Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan

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Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan

The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK, short Hokkien Huay Kuan , Chinese 新加坡 福建 會館, English also Singapore Hokkien Association ) is an association for cultural, social and educational purposes . She has been working with her own foundation since 1977. Its goal is to support social welfare and welfare, the preservation and promotion of the Hokkien language and culture within the Chinese community in Singapore and other Southeast Asian diaspora areas. Great emphasis is placed on education. The Hokkien Huay Kuan Association was formed around 1840; the foundation, which mainly represents the Hokkien and Hoklo Chinese, was established in Singapore in 1977 and with an estimated 5000 members (2014) is the largest clan community in Singapore.

history

Keng Teck Huay Pagoda of the Thian Hock Keng Temple Complex , Chinatown Singapore

At the beginning of the 19th century, and then increasingly around 1820, two groups of Hokkien Chinese migrated to Singapore: on the one hand, Chinese who immigrated to the Malacca area during the 15th century, mainly from the southeastern prefectures of Fujian , and on the other, other waves of migration as a result of internal social unrest in China. In Singapore, the Hokkien Chinese settled in the area of ​​Telok Ayer Street on the Singapore River , which at that time was still a riverside street and was located on the Thelok Ayer Basin . Their first joint social meeting center was the Heng San Teng Temple , founded in 1828 on Silat Road, which also had a Hokkien cemetery. A stronger union came about in 1840 when the Hokkien Huay Kuan, an association of the Hokkien Chinese in Singapore, was founded. This happened at the same time as the work on the extension of the Thian Hock Keng temple in Telok Ayer Street, on the premises of which the clan met from then on.

The founders of the Hokkien Association, who are certified to have a philanthropic disposition, primarily had the interests of the Hokkien Society in mind, but the association's activities are now intended to benefit not only the Hokkien Chinese in Singapore, but also other immigrants from China.

structure

Before 1929 there was no organizational structure, no membership, no leadership. A rethink was set in motion after 1927, including in the area of ​​education: the problem of the two schools that existed at the time was hardly noticed. A meeting in July 1927 decided to transfer the schools to the Hokkien community and to have them centrally managed and administered by them. In 1929, at the instigation of the President of the Association Tan Kah Kee, a membership system was introduced that included contributions. An elected governing body was to be established and departments for general affairs, economics, education, construction and welfare were established. The aim of the measures was to establish a functioning, dynamic, social organization. While the 1915 attempt to register with the colonial government under the name "Thian Hock Keng Hokkien Huay Kuan" was rejected, in 1937 the Hokkien Huay Kuan association was registered as a non-profit organization under the Companies Act . She took over the management of Thian Hock Keng Hokkien Huay Kuan as well as associated temples and cemeteries.

Further reforms of the structures of the community were carried out later. The executive and supervisory committees were replaced by a council of 37 people, deputy chairmen appointed, and the areas of activity redefined in 2015: general affairs, finance, education, property, cultural, social and membership matters.

Seat

The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan building, 137 Telok Ayer Street (building on the right)

Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan gathered on the temple grounds for a long time after 1840: in an inscription from 1850, rear rooms in the left wing of the temple are mentioned as the meeting place. Only in 1919 did the clan move the seat of their association to a building outside the temple.

In 1955 a new clubhouse was opened across the street from the temple at 137, Telok Ayer Street, in which the community - besides its secretariat - also had a few other facilities such as the Ai Tong School and Chong Fu Primary School . After the building was demolished, a new eight-story building was erected in the same place in 2003/2005, on the 8th floor of which was the secretariat of the association, until the headquarters were finally relocated to the address 5, Sennett Road in 2014, where the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy, founded in 1986 .

Social tasks - overview

The tasks that are in the foreground of the community's interests include, above all, education and upbringing:

  • In 1915 the Hokkien Huay Kuan opened the Chong Hock Girls 'School , one of the first girls' schools in Singapore, on the temple grounds . The school has also been approved for boys since 1949. In 1985 the school moved to Yishun in northern Singapore and is now known as Chongfu School .
  • Today the society unites the following schools under one roof: Tao Nan School , Ai Tong School , Nan Chiau High School , Nan Chiau Primary School , Kong Hwa School and the aforementioned Chongfu School with around 11,000 students.
  • In 1953, Hokkien Huay Kuan provided a site for the campus of Nanyang University in the west of Singapore and also supported this financially; the university opened in 1956. In 1980 it was merged with the University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore .

The foundation (with the status of a limited company ) affiliated in 1977 The Hokkien Foundation pursues charitable purposes such as disaster relief for victims of floods, war or fire, medical treatment of destitute elderly people and orphans is financially supported and scholarships for the children of members of various Hokkien - Associations awarded.

Extensive activities are carried out in the areas of culture and social engagement, the following is a selection:

  • Supporting young talents as part of the Arts and Cultural Troupe (since 1986)
  • Maintaining the Chinese language, especially the Hokkien dialect
  • Pre-school education as part of the company's own culture academy
  • Support for the classical dance theater Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Dance Theater
  • Support of own social and care services

Governing bodies

Presidents and Chairs:

  • 1869-1897: Tan Kim Cheng
  • 1897-1915: Tan Boo Liat
  • 1915-1929: Xue Zhong Hua
  • 1929-1950: Tan Kah Kee
  • 1950-1972: Tan Lark Sye
  • 1972-2010: Wee Cho Yaw
  • since 2010: Chua Thian Poh

Remarks

  1. ↑ In English, the term "clan" is used throughout, which means clan, tribe, clan, clan community, guild, association and much more. can mean.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Jaime Koh: Hokkien Huay Kuan , National Library Board, Government of Singapore, online at: eresources.nlb.gov.sg/.../SIP_2016-04-07_163620
  2. ^ Hokkien community , National Library Board, Government of Singapore, online at: eresources.nlb.gov.sg/.../SIP_1498_2009-04-09
  3. ↑ a b c d Thian Hock Keng , National Library Board, Government of Singapore, online at: eresources.nlb.gov.sg/.../SIP_793_2005-01-10
  4. ↑ Thian Hock Keng , material from the National Heritage Board, website of the government of Singapore, online at: roots.sg / ... (The roots.sg website has numerous failures)
  5. ↑ Properties , information from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan community, online at: shhk.com.sg/properties/
  6. ↑ a b Affiliated Schools , information from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Community, online at: shhk.com.sg/affiliated-schools/
  7. ↑ a b Education. Culture. Social service , information from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan community, online at: shhk.com.sg/mission/
  8. ↑ Founded by the community for the community , website of the new university, online at: www.nus.edu.sg / ...
  9. ↑ Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan 42nd Term of Executive Council , information from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan community, online at: shhk.com.sg/council-members/

Web links