中國駐外領事首設於新加坡，乃中國對外關係之重大措施之一。一般中國近代史、外交史或華僑史的學術著作，若是涉及晚清在南洋遣使設領之研究時，皆會聚焦於中國近代領事制度的首創之地新加坡。然而，相對於新加坡而言，檳榔嶼的設領問題，卻是學術界長久以來較為忽視的。雖然近年有幾篇相關研究著作的出現，但是尚未能對檳榔嶼設領的相關問題作定論。主要是相關著作的研究範圍尚有其侷限性，尤其是只集中在討論副領事與當地華人社會的關係，甚至是只偏向客家社會的論述而已，加上史料的依據略顯薄弱與不足，以致研究成果似乎尚有商榷之餘地。例如，當年確定要在檳榔嶼設領之後，清朝政府曾面臨一連串棘手問題，即首任副領事到底該選派誰較為恰當，以及其遴選標準又為何等等。同樣地，僑居南洋的張弼士為何會雀屏中選，又為何願意接受該項任務等，皆是深值再進一步探究的問題。職是之故，為了能更完整的呈現出晚清在檳榔嶼設置副領事的經過，除運用英國的殖民地檔案外，典藏於中央研究院近代史研究所檔案館，以及北京第一歷史檔案館的相關檔案，皆是本研究不可或缺的史料。此外，為了比較和補充官方資料之不足，本研究亦會輔以當時在南洋地區出版的報章，以及碑銘方面的資料。

Although the so-called tributary system which governed the Sino-Southeast Asian relations had been in existence since the founding of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), no formal diplomatic ties, however, were established between China and the Southeast Asian states until the appointment of the first Chinese consular representative in Singapore iii 1877. and this was followed, sixteen years later, ill 1893, by the establishment of the Chinese Consulate in Penang. Between 1893 and 1911, a total of five persons had held the office of Chinese Vice Consuls in Penang. However none of them were officers sent over from China but all were local Chinese leaders. While all five were Hakka merchant, and the first Chinese Vice-Consul in Penang was Chang Pi Shih (張弼士). This article will examine a Hakka merchant- Chang Pi Shih, who was struggling his life and later developing his career ill Batavia and Penang.