.
history
Chinese traders visited the island of Timor long before the Portuguese , who they colonized from the 16th century. In the second half of the 19th century, the economy grew and the need for skilled workers grew in the colony, which is why the Chinese immigrated to Portuguese Timor mainly via Macau .
The ACCCTO was founded on October 22, 1912. In 1930 there were already 2000 Chinese living in the colony, most of them in the colonial capital Dili. Well organized, they formed a parallel society with numerous facilities of their own, such as the Guandi Temple , the Chinese Cemetery , the Chinese Club ( Chum Tuk Fong Su ) and the Chinese School. The former seat of the ACCCTO is now the East Timorese State Secretariat for Youth and Sport.
During the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999), when the Chinese population of East Timor suffered persecution and many fled to Australia , the association's activities were suspended. In 2002 the ACCCTO was re-registered. For the 100th anniversary in 2012, the ACCCTO again had 400 members. In 2019 it was 10,000.
Important members
Long-time President of the ACCCTO was Siu Peng Lay . Kathleen Gonçalves has been President since 2019, and Vice President Xie Jinlong.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Sapo: Timorenses chineses comemoram 100 anos em Timor-Leste , October 22, 2012 , accessed on April 20, 2020.
- ↑ a b c Património de Influência Portuguesa: Chinese Commercial Association (English), accessed on November 3, 2016.
- ↑ a b Tatoli: ACCCTO iha Membru 10,000 , August 21, 2019 , accessed on April 20, 2020.
- ↑ Ambassador Xiao Jianguo Attended the Commemorative Ceremony of Birth of Guan Di (Divus Guan) Held by ACCCTO , July 31, 2019 , accessed April 20, 2020.