Lim Boon Keng
Encyclopedia
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
.
family in Penang
. His father Lim Thean Geow, had moved his family to Singapore when Lim was a young boy and was later enrolled into Raffles Institution
. However, the demise of his parents during his childhood inspired Lim to enter a medical career. In 1887, Lim became the first Malayan to receive a Queen's scholarship
, and entered Edinburgh University. He graduated in 1892 with a First Class Honours degree in medicine.
in Singapore. The following year, he headed a Commission Of Inquiry into the sources of poverty in Singapore. In addition, Lim was also a justice of the peace
and a member of the Chinese Advisory Board.
Lim founded the Philomatic society
and published the first Straits Chinese Magazine in 1897. In the same year, he also campaigned against the wearing of the pigtails among Chinese men, with the intention of toppling the Qing Dynasty
in China
.
In 1899, Lim co-founded Singapore Chinese Girls' School
(SCGS) with his friend, Song Ong Siang
, to facilitate the education of Straits-Chinese women. (Chinese girls were not encouraged to be educated before the 20th century, thus many were illiterate.) The next year, Lim founded the Straits Chinese British Association, and later became a president.
As a member of the Legislative Council, Lim wanted opium
banned, forming the Anti-Opium Society. However, opium was not banned until 1943 under the Japanese Occupation
. The British reasoned that imposing a ban on opium would mean that the government would lose a source of income from the tax on opium. To make up for the loss, the Governor suggested taxing the people's incomes. The main group that would be affected by this tax would be the merchants. Therefore, the European and Asian merchants opposed to this, and opium was not banned, although heavier taxes on opium were imposed.
Lim was awarded the Order of the British Empire
as an officer in 1918 for his services to the British empire.
Together with Lim Nee Soon
, Lim co-founded OAC Insurance in 1920. OAC was the first locally-owned insurance company to be set up in Singapore. The following year in June, upon the requests of Sun Yat-Sen
, Lim served as the second president of Xiamen University
(University of Amoy), until the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese war
in July 1937. The University was founded by Tan Kah Kee
, Lim's friend.
Lim later went into banking, and co-founded the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
(OCBC)
As the President of Xiamen University, Lim published The Li Sao, an Elegy on Encountering Sorrows.
In 1937, Lim founded the Straits Chinese China Relief Fund Committee of Singapore to support China in her war efforts against Japan.
, Lim was in a state that he was so shocked that his voice was unaudible. However, with Shinozaki's help, Lim was able to get home with Shinozaki's protection cards.
Lim was asked by the Japanese to become the leader of OCA (Overseas Chinese Association, 華僑協會), an association which was designated to serve the needs of the local Chinese community under the approval of the Japanese. In response, Lim refused, claiming that he was too old to take up the role of a president. Lim's wife was then made to kneel down under the scorching sun for 4 hours at a stretch, in addition to bearing other insults. After Shinozaki persuaded him, telling him that Lim's position as president was merely to be a figurehead without needing to do much work, Lim finally relented.
In March 1942, Lim was ordered by the Japanese to raise a "donation" of fifty million dollars for Japan. However, only twenty-eight million dollars was raised with much difficulty. In response to the anger of the Japanese, Lim made an emotional speech:
In the end, the Japanese agreed to a loan for the remaining sum through the Yokohama Specie Bank
.
Lim also supervised the construction of the Endau
settlement in 1944. In view of Singapore's inability to feed her large population, it was meant to be a place for local citizens to migrate to.
Known as the grand old man of Singapore's Chinese Society, during the Japanese Occupation, he would feign a drunken stupor rather than co-operate with the conquerors.
in Singapore.
, Francis Kho-Beng, Walter Kho-Leng and John Kho-Liau. However, Lim's wife died in 1905.
Lim remarried in 1908, to Grace Yin. They had one son, Peng Han, who later became a race car driver, and daughter Ena Guat-Kheng. Lim also had another son, Peng Thiam, with Chui Geok, niece of one of Lim's wives, probably out of wedlock.
Dr Lim Boon Keng's son Lim Peng Han was the first Chinese to race at Brooklands, UK. His granddaughter Dr Annalisa Ee Nga Landymore-Lim began her education at the school her grandfather co-founded, Singapore Chinese Girl's School. She obtained her BSc (First Class) and DPhil in the UK in Biomedical Chemistry. Like her grandfather, she has also published and campaigned against the harmful effects of drugs used in medicine. She is author of 'Poisonous Prescriptions - Do Antibiotics Cause Asthma and Diabetes?'.
, Boon Keng Road and Upper Boon Keng Road are named after Lim Boon Keng.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
was a Chinese doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who promoted social and educational reforms 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...
and 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...
. Lim was of Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
Peranakan
Peranakan
Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era....
descent, with ancestry from Hai Teng district in Fujian
Fujian
' , 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...
, 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...
.
Early life
Lim was born as the third-generation of a Straits Chinese PeranakanPeranakan
Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era....
family in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. His father Lim Thean Geow, had moved his family to Singapore when Lim was a young boy and was later enrolled into Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
. However, the demise of his parents during his childhood inspired Lim to enter a medical career. In 1887, Lim became the first Malayan to receive a Queen's scholarship
Queen's Scholar
The longest-established Queen's Scholarships are the forty scholarships at Westminster School, founded in 1560 by Queen Elizabeth I. These scholars take part in the coronation in Westminster Abbey, acclaiming the new monarch by shouting "Vivat". They also have the right to observe parliament...
, and entered Edinburgh University. He graduated in 1892 with a First Class Honours degree in medicine.
Career
In 1895, Lim became a member of the British Legislative CouncilLegislative Council of the Straits Settlements
The Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements was a legislature formed on April 1, 1867, when the Straits Settlements was made a crown colony...
in Singapore. The following year, he headed a Commission Of Inquiry into the sources of poverty in Singapore. In addition, Lim was also a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and a member of the Chinese Advisory Board.
Lim founded the Philomatic society
Philomatic society
A philomatic society is an association of persons who love sciences. The term "philomatic" is no longer in use. The philomatic societies were influential in the nineteenth century...
and published the first Straits Chinese Magazine in 1897. In the same year, he also campaigned against the wearing of the pigtails among Chinese men, with the intention of toppling 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 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...
.
In 1899, Lim co-founded Singapore Chinese Girls' School
Singapore Chinese Girls' School
Singapore Chinese Girls' School is one of the oldest schools in Singapore having been founded in 1899. It is a full school with both primary and secondary divisions, taking in students between the ages of 6 and 16...
(SCGS) with his friend, Song Ong Siang
Song Ong Siang
Sir Ong-siang Song K.B.E., V.D., M.A., LL.M., was a lawyer and active citizen of the British Colony of Singapore. He was a third-generation Straits Chinese or Peranakan Baba , and the first ever Asian in Singapore to be knighted...
, to facilitate the education of Straits-Chinese women. (Chinese girls were not encouraged to be educated before the 20th century, thus many were illiterate.) The next year, Lim founded the Straits Chinese British Association, and later became a president.
As a member of the Legislative Council, Lim wanted opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
banned, forming the Anti-Opium Society. However, opium was not banned until 1943 under the Japanese Occupation
Japanese 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 British reasoned that imposing a ban on opium would mean that the government would lose a source of income from the tax on opium. To make up for the loss, the Governor suggested taxing the people's incomes. The main group that would be affected by this tax would be the merchants. Therefore, the European and Asian merchants opposed to this, and opium was not banned, although heavier taxes on opium were imposed.
Lim was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
as an officer in 1918 for his services to the British empire.
Together with Lim Nee Soon
Lim Nee Soon
Lim Nee Soon was a Chinese merchant who promoted social and community matters, and was a respected community leader in Singapore. Lim was of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Chao-chow-fu in Guangdong, China....
, Lim co-founded OAC Insurance in 1920. OAC was the first locally-owned insurance company to be set up in Singapore. The following year in June, upon the requests of Sun Yat-Sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, Lim served as the second president of 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 "...
(University of Amoy), until the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese war
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...
in July 1937. The University was founded by 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 :...
, Lim's friend.
Lim later went into banking, and co-founded the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited , abbreviated as OCBC Bank , is a publicly listed financial services organisation with its head office in Singapore. OCBC Bank is one of Singapore's leading local banks, with group assets of more than 224 billion SGD. It has one of the highest bank...
(OCBC)
As the President of Xiamen University, Lim published The Li Sao, an Elegy on Encountering Sorrows.
In 1937, Lim founded the Straits Chinese China Relief Fund Committee of Singapore to support China in her war efforts against Japan.
President of OCA
In 1942, Lim's family were interned at a Japanese concentration camp at Arab Street. According to Shinozaki MamoruShinozaki Mamoru
, a former Japanese diplomat was convicted and jailed by the British for spying for Japan before the Second World War. He was later credited as the "Japanese Schindler" for saving thousands of Chinese and Eurasians by his liberal issue of personal safety passes and the creation of safe havens...
, Lim was in a state that he was so shocked that his voice was unaudible. However, with Shinozaki's help, Lim was able to get home with Shinozaki's protection cards.
Lim was asked by the Japanese to become the leader of OCA (Overseas Chinese Association, 華僑協會), an association which was designated to serve the needs of the local Chinese community under the approval of the Japanese. In response, Lim refused, claiming that he was too old to take up the role of a president. Lim's wife was then made to kneel down under the scorching sun for 4 hours at a stretch, in addition to bearing other insults. After Shinozaki persuaded him, telling him that Lim's position as president was merely to be a figurehead without needing to do much work, Lim finally relented.
In March 1942, Lim was ordered by the Japanese to raise a "donation" of fifty million dollars for Japan. However, only twenty-eight million dollars was raised with much difficulty. In response to the anger of the Japanese, Lim made an emotional speech:
"We never told a lie. When we promised to give the military contribution, we mean to do it. Financial conditions are now such as to be beyond our control. If we are unable to pay, then die we will. I wish to point out, however, that the manner in which the Government raise this military contribution is without any parallel in any country."
In the end, the Japanese agreed to a loan for the remaining sum through the Yokohama Specie Bank
Yokohama Specie Bank
is a Japanese bank founded in Yokohama, Japan in the year 1880. It later became The Bank of Tokyo, Ltd. in 1947. The bank played a significant role in Japanese trade with China...
.
Lim also supervised the construction of the Endau
Endau
Endau is a small town in Malaysia. It lies on the northern tip of east Johor and the southern tip of Pahang. It is famous as one of the largest fishing ports on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.Located north of Mersing...
settlement in 1944. In view of Singapore's inability to feed her large population, it was meant to be a place for local citizens to migrate to.
Known as the grand old man of Singapore's Chinese Society, during the Japanese Occupation, he would feign a drunken stupor rather than co-operate with the conquerors.
Later life
Lim led his remaining years reclusively in Singapore as an ordinary citizen. He finally died at the age of 88 on 1 January 1957, and was buried at Bidadari CemeteryBidadari Cemetery
Bidadari Cemetery is a defunct cemetery in Singapore. There were two sections: the Muslim section was at the base of Mount Vernon, bounded by Upper Aljunied Road, Upper Serangoon Road, and Bartley Road; the Christian section was across Upper Aljunied Road from the Muslim section, and bounded by...
in Singapore.
Family
Lim was married twice. His first marriage was to Margaret Huang in 1896 at a Presbyterian Church, and they had four sons: Robert Kho-SengRobert Kho-Seng Lim
Robert Kho-Seng Lim was a Chinese doctor. His father is Lim Boon Keng, who promoted social and educational reforms in Singapore and China. Robert K. S. Lim entered Edinburgh University when he was eight. He graduated in 1919 with a degree in medicine...
, Francis Kho-Beng, Walter Kho-Leng and John Kho-Liau. However, Lim's wife died in 1905.
Lim remarried in 1908, to Grace Yin. They had one son, Peng Han, who later became a race car driver, and daughter Ena Guat-Kheng. Lim also had another son, Peng Thiam, with Chui Geok, niece of one of Lim's wives, probably out of wedlock.
Dr Lim Boon Keng's son Lim Peng Han was the first Chinese to race at Brooklands, UK. His granddaughter Dr Annalisa Ee Nga Landymore-Lim began her education at the school her grandfather co-founded, Singapore Chinese Girl's School. She obtained her BSc (First Class) and DPhil in the UK in Biomedical Chemistry. Like her grandfather, she has also published and campaigned against the harmful effects of drugs used in medicine. She is author of 'Poisonous Prescriptions - Do Antibiotics Cause Asthma and Diabetes?'.
Legacy
The area now known as Boon Keng, including Boon Keng MRT StationBoon Keng MRT Station
Boon Keng MRT Station is located on the North East Line on the Mass Rapid Transit system in Singapore. The station is fully underground and is run by SBS Transit. It is located at Boon Keng Road and Serangoon Road, and near the Whampoa River...
, Boon Keng Road and Upper Boon Keng Road are named after Lim Boon Keng.