Thomas Bakhap

Thomas Jerome Kingston Bakhap (29 October 1866 – 18 August 1923) was an Australian politician. He was born in Ballarat, Victoria, the adoptive son of a Chinese immigrant, Bak Hap.^[1] He received no formal education but became a shopworker, and was later a tin miner at Lottah, Tasmania. In 1909, he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass.^[2] In 1913, he transferred to federal politics, winning a Tasmanian Senate seat as a member of the Commonwealth Liberal Party. He was Chairman of Committees from July 1920 to June 1923.^[3] Bakhap died in August 1923; John Hayes was appointed to replace him.^[4] Bakhap was fluent in Cantonese. He advocated for the Chinese community when Chinese Australians encountered problems arising from the application of the White Australia Policy. He visited China in 1922^[5] as a representative of the Australian government, and by that time was recognised as the parliament's pre-eminent expert in Chinese and South-East Asian affairs.^[6]

Thomas Bakhap
Senator for Tasmania
In office 1 July 1913 – 18 August 1923
Succeeded by	John Hayes
Personal details
Born	(1866-10-29)29 October 1866 Ballaarat, Victoria
Died	18 August 1923(1923-08-18) (aged 56) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Political party	Liberal (1913–17) Nationalist (1917–23)
Occupation	Politician