Tan Kheam Hock (1862 - 1922)
Tan Kheam Hock is one of many able Chinese business men who, in the course of their
commercial career, have migrated from Penang to Singapore.
Born in Penang in 1862, he was the son of a Penang rich merchant Tan Teng Pong
He received his education at the Penang Free School. Upon leaving
this institution, he was given a position in the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London
and China, and after working there zealously for 8 years, he decided in 1887 to widen the
scope of his experience by travel. Accordingly he went to Calcutta and during a 2 years'
stay there mastered the details of the produce business. In 1889 he came to Singapore and
became connected with the Opium and Spirit Farm. With that great organisation he was
continuously associated until 1906, except for an interval of 3 years (1898 - 1900) when
the farm contract fell into other hands. Like most Chinese business men, he is careful not
to keep "all his eggs in one basket". Since December 1901, he has contracted with that
mammoth undertaking, the Tanjong Pagar Dock Co, to supply coolie labour. Some idea of
what this entails may be gathered when it is stated that the wharf frontage of the docks is
over a mile and a half in length, and as many as 2,500 coolies are permanently employed
there.
He is also connected with the Perak General Farms, takes a great interest in the Straits
and Federated Malay Stgates Government Medical School, and has a seat on the committee of
management. He is a member of the Society of Arts, London. He married the sixth daughter
of the late Mr Foo Tye Sin, JP Municipal Commissioner of Penang and has 6 sons and 4
daugthers. (known sons: Chong Khee, Chong Lay, Chong Chew, Chong Teck )
Tan Kheam Hock's Family
He is a man of progressive idea and is a sincere friend to the cause of education for Chinese girls. For a period of 30 years he has
identified himself with all movements for the welfare of the Chinese community here and is always ready to assist with his purse and sound advice in every good cause.
Tan Kheam Hock was born in Penang and helped Chan Kim Boon to translate various Chinese
classics to Baba Malay literary works such as Gnoh Bee Yean
(1891) and Hong Keow (1892, volumes 6-8).
Most of the Baba translations were historical and chivalrous stories. Out of the sixty eight
titles, only 10 were romances, 9 were folklore and 7 were legendary stories.
Though the stories were narrated in Baba Malay, sentences were often interspersed
with English expressions, Chinese characters and transliterations
1891-1892
GNOH BEE YEAN
Chrita dahulu-kala nama-nya Gnoh Bee Yean (orang lima bini) di jaman Beng Teow. Translated by Chan Kim Boon
and Illustrated by Tan Phaik Kong.
Publisher: Kim Seck Chye Press, 98 & 99 Cross Street, Singapore. 620 p. Price:1.00. 19 cm.
1892-1893
HONG KEOW
Chrita dahulu kala dari pasal Hong Keow sama Lee Tan
turun-kan dari buku Hwan Tong di jaman Tong Teow sama
Chew Teow. Translated by Chan Kim Boon and helped by
Tan Kheam Hock.
Published and printed by Lat Pau Press, Singapore. 312 p. Price: 1.00. 16 cm.
1892- 1896
SAM KOK Chrita dahulu-kalanamanya SamKok atau tiga negri berprang
Siok, Gwi, sama Gor di jaman Han Teow. Translated
by Chan Kim Boon. Helper: Chia Ann Siang & Tan Kheam
Hock.
Published by: Koh Kim Guan, Singapore. Printed by
Kim Sek Chye Press, 174, Telok Ayer Street, Singapore.
4622p. Price: 1.00. 16 cm
Tan Phiak Kong is an outstanding illustrator, especially for works published
between 1889 and 1909. He illustrated Chin See Bee (1899), Chin Suat Bee (1899),
Gnoh Bee Yean (1891-1982), Seeh Jin Quee Cheng Tang (1895) and Ban Wha Lau
(1910).
In volume five of Gnoh Bee Yean, Tan provided a portrait of himself in a
Ming Dynasty’s costume, holding a paper fan and wearing glasses (Figure 2a.
Another illustrator mentioned in the 1930s was S.P. Tiew who illustrated the front
page of Ngo Chu Low Tang Kia (1932) (Figure 2b).
Current resting place of Tan Kheam Hock + wife (this is part of a joint 3 grave)
References:
1. CHINESE LITERARY WORKS TRANSLATED INTO BABA MALAY:
A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY
Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, Vol.7, no.2 December 2002:1-23
2. Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce,
industries, and resources by Arnold Wright
3. One hundred years' history of the Chinese in Singapore by Song Ong Siang
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Raymond
