[3][5] Before there were the strict Immigration Laws, thousands of Chinese from the Kwong Tung province found their way, as laborers and as merchants into the United States.

An appeal, by these converts, was made to the American Missionary Association, for a minister to their province, Kwong Tung, but in vain.

[6][5] Hager, immediately after his ordination, traveled on the steamer SS City of Tokio from San Francisco to Hong Kong and was ashore on 31 May 1883.

With the help of Wan Tsing-kai, he rented a 3-storey house at 2 Bridges Street, Central and opened the mission including a school there.

Dr. Hager rejoined the mission after his marriage with Lizzie Winona Blackman in Chicago on June 20, 1894 and the couple traveled back to China in September of the same year.

However, after a very brief stay and service in Canton, Mrs. Hager died on the date of March 7, 1895 primarily due to kidney complaint.

At the beginning of 1897, a chapel was rented on Staunton Street, Central District of Hong Kong where evening services were held every night.

He hoped that an ocean voyage would restore him and accordingly he left his family in Hong Kong and sailed for San Francisco.

During his last years, Dr. Hager still labored among the California Chinese, and across the border in Mexico, and frequently sent money to the South China Mission.