| Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan | |
| Native Name: | 新加坡福建會館 |
| Native Name Lang: | 中文 |
| Abbreviation: | SHHK |
| Founding Location: | Thian Hock Keng Temple, Telok Ayer, Singapore |
| Type: | Non-Profit Organisation Clan Association Cultural & Educational Foundation |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Registration Id: | 193700041W |
| Headquarters: | Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Building |
| Location: | 5 Sennett Road Singapore 466781 |
| Coords: | 1.3159°N 103.9383°W |
| Membership: | 5000+ |
| Membership Year: | 2014 |
| Owners: | --> |
| Leader Title3: | Board of Governors |
| Leader Name3: | Mr Ong Pang Boon Mr Chng Jit Koon Mr Tay Beng Chuan Mr Chua Seng Chong |
| Leader Title: | Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Mr Wee Cho Yaw |
| Leader Title2: | Vice-Chairman |
| Leader Name2: | Mr Chua Thian Poh |
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK), or the Singapore Hokkien Association in English, is a cultural and educational foundation. It was established in 1840 to promote education, social welfare and the preservation of the Chinese language and culture among Chinese Singaporean and other Overseas Chinese groups in Southeast Asia. As of 2014, the SHHK, which has 5000 members, is the largest clan association in Singapore.
In the early 19th century, many immigrants from Fujian Province of China came to settle in Southeast Asia, including Singapore. These immigrants established several clan associations to address the social needs of this immigrant community.[1] The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan was the first such organization to be established in 1840 on the grounds of the Thian Hock Keng Temple. However, the SHHK also served other members of the Chinese community who came from other parts of China.
In 1929, the philanthropist Tan Kah Kee became the president of Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.[2] In 1986, SHHK became one of the seven founding members of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations. SHHK represented the interests of Hokkien-speaking Chinese Singaporean, while Sam Kiang Huay Kuan catered to those from Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi; the Singapore Hock Chew Association promoted the Fuzhou dialect; the Singapore Kiung Chow Hwee Kuan to Hainanese; Singapore Kwangtung Hui Kuan to Cantonese; Singapore Nanyang Khek Community Guild promoted Hakka culture; and Singapore Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan for Teochew.[3]
In 2014, the clan moved its headquarters from Telok Ayer Street, where it had been based at for 174 years, to the former premises of Changkat Changi Secondary School. Its new headquarters also houses the SHHK-run pre-school and a cultural centre.[4]
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan is actively involved in the education scene in Singapore since its founding. It established its first school, Tao Nan School in 1906.[5] Subsequently, it established Ai Tong School in 1912, Chong Hock Girls' School (current Chongfu School) in 1915, Nan Chiau Girls' High School in 1947 and Kong Hwa School in 1953. Today, all 6 schools continue to be affiliated to the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, and emphasize the teaching of Chinese culture and values. The schools are all highly regarded by Singaporeans.[6]
The SHHK also donated land for the construction of the Nanyang University (now Nanyang Technological University) campus in 1955. In 2010, the clan also set up a pre-school with an emphasis on Chinese and bilingual education.[7]
On 16 February 2019, a collaboration with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) was announced by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, and was followed by a signing of Memorandum of Understanding.[8] Students from the six institutions affiliated to Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan will benefit from corporate partnership through school-based programmes co-developed with SUTD. These programmes aim to inspire students to empower and embrace students with literacy in technology, design and innovation.[9]
In support of promoting Chinese literary writing and raise the standard of Chinese Language in Singapore, the SHHK Literacy Awards were established since 2003 as an amalgamation of the SHHK Primary Schools Chinese Essay Writing Competition (since 1984), National Secondary School Chinese Creative Writing Competition – Xin Lei Jiang (since 2003), as well as the Singapore Tertiary Chinese Literary Awards (since 2002), which SHHK is the main sponsor.[10]
SHHK manages the operations of four temples in Singapore:
SHHK has two wholly owned real-estate development subsidiaries, Yunnan Realty Pte. Ltd. and Balestier Realty Pte. Ltd., which develop properties for sale and rental.