hoppo

plural hoppos · plural hoppoes · alternative Hoppo

1. archaiccapitalizedcountablehistoricalsometimesuncountableThe imperial Chinese board of revenue, especially its branch in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty.

   Hoppo. This is a tribunal, that has in charge the collecting of imperial dues on navigation and trade, and remitting the amount to the Grand-hoppo at Canton...

   1836, Anders Ljungstedt, An Historical Sketch of the Portuguese Settlements in China..., page 86

   1 more example

   On the way two Chinese buildings were pointed out to us as hoppo, of custom-houses, at both which all boats […] are obliged to stop and undergo a strict search or examination by a petty mandarin.

   c. 1808, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, page 108

2. archaiccountablehistoricaluncountableAn imperial Chinese customs officer, especially (sometimes capitalized) the chief customs officer for the South China Sea based in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty.

   The Hoppos, who look on Europe Ships as a great branch of their Profits, will give you all the fair Words imaginable.

   1711, Charles Lockyer, An Account of the Trade in India..., page 101

   3 more examples

   ...received a most polite invitation from the late Mr. William Parry, a supercargo, to meet the Hoppo (or principal custom-house officer)...

   1814, James Wathen, Journal of a Voyage in 1811 and 1812 to Madras and China..., page xvi

   Hoppo. This is a tribunal, that has in charge the collecting of imperial dues on navigation and trade, and remitting the amount to the Grand-hoppo at Canton... at Macao, the Portuguese designate him by the epithet Grand-hoppo, in contradistinction to another... [T]he Hoppo of Macao... levies on foreigners, coming and going, an arbitrary tax on their persons and baggage. He is assisted by compradors, pilots and others...

   1836, Anders Ljungstedt, An Historical Sketch of the Portuguese Settlements in China..., pages 86–90

   The ‘Hoppo’ (as he was incorrectly styled) filled an office especially created for the foreign trade at Canton... The Board of Revenue is in Chinese ‘Hoo-poo’, and the office was locally misapplied to the officer in question.

   1882, William C. Hunter, The ‘Fan Kwae’ at Canton before Treaty Days..., page 36

plural Hoppos · plural Hoppoes

1. archaiccountablehistoricaluncountableAlternative letter-case form of hoppo, especially in reference to the imperial board or the chief customs officer of a port.

   1 more example

   The Viceroy (Tsung-tu or Chih-tai) of the two provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi had his official residence in those days at Shiuhing, some fifty miles up-river from Canton, but was often at Canton at critical times. He was supreme in civil matters with in his jurisdiction, except for the independent jurisdiction of the Hoppo, and was ultimately responsible for maintaining law and order.

   1909, Hosea Ballou Morse, The Gilds of China: With an Account of the Gild Merchant Or Co-hong of Canton, Longhams, Green and Co., →OCLC, →OL, pages 71–72

1. Synonym of Hepu: the Cantonese-derived name.

   Synonyms: Hepu