The Chinese Association was founded in 1889. It was first proposed at an inaugural dinner at the Thatched House Club in London and formally constituted on 11 April 1889. The first chairman of the China Association was Sir Alfred Dent. The association held its first annual dinner in March 1890, enrolling 111 members. Membership fees, donations, and entrance fees funded the association’s activities. It acted as a lobbying group to the Chinese government and British government.
The CCBA’s official purposes were changed in 1978. In 1978, it was no longer necessary to protect its members from legal discrimination. It was no longer required to maintain a cemetery or school for Chinese immigrants, but continued to offer welfare services to its members. It was also responsible for lobbies against discriminatory legislation, such as head tax and laws banning Chinese businesses from employing white women. It also raised funds to support community institutions, and offered legal assistance to the Chinese community.
The CCBA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization comprised of sixty-five member organizations. These include professional organizations, trade groups, and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Chinese organizations are also represented in cultural, religious, and social groups. Chinese Canadians can be found in every community across the country. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA) is a local umbrella group of Chinese organizations throughout New England. The CCBA’s headquarters are at 90 Tyler Street in Quincy. The group recently sold Quincy Elementary School to the CCBA for a dollar.
The Chinese American Association of Iowa serves as a local organization that promotes cultural diversity. The organization works with the Chinese Student Associations at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Additionally, it collaborates with Asian Employee Networks of several local corporations to provide cultural and educational opportunities for its members. And, it is also dedicated to ensuring the Chinese American population has representation in the mainstream of American society.
In the 1880s, Chinese immigrants felt that their rights were not being protected by the US government, so they created their own associations to protect their interests. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association was formed in San Francisco. These organizations had close coordination and cooperation. A Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association was formed in 1882, and was also known as the Chinese Six Companies. It was a non-profit organization that had been active for nearly two decades.
CCBA’s website explains the organization and role of the Chinese community. Their objectives are to promote inter-relationship among the Chinese communities, to provide welfare and legal assistance to the poor and sick, and to combat foreign oppression. The organization also works to promote Chinese business ownership in Chinatown and supports the Chinese Voters Federation. It also supports business ownership in Chinatown and is a vital resource for new immigrants.
The CCBA originally was headed by wealthy merchants, but gradually evolved towards democratic leadership. New political organizations vied with the CCBA for control of Chinatown and the loyalty of its residents. As more Chinese moved outside Chinatown, small businesses began joining the CCBA’s leadership – though they often had limited funds to contribute for expenses. By the late twentieth century, CCBA membership declined as more Chinese citizens moved out of the Chinatown area, and the CCBA was no longer necessary.
The CCBA was instrumental in bringing Chinese culture and heritage to Victoria. In the 1960s, as immigration restrictions began to relax, the Chinatown community suffered from a decline in membership. Many Chinese immigrants were forced to relocate outside of Chinatown, and membership in the Chinese Community Building Association (CCBA) and the Chinese Public School declined. New immigrants chose to educate their children in English. This led to the closure of the Chinese Hospital and the establishment of the Chung Wah Mansion.
CAPS holds annual congresses and elections for its governing council every two years. The governing council elects the president and secretary general. The current president of CAPS is Prof. Hsin-Chih Chen, a professor of political science at National Cheng Kung University. The president of CAPS was named President Yong Wei. While he was president of the association, he stayed on as a member of the IPSA.