Sunday, 14 October 2018

Khoo Beng San 邱明山

Khoo Beng San or known as Che Beng was born in 1787, a second son of Khoo Hong Keow 邱煌乾 and Lim Hee Neo 林喜娘. He and his youngest brother, Khoo Beng Guan 邱明管 were among the early settlers in Penang during its establishment by the East India Company. Khoo Beng San was a 16th generation descendant of Khoo clan and belong to the Soo Pang branch.

He joined the opium farm (1819 – 1820 & 1827 – 1828) and commenced general trading under the chop Beng & Co. occupied at a corner lot of China Street Ghaut, Penang.  His firm at China Street Ghaut in Penang is an extension of the China Street, the place was also known by the local population as Beng San’s Junction 明山路头. Beng & Co. owned a 350-ton brig named Angelica which was used to ply the ports at Penang, Malacca and Singapore.  Khoo Beng San was a founder of the Kong Hock Keong 广福宫 (now known as Kuanyin Temple) in 1824  and the Tong Kheng Seah 同慶社 (United Celebratory Society) in 1843. 

He died in 1843 and was buried at Batu Lanchang.  Through his principal wife in China, Chee Gek Neo 许玉娘 he had two sons, Khoo Sim Toh 邱心地 and Khoo Sim Kang 邱心降. Whereas, by his principal wife in Penang, Chew Han Neo 周汉娘, he had two sons, Khoo Sim Peng 邱心榜 and Khoo Sim Kui 邱心魁. And with his secondary wife in Penang, Cheah Yin Neo 谢荫娘, he had two sons, Khoo Sim Ai 邱心爱 and Khoo Sim Bee 邱心美.

References:

  1. DeBernardi, J.E. (2004). Rites of Belonging: Memory, Modernity, and Identity in a Malaysian Chinese Community. California: Stanford University Press. (p. 303)
  2. Loh, W.L. et al. (Eds). (2013). Biographical Dictionary of Mercantile Personalities of Penang. Kuala Lumpur: Think City and the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (MBRAS) (p. 185)
  3. Wong, Y.T. (2011). Penang’s Chinese Merchants and the Indian Ocean in the Entrepot Age, 1820s-1890s. Paper presented at the Penang & the Indian Ocean International Conference 2011 on 17 and 18 September 2011 in Traders Hotel, Penang, Malaysia (p. 2)
  4. Zhāng Shǎo Kuān. (1997). Bīn Láng Yǔ Fú Jiàn Gōng Zhǒng Jì Jiā Zhǒng Bēi Míng Jí [Chng, K.Y. (1997). Penang Fujian Public Epigraphy Materials]. Xīn Jiā Pō: Xīn Jiā Pō Yà Zhōu Yán Jiū Xué Huì [Singapore: Singapore Society of Asian Studies]. (p. 179-180) 张少宽 (1997) 梹榔屿福建公冢暨家冢碑铭集. 新加坡: 新加坡亚洲硏究学会.
  5. Tan, L.H. (2007b). Bestowing Luck & Prosperity on All. Penang: Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple (p. 41&54)
  6. Wong, Y.T. (2015). Penang Chinese Commerce in the 19th Century: The Rise and Fall of the Big Five. Singapore: ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute (p. 186)
  7. The Genealogy of Sinkang Khoo & Chan Clans (Vol. 2) (p. 1017 & 1018)

Sunday, 10 September 2017

Leong Lok Hing 梁樂卿

Leong Lok Hing, JP
Born in 1851 with ancestry in Longyan, Canton Province, he was educated at San Francisco, the United States. Leong Lok Hing first established himself in general trading in California. He came to Penang in 1888 and became British subject in 1907. He was then a prominent merchant and community leader in Penang.

Leong Lok Hing founded a trading firm (importer of Western goods), Kwong On & Co. at 113 Beach Street and later expanded his business branches in Ipoh and Tapah. He also established a tin trading firm, Kwong Kit Cheong & Co to manage his tin mines at Bidor and Kuala Lumpur.

He also owned rubber, coconut and tapioca estates in Kerian, Perak. Leong Kok Hing had an elaborate social and community participation. He was the President of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a founder, chairman and later trustee of the Penang Chinese Town Hall (1907 - 1912),  founding member of the Penang Anti-Opium Association, a director of the Kwantung and Tengchew Association, Penang, President of the Penang Cantonese Club, and various appointments in the clan associations and schools.

Leong Lok Hing lived at No. 76 Bishop Street, Penang and had a country house at Gottlieb Road, Penang named "The Pleasance". He died on 11 May 1912, had four wives and two sons, Leong Fook Chow @ Yun Chow 梁元藻 and Leong Yun Min 梁元冕.

Leong Lok Hing in his prime years
References: 
1) Biographical Dictionary of Mercantile Personalities of Penang (p. 112 - 113)
2) Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources (pp. 770 & 772)
3) The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 17 February 1912, Page 7
4) Eastern Daily Mail and Straits Morning Advertiser, 14 November 1906, Page 1