Hoo Ah Kay (Hu Hsuan-tse)[1] was born 1816, in Whampoa, Canton, Qing Empire (present-day Huangpu District, Guangzhou, China).

[5] In 1859, Hoo played a key role in establishing the Singapore Botanic Gardens[6] (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

[12] Hoo was described as having led a rich and glamorous lifestyle, occasionally organizing elaborate meals, mostly intended for overseas visitors.

[3] A housing estate, Whampoa located in the subzone of Balestier, which is a part of Novena planning area in Singapore is named after him.

[17] Hoo Ah Kay appears in George MacDonald Fraser's historical novel Flashman's Lady and in The Hills of Singapore by Dawn Farnham.