Wang Hing was a famous silver-smith in Canton and Hong Kong in the late 19th/early 20th Century, the '90' referring to 90 pure silver. The 'Li' most probably refers to Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), the famous Qing reformer and politician, the 'Pao' meaning cannon. Li was one of the main supporters and founders of the modern Qing Navy, and as an associate controller of the Board of Admiralty was able to secure funds to build up a fleet of some twenty-eight vessels. This vessel very probably represents one of the twenty-eight ships, the cannons on board exemplifying the Qing Dynasty's attempt at modernisation. For a further discussion of Li's life and support of the Qing dynasty navy, see A. Hummel ed., op. cit., pp.464-471