Cheang Hong Lim Explained

Cheang Hong Lim
Honorific Suffix:JP
Native Name Lang:zh
Birth Date:1825
Birth Place:Singapore
Death Place:Singapore,
Resting Place:Bukit Brown Cemetery, Singapore,
Occupation:Merchant
Spouse:
  • Bek Chit Boey Neo
  • Yeo Bin Neo
Children:3 daughters, 11 sons
Father:Cheang Sam Teo
Mother:Bek E Neo
Module:
Child:yes
C:章芳林 / 章芳琳
P:Zhāng Fānglín
W:Chang1 Fang1-Lin2
Poj:Tsiong Hong-Lîm
Also Known As:Wan Seng
C2:苑生
P2:Yuànshēng
Poj2:Uán-Sing
Altname3:Sik Yong
T3:錫庸
S3:锡庸
P3:Xìyōng
Poj3:Sik-iông
Honours:Ronglu mandarin 榮祿大夫

Cheang Hong Lim JP (c. 1825 – 11 February 1893) was a Chinese opium merchant and philanthropist in Singapore. He was recognised by the British colonial administration as head of the local Hokkien Chinese community.[1]

Biography

Cheang was born to Cheang Sam Teo, a Chinese migrant from the Changtai District of southern Fujian, China. He was the eldest of four sons born to his mother Bek E Neo. When his father died, his brother Cheang Hong Guan filed a lawsuit against Cheang (and against Wee Bock Seng, Low Thuan Locke and Tan Beng Chie) alleging forgery of his father's will. Cheang, Wee, Low and Tan were acquitted.[2] [3] [4]

Like his father before him, Cheang sold spirits, but further extended his business to include opium and held one of five opium licenses in Singapore, but quickly expanded his business interests to include property. His main business partners were Tan Seng Poh and Tan Yeok Nee, initially trading under the name "Chop Teang Wat Wan Kee" on Telok Ayer Street and later "Chop Wan Seng".[2] [5] [6] [7]

He is remembered primarily for his philanthropy. In 1876, he donated $900 to the Portuguese Mission Church of St Jose.[8] Also in 1876, he donated $3000 to convert the land in front of the Police Office to become a public garden, and to supply two gardeners to maintain the grounds thereafter.[2] This is the garden now known as Hong Lim Park. In 1878, he donated $2,750 to purchase the land on Pyeleang Road for the use by a mosque.[9] He established a fire brigade for the Havelock Road area in 1886. Giok Hong Tian, (Chinese: c=玉皇殿), a Taoist temple dedicated to the Jade Emperor along Havelock Road was built by Cheang in 1887. He was also patron to the young Lim Boon Keng, at the request of Richmond William Hullett, the then principal of Raffles Institution, .[10] [11]

He sat on the Singapore legislative council, was made one of five Chinese Justices of the Peace in 1872, and was conferred the title of Ronglu mandarin (Chinese: t=榮祿大夫) of the Imperial Qing court.[2] [5] He was prominent in Singapore society[12] and entertained the Governor of Singapore and the Sultan of Johor at his home on Havelock Road.[13]

Cheang died on 14 February 1893, from cardiac complications of rheumatic fever.[1] Cheang had 3 daughters and 11 sons. Three of his sons, Cheang Jim Hean, Cheang Jim Chuan, Cheang Jim Khean, had roads in Singapore named after them.[14]

Legacy

There are a number places in Singapore named for Cheang :

There were formerly a number of places in Singapore named for Cheang:[16]

Cheang Hong Lim was buried at the Cheang family cemetery off Alexandra Road, but was exhumed and reburied in 1961 at Bukit Brown by his granddaughter Cheang Tew Muey.

Notes and References

  1. News: Death of Mr. Cheang Hong Lim. Straits Times Weekly Issue. 14 February 1893. 7.
  2. Book: Ong Siang Song. One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore. 1923. J. Murray. 167–168.
  3. News: A Remarkable Case. 23 March 1872. Straits Times. 2.
  4. News: Fortnight's Summary. Straits Times Overland Journal. 25 April 1872. 1.
  5. Web site: Rojak Librarian. Cheang Hong Lim (Bukit Brown). 24 November 2011. 5 Apr 2021.
  6. The Rise of Singapore's Great Opium Syndicate, 1840-86.. Carl A.. Trocki. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 18. 1. 1987. 58 - 80. 10.1017/S0022463400001259. 20070942. 162311458 .
  7. Book: The Singapore and Straits Directory. 1881. Mission Press. Singapore. 64.
  8. News: de Cunha. J.P.S.A.. A generous Act. Straits Times Overland Journal. 30 September 1876. 8.
  9. News: The Islam mosque at Pyeleang Road.. Singapore Daily Times. 22 Jul 1878. 3. 5 Apr 2021.
  10. Web site: Or Kio Tow Geok Hong Tian. 5 Apr 2021.
  11. Book: Comber, Leon. Chinese Temples in Singapore. Singapore. Eastern Universities Press. 1958. Giok Hong Tian Temple at Havelock Road. 48.
  12. News: Mrs. Anson's Farewell Garden Party. Singapore Daily Times. 23 Oct 1877. 2. 8 Apr 2021.
  13. News: Mr.Cheang Hong Lim's At Home. Daily Advertiser. 20 October 1892. 3.
  14. Book: Yew Peng Ng. What's In The Name? How The Streets And Villages In Singapore Got Their Names. 28 September 2017. World Scientific. 978-981-322-147-5. 115–.
  15. Book: Ong Siang Song. One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore. 1923. J. Murray. 168–170.
  16. News: J. Polglase. 25 August 1914. Singapore Municipal Notice: Changes in Street Names. The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. Singapore. 4 April 2021.
  17. Web site: Lee Kip Lin. National Library Board Singapore. Cheang Hong Lim Street: aerial view. 2009. 7 Feb 2023.