The 19th Generation Ancestors in Search of New Life in Nanyang
- wongkwing
- 2021年4月13日
- 讀畢需時 6 分鐘
已更新：2023年7月8日
The 19th generation ancestors moved south from Guangdong Province (广东省) to Singapore in 1892, about 1,500 miles south of Sanwui County (新会县). The 19th generation ancestors founded Hung Chue Company (恒聚公司), which has been in business for 72 years in three generations.
"My Garden" (我园) is the residence of Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞), the 19th generation ancestor, built in 1929.
China's turmoil in the late Qing Dynasty:
1839: The Opium War broke out in 1839 and ended in 1842.
1841: In February 1841, the British attacked the Humen Fort (虎门炮台).
1841: In May 1841, during the Opium War, British troops attacked the city of Guangzhou (广州城).
1894: The Sino-Japanese War (中日甲午战争).
Singapore's past:
According to Wikipedia, in the 3rd century AD, Singapore called it "pulau ujong" for the island at the end of a peninsula, and China called it "Pú Luó Zhōng"(蒲罗中). Later it was also called "Selat", and in Chinese it was "石拉". It is called "Sà Lú Du"(萨庐都）in China's "New History of the Tang" and "Chái Lì Tíng"（柴历亭） in "History of Song". It was called "Temasek"（单马錫） in "Dao Yi Zhi" in Yuan Dynasty. The "Mao Kun map" in the Ming Dynasty was called "Temasek"（淡马錫）. At the end of the 14th century, it was called "singa-pura". Singa means lion, pura means city, collectively known as Lion City. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), it was renamed "Shōnan Island"（昭南岛）.
The ancestors moved south from Qingzhou City (青州市), Shandong Province (山东省), China to Xinhui County (新会县), Guangdong Province (广东省) since the Southern Song Dynasty (1271), and moved south again more than 600 years later. Wong Lee Sit (黄理燮), the 19th generation ancestor, went to Nanyang (南洋) to earn a living in Singapore in 1892 (at the age of 12). Ten years later, in 1902, his younger brother Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) (who was 13 years old) also came to Singapore. The 19th generation ancestors made a living in Singapore by businessman Wong Ah Fook (黄亚福) (Wong Ah Fook founded the first Chinese Kwong Yik Bank (广益银行) in Singapore in December 1903. It is located at 26 Kling Street, now known as Chulie Street, commonly known as "saanzaideng" (山仔顶). ) And learn to exchange remittances. The 19th generation ancestors (Wong Lee Sit at 35 years old / Wong Lee Swee at 25 years old) founded Hung Chue Company (恒聚公司) in 1914 to engage in foreign exchange business. The name Hung Chue (恒聚) comes from Hung Chue li (恒聚里) , Sanbao Village (三宝村), Sinhui County (新会县), its hometown.
Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞), the 19th generation ancestor, was also a merchant under the shop Yee Mow (怡茂号). The 19th generation ancestor invested in the Wing On Company (永安公司) which started business in 1929, located at No. 73-75 South Bridge Road (漆木街). In September 1939, the 19th generation ancestor Wong Lee Sit (黄理燮) (age 60 years old) died in Singapore. Later, in 1947, Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) (at 58 years old), the ancestor of the 19th generation, completely owned the Wing On Company (永安公司), which operated department stores. There are four major department stores, Wing On Company (永安), Fook On (福安), Kwong On Co., Ltd. (广安), and Qiaonan Company (桥南), on South Bridge Road. In order to take care of business, the 19th generation ancestor family lived at No. 38 Hongkong Street at the time. After the family was wealthy, the ancestral house in Hung Chue li (恒聚里), Sanbao Village (三宝村), Sinhui County (新会县) was expanded, Dingkwan Ancestral Hall (鼎琨黄公祠) was built, and the property was purchased at No. 9 Boucoengli (保昌里), Haagaulou (下九路)，Guangzhou (广州市). In February 1964, Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) (age 75 years old) , the 19th generation ancestor, died in Singapore. Wing On Company (永安公司) ceased operations in 1964.
Source: Sin Chew Jit Poh (星洲日报 ) , 16 December 1930, Page 18. The 51 years old 19th generation ancestor, Wong Lee Sit (黄理燮), was the director (董事) of The National Commercial & Savings Bank, (Singapore) Ltd.
Source: Malaya Tribune, 9 January 1931, Page 11. Wong Lee Sit (黄理燮), the 19th generation ancestor, bought properties at Amoy Street & Pickering Street.
The newspaper Malaya Tribune on June 2, 1938 stated that 49 years old Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞), the 19th generation ancestor, was the vice chairman of the Singapore Chinese Exchange Association.
Hung Chue Company：
Hung Chue Company (恒聚公司) changed its name notice. The information is taken from the newspaper (The Straits Times, 2 Jul 1974, Page 14).
Hung Chue Company's development map.
Hung Chue Company (恒聚公司) was established in 1914, and the name of Hung Chue (恒聚) has been retained for 72 years (1914-1986). The 19th generation ancestor founded it in 1914, the 20th generation ancestor inherit it, and the 21st generation granddaughter opened up the international market in 1974.
The information of Hung Chue Company's development map is based on the following newspaper reports.
Woman (first in S'pore) heads a new money broking firm The Straits Times, 7 December 1974, Page 31
Money broker boosts stake in local firm The Straits Times, 3 October 1986, Page 23
Wing On Company：
It used to be called "daai bo" (大坡) from Cantonment Road (四排埔) to the Coleman Bridge (吊桥头). "漆木街" is a road name that is not on the map. It is actually a small section of South Bridge Road, from Carpenter Street (戏馆街) to North Canal Road (北干那路).
Source: The Straits Times, 20 March 1947, Page 2. In March 1947, Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) and Wong Nai Tong (黃乃棠), completely own the Wing On Company (永安公司).
WING ON and Company (永安公司), South Bridge Road, Singapore, lield a cocktail party on Sunday to celebrate the completion of renovation and extension of their premises. In the picture, Mr Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞), the 66 year-old partner (centre), and Mr Wong Nai Tong (黃乃棠), 34 years old (left). Source: Singapore Standard, 30 March 1955, Page 12.
In 1955, the employees of Wing On Company.
In August 1958, Wing On Company participated in the Great World Trade Fair.
In 1962, the night scene of South Bridge Road, you can see the department store Fook On. and Wing On Company located near the street lamp post.
Today's South Bridge Road, the light blue building is the location of No. 73-75 Wing On Company.
The place of residence and work of the 19th generation ancestor in Singapore
#1：Kwong Yik Bank (广益银行) 26 Kling Street
#2：Wing On Company (永安公司) 73-75 South Bridge Road
#3：Residence of 19th generation ancestor family 35，38，44 Hongkong Street
#4：“My Garden” (我园) 733 Mountbatten Road
The 19th generation ancestor Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) participated in the social activities of Kwong Wai Shiu's fellow villagers (广惠肇同乡), such as Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (广惠肇留医院), and Kong Chow Wui Koon (冈州会馆). Honorary Chairman of Kong Chow Wui Koon (冈州会馆) in Singapore in 1959.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority conservation plan of Mountbatten Road in 1993. The red square is No. 733 "My Garden" (我园).
In 1927, the 19th generation ancestor Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) purchased the site 733 Grove Road, which is now called Mountbatten Road from the East India Company. It was built the "My Garden"(我园) of his own house. It was completed in 1929. This building is listed as a conservation building by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
"My Garden"(我园) was vacant in 1993 (one year after the death of the 20th generation ancestor Wong Nai Tong (黄乃棠) and sold to Mr Ang Koon San in 1999. His son Mr Ang Gin Wah spent three years restoring the bungalow "My Garden" (我园). In 2004, the project was commended by the Urban Renewal Authority URA, and in 2008, the project was commended by UNESCO.
To clarify the facts:
The 19th generation ancestor Wong Lee Swee (黄理瑞) was engaged in the money exchange business and was not a stock exchange broker. The above URA statement is wrong.
In a 2016 documentary, URA revealed that "the previous owners were resistant to conservation, as they were not convinced that the house had any heritage value" statement is incorrect.
For details on the entrepreneurship of the 19th generation ancestor in Singapore, please read the following books:
In Pursuit of New Life.
Part 4: Discovering Abundant Life by Wong Siew Kwun.
The Book: In Pursuit of New Life is available in the National Library of Singapore (NLB)