Ee Hoe Hean Club
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1895, the Ee Hoe Hean Club located at Bukit Pasoh Road
in Chinatown
, was one of the oldest millionaires' clubs in Singapore
. Besides functioning as a social and business club, members of the club were actively involved in the political development of China
during the pre-independence era of Singapore. The club supported Sun Yat Sen's revolution to overthrow the Qing Dynasty
in 1911 and later the re-building of the Republican China. During the Second World War, it was the headquarters of the anti-Japanese China Salvation Movement in Southeast Asia
from 1937—1942. On 18 October 1995, the club was gazetted as a Heritage Site by the National Heritage Board
of Singapore.
and Dr. Lim Boon Keng
, the three-storey high Ee Hoe Hean Club was originally located on Duxton Hill
but moved to Bukit Pasoh Road in 1925. The club was a social-cum-business club where like-minded Chinese
businessmen could mingle and exchange ideas. Members such as Teo Eng Hock, Tan Chor Nam and Lim Nee Soon were actively involved in Sun Yat Sen's revolution to overthrow the Qing Dynasty in 1911 and later the re-building of the Republican China
. Among the more famous visitors to its clubhouse were Sun Yat Sen and Jawaharlal Nehru
. In 1923, when Chinese businessman, community leader and philanthropist
Tan Kah Kee
, known as the Rubber King of Singapore and Malaya
, assumed chairmanship of the club, its focus shifted from being a purely social and business club to one that was politically active.
province of China, Tan came to Singapore at the age of 16 to join his father's business. In 1904, Tan struck out on his own, selling pineapples and rice and manufacturing rubber tyres and shoes. Tan's rubber business flourished and, with growing wealth, he altruistically donated money to many schools and established Amoy University (now Xiamen University
). However, Tan's loyalty still lay with his motherland and he ardently supported opponents of the Qing rulers during the 1911 revolution. By this time, Tan's philanthropic work and political inclinations had made him a popular figure amongst the Chinese in Singapore
and China.
Tan brought to the club his political awareness of Chinese matters. In 1928, following a public outrage over a massacre at Jinan
(known as the Jinan Incident
) in Shandong
in which more than 5,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians were slaughtered by the Japanese
, the club set up the Shandong Relief Fund. Its purpose was to raise funds for China, to create awareness amongst the Chinese about the Japanese invasion of China, and to encourage the Chinese to boycott Japanese goods and services. The Chinese community contributed a total of S$1.34 million within a year of its inception.
Seeing that the Chinese military was weaker than the superior Japanese forces, Tan stepped up his anti-Japanese campaign. In 1936, he raised enough money for the Chinese Air Force to purchase 13 fighter planes. In 1937, the Chinese Relief Fund Committee was set up with Tan chosen by over 800 representatives of the Chinese community as its chairman. In response to the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, the China Salvation Movement was born, with its Southeast Asian headquarters located at the club until 1942, when the Japanese invaded Singapore. Tan fled to Indonesia
just a few days before the fall of Singapore as he knew he would likely face persecution by the Japanese should he choose to remain. He returned to Singapore after the war and continued to play an active role in community services and charity work before returning to China in 1950. He died at the age of 87 in Beijing
on 12 August 1961 and was accorded a national funeral by the Chinese Government
for his various contributions to society.
During the Sino-Japanese War
, many Chinese seaports were either captured or blockaded by the Japanese, in an attempt to prevent supplies from entering China. As a result, an alternative overland road named Burma Road
, became China's most important supply route. Completed in 1938, supplies were sent by sea to the Rangoon port in Burma, transported overland by rail to Lashio
and through the Burma Road to Kunming
in China. Due to lack of experienced drivers and mechanics in China, the Chinese government requested Tan Kah Kee, the Chairman of the China Relief Fund, to recruit volunteers from Nanyang
("South East Asia" in Mandarin
). Following the request, the China Relief Fund published the first recruitment notice on 7 February 1939.
As the road condition required extremely good driving skills, the China Relief Fund decided to test drivers and established a driving institute on a vacant piece of accessible land behind the Shuang Lin Monastery. Venerable Pu Liang, the monastery's 10th abbot, supported the China Relief Fund. Qualified volunteers from Nanyang converged in Singapore to form a batch. In 1939, about 3,200 volunteers left in nine batches that included only Chinese men but also Indian
s, Malays, and four Chinese women. About 1,000 of them died in service, 1,000 settled in China and others returned to Nanyang after the war. The Venerable and two of his disciples were later arrested and executed during Sook Ching in 1942.
to maintain law and order and in supplying labourers and volunteers for the defence of Singapore. As a result, it became the recruiting centre and headquarters of the Singapore Overseas Chinese Volunteer Army or Dalforce
after its British chief commander, Colonel
John Dalley. A surviving volunteer named Hu Tie Jun recounted his experience:
Although ill-equipped and having received little training, the Dalforce was sent to the north-western front where they fought bravely against Japanese landing parties during the Battle of Sarimbun Beach
and Battle of Kranji
. Despite their efforts Singapore fell to the Japanese a few days after the invasion, and the Japanese army moved in to occupy the Chin Kang Huay Kuan. After the Japanese surrender on September 1945, Chin Kang Huay Kuan resumed its normal activities of running welfare programmes for needy clan members and organising cultural events.
, the club's anti-Japanese agenda became redundant and it reverted being a club for social and business interaction once again. Its members were later active in the struggle for citizenship, voters' registration campaign and other philanthropic activities. After Singapore's independence in 1965, it became a focal point where local Chinese businessmen socialised and forged ties, and it continued to play an active role in community services such as charity work and giving public talks. Among its 200-odd members today are luminaries of the Chinese business community such as the founder of the Overseas Union Bank Lien Ying Chow, and United Overseas Bank
chairman Wee Cho Yaw
. It is still an all men's club – the youngest members are mainly in their 50s and membership is by invitation only.
with a new 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) memorial hall to honour Tan Kah Kee and other early Chinese community leaders. The new hall is named Xian Xian Guan (The Pioneers' Memorial Hall) and is located on the club's ground floor. It contains exhibits such as a wax figure of Tan Kah Kee, old photographs, and interactive multimedia facilities. The second floor is used for social functions, and the third floor continues to house the social club. The memorial hall is open by appointment to the public, in particular to schools and tourist groups from China and Taiwan
. The club house and other places related to Tan are included as part of the heritage trails and guided tours around Singapore.
Bukit Pasoh Road
Bukit Pasoh Road is a road in Tanjong Pagar within the Outram Planning Area of Singapore. The road starts from Neil Road which is one way, but becomes two ways, when the road forks out into two parts, with one becoming Teo Hong Road, with both roads ending at New Bridge Road...
in Chinatown
Chinatown, Singapore
Singapore's Chinatown is an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. Chinatown is located within the larger district of Outram....
, was one of the oldest millionaires' clubs in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Besides functioning as a social and business club, members of the club were actively involved in the political development of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
during the pre-independence era of Singapore. The club supported Sun Yat Sen's revolution to overthrow the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
in 1911 and later the re-building of the Republican China. During the Second World War, it was the headquarters of the anti-Japanese China Salvation Movement in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
from 1937—1942. On 18 October 1995, the club was gazetted as a Heritage Site by the National Heritage Board
National Heritage Board (Singapore)
The National Heritage Board is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts ....
of Singapore.
History
Co-founded in 1895 by Lim Nee Soon, Gan Eng SengGan Eng Seng
Gan Eng Seng was one of the early Chinese pioneers of Singapore known for his generosity to many charitable causes during the era of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and Singapore...
and Dr. Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng
Lim Boon Keng, OBE was a Chinese doctor who promoted social and educational reforms in Singapore and China. Lim was of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Hai Teng district in Fujian, China.-Early life:...
, the three-storey high Ee Hoe Hean Club was originally located on Duxton Hill
Duxton Hill
Duxton Hill is a small hill, as well as the name of a road, located in Tanjong Pagar within the Outram Planning Area of Singapore....
but moved to Bukit Pasoh Road in 1925. The club was a social-cum-business club where like-minded Chinese
Chinese in Singapore
Chinese Singaporeans are people of Chinese ethnicity who hold Singaporean nationality. As of 2010, Chinese Singaporeans constitute 74.1% of Singapore's resident population, or approximately three out of four Singaporeans, making them the largest ethnic group in Singapore...
businessmen could mingle and exchange ideas. Members such as Teo Eng Hock, Tan Chor Nam and Lim Nee Soon were actively involved in Sun Yat Sen's revolution to overthrow the Qing Dynasty in 1911 and later the re-building of the Republican China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Among the more famous visitors to its clubhouse were Sun Yat Sen and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
. In 1923, when Chinese businessman, community leader and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee
Tan Kah Kee was a prominent businessman, community leader, and philanthropist in colonial Singapore, and a Communist leader in the People's Republic of China.- Early years :...
, known as the Rubber King of Singapore and Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
, assumed chairmanship of the club, its focus shifted from being a purely social and business club to one that was politically active.
Tan Kah Kee
Born in 1874 in the FujianFujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
province of China, Tan came to Singapore at the age of 16 to join his father's business. In 1904, Tan struck out on his own, selling pineapples and rice and manufacturing rubber tyres and shoes. Tan's rubber business flourished and, with growing wealth, he altruistically donated money to many schools and established Amoy University (now Xiamen University
Xiamen University
Xiamen University , colloquially known as Xia Da , located in Xiamen, Fujian province, is the first university in China founded by overseas Chinese. Before 1949, it was originally known as the University of Amoy. The school motto is "Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection "...
). However, Tan's loyalty still lay with his motherland and he ardently supported opponents of the Qing rulers during the 1911 revolution. By this time, Tan's philanthropic work and political inclinations had made him a popular figure amongst the Chinese in Singapore
Chinese in Singapore
Chinese Singaporeans are people of Chinese ethnicity who hold Singaporean nationality. As of 2010, Chinese Singaporeans constitute 74.1% of Singapore's resident population, or approximately three out of four Singaporeans, making them the largest ethnic group in Singapore...
and China.
Tan brought to the club his political awareness of Chinese matters. In 1928, following a public outrage over a massacre at Jinan
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
(known as the Jinan Incident
Jinan Incident
The Jinan Incident or May 3rd Tragedy , was an armed conflict between the Japanese Army allied with Northern Chinese warlords against the Kuomintang's southern army in Jinan, the capital of Shandong in 1928 during the Kuomintang's Northern Expedition.-Background:During the Northern Expedition,...
) in Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
in which more than 5,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians were slaughtered by the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
, the club set up the Shandong Relief Fund. Its purpose was to raise funds for China, to create awareness amongst the Chinese about the Japanese invasion of China, and to encourage the Chinese to boycott Japanese goods and services. The Chinese community contributed a total of S$1.34 million within a year of its inception.
Seeing that the Chinese military was weaker than the superior Japanese forces, Tan stepped up his anti-Japanese campaign. In 1936, he raised enough money for the Chinese Air Force to purchase 13 fighter planes. In 1937, the Chinese Relief Fund Committee was set up with Tan chosen by over 800 representatives of the Chinese community as its chairman. In response to the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, the China Salvation Movement was born, with its Southeast Asian headquarters located at the club until 1942, when the Japanese invaded Singapore. Tan fled to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
just a few days before the fall of Singapore as he knew he would likely face persecution by the Japanese should he choose to remain. He returned to Singapore after the war and continued to play an active role in community services and charity work before returning to China in 1950. He died at the age of 87 in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
on 12 August 1961 and was accorded a national funeral by the Chinese Government
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
for his various contributions to society.
Recruitment of drivers and mechanics
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, many Chinese seaports were either captured or blockaded by the Japanese, in an attempt to prevent supplies from entering China. As a result, an alternative overland road named Burma Road
Burma Road
The Burma Road is a road linking Burma with the southwest of China. Its terminals are Kunming, Yunnan, and Lashio, Burma. When it was built, Burma was a British colony.The road is long and runs through rough mountain country...
, became China's most important supply route. Completed in 1938, supplies were sent by sea to the Rangoon port in Burma, transported overland by rail to Lashio
Lashio
Lashio is the largest town in northern Shan State, Myanmar, about northeast of Mandalay. It is situated on a low mountain spur overlooking the valley of the Nam Yao river. The population grew from around 5000 in 1960 to 88,590 in 1983. It is currently estimated at around 130,000.Lashio is the...
and through the Burma Road to Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
in China. Due to lack of experienced drivers and mechanics in China, the Chinese government requested Tan Kah Kee, the Chairman of the China Relief Fund, to recruit volunteers from Nanyang
Nanyang (geographical region)
Nanyang is the Chinese name for the geographical region south of China, particularly Southeast Asia. Literally meaning "Southern Ocean", it came into common usage in self-reference to the large ethnic Chinese migrant population in Southeast Asia, to be more precise, in Singapore, the Philippines,...
("South East Asia" in Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
). Following the request, the China Relief Fund published the first recruitment notice on 7 February 1939.
As the road condition required extremely good driving skills, the China Relief Fund decided to test drivers and established a driving institute on a vacant piece of accessible land behind the Shuang Lin Monastery. Venerable Pu Liang, the monastery's 10th abbot, supported the China Relief Fund. Qualified volunteers from Nanyang converged in Singapore to form a batch. In 1939, about 3,200 volunteers left in nine batches that included only Chinese men but also Indian
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
s, Malays, and four Chinese women. About 1,000 of them died in service, 1,000 settled in China and others returned to Nanyang after the war. The Venerable and two of his disciples were later arrested and executed during Sook Ching in 1942.
Recruitment of militia
Located just a stone's throw away lies another historic site, the Chin Kang Huay Kuan, a Chinese clan association that was established in 1918 by Chinese immigrants from Jin Jiang County in the southern Fujian Province of China. The present building on Bukit Pasoh Road was built in 1928 and its wartime history was intricately linked to Ee Hoe Hean Club. During the Japanese invasion of Singapore, the clan association's premises served as an extension of the club's anti-Japanese activities and were used by the Overseas Chinese General Mobilisation Council. Headed by Tan Kah Kee, the council was instrumental in helping the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to maintain law and order and in supplying labourers and volunteers for the defence of Singapore. As a result, it became the recruiting centre and headquarters of the Singapore Overseas Chinese Volunteer Army or Dalforce
Dalforce
Dalforce, or the Singapore Overseas Chinese Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army was an irregular forces/guerrilla unit within the British Straits Settlements Volunteer Force during World War II. Its members were recruited among the ethnic Chinese people of Singapore...
after its British chief commander, Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John Dalley. A surviving volunteer named Hu Tie Jun recounted his experience:
Although ill-equipped and having received little training, the Dalforce was sent to the north-western front where they fought bravely against Japanese landing parties during the Battle of Sarimbun Beach
Battle of Sarimbun Beach
The Battle of Sarimbun Beach was the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore in February 1942 during World War II. Sarimbun, in the west of Singapore Island, was the area in which Japanese troops, under the overall direction of Lieutenant General Tomoyuki Yamashita, first attacked Allied...
and Battle of Kranji
Battle of Kranji
The Battle of Kranji was the second stage of the Empire of Japan's plan for the invasion of Singapore during the Second World War. On 9 February 1942 the Imperial Japanese Army assaulted the north-western front of the British colony of Singapore...
. Despite their efforts Singapore fell to the Japanese a few days after the invasion, and the Japanese army moved in to occupy the Chin Kang Huay Kuan. After the Japanese surrender on September 1945, Chin Kang Huay Kuan resumed its normal activities of running welfare programmes for needy clan members and organising cultural events.
Post-war years
After the Japanese OccupationJapanese Occupation of Singapore
The Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II occurred between about 1942 and 1945 after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. Military forces of the Empire of Japan occupied Singapore after defeating the combined Australian, British, Indian and Malayan garrison in the Battle of Singapore...
, the club's anti-Japanese agenda became redundant and it reverted being a club for social and business interaction once again. Its members were later active in the struggle for citizenship, voters' registration campaign and other philanthropic activities. After Singapore's independence in 1965, it became a focal point where local Chinese businessmen socialised and forged ties, and it continued to play an active role in community services such as charity work and giving public talks. Among its 200-odd members today are luminaries of the Chinese business community such as the founder of the Overseas Union Bank Lien Ying Chow, and United Overseas Bank
United Overseas Bank
United Overseas Bank Limited , abbreviated as UOB is a bank incorporated in Singapore. It was founded 6 August 1935 by Kuching-born Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, father of the present United Overseas Bank Group Chairman, Mr...
chairman Wee Cho Yaw
Wee Cho Yaw
Mr Wee Cho Yaw , is the incumbent Chairman of the United Overseas Bank Group .Wee Cho Yaw joined the Board of Directors of the then United Chinese Bank in 1958...
. It is still an all men's club – the youngest members are mainly in their 50s and membership is by invitation only.
Re-opening
In 2006, in collaboration with the Tan Kah Kee Foundation, the club underwent a S$2.5 million (US$1.85 million) reconstruction works in order to preserve the century-old historic building. On 9 November 2008, the club was officially reopened by Finance Minister Tharman ShanmugaratnamTharman Shanmugaratnam
Tharman Shanmugaratnam is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Minister for Manpower. He previously served as the Minister for Education from 2003 to 2008...
with a new 2000 square feet (185.8 m²) memorial hall to honour Tan Kah Kee and other early Chinese community leaders. The new hall is named Xian Xian Guan (The Pioneers' Memorial Hall) and is located on the club's ground floor. It contains exhibits such as a wax figure of Tan Kah Kee, old photographs, and interactive multimedia facilities. The second floor is used for social functions, and the third floor continues to house the social club. The memorial hall is open by appointment to the public, in particular to schools and tourist groups from China and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The club house and other places related to Tan are included as part of the heritage trails and guided tours around Singapore.