Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

Members of San Francisco’s Chinese Six Companies held a news conference for the Chinese language press to protest the effort to name the Chinatown Central Subway Station in honor of long-time neighborhood activist and City Hall insider Rose Pak, who died in 2016.

“Rose Pak is not seen as a respectful person in Chinatown,” said Hop Wo Benevolent Association member Steve Ball.

“We use one person’s name and then another group has another name. We don’t want any name on the station. It should just be Chinatown Station,” Ball said, adding that if the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency puts Pak’s name up opponents will launch a ballot initiative against the naming.

Pak was a long time foe of the benevolent association, which pretty much ruled the roost in Chinatown prior to Pak’s ascent in the early 1980s.

And while the Chinese Six Companies are respected, Pak and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce were the real powerhouse at City Hall while she was alive.

“Without Rose Pak, there will be no Central Subway,” said David Ho, a political operative who worked with her. “These people were too chickens— to even think about attacking her while she was alive and now they attack her after her death,” Ho said.

Longtime China Six member Mel Lee said, “Personally I have no problem with naming the station after her, but it has divided the community and that is not healthy.”

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phillip Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier