Singapore Government Press Release

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The Kwangtung Hui Kuan was established 60 years ago to look after the social needs of the Cantonese, Teochews, Hakkas and Hainanese. Singapore was then a very different society.

Kwangtung Hui Kuan resulted from a merger of many local clan bodies. Many clan members have been active in community work in the Tanjong Pagar GRC. Mr Lam See Chew and Mr Cheong Wing have been working selflessly and tirelessly in Tanjong Pagar and Kreta Ayer for decades. Without such community leaders, Singapore would not have achieved the social progress we now take for granted.

In 1937, the Cantonese community leaders decided to merge into one the many Cantonese clan bodies which were formed on the basis of surnames and locality. They were inspired by the example of the Fujian Huay Guan, which took in everyone from the same province. The establishment of the Kwangtung Hui Kuan enabled the Cantonese to pool resources to serve the clan members better.

What role should the Kwangtung Hui Kuan play in the 21^st century? I believe that the association has the ability to make themselves relevant and meet future challenges. In 1978, they supported the Government’s call for Chinese clans to use more Mandarin. In 1986, when the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations was formed, the Kwangtung Hui Kuan gave its strong support.

In the next century, the Chinese clans should be bold in charting new direction. For the benefit of the younger generation, the Chinese clans should build up their archival records and make them easily accessible. The rich experience and recollections of older Singaporeans should be carefully chronicled. It will be a pity if their knowledge of the past is lost in this information age.

The Chinese clans should make good use of IT to store records of historical significance. They can use multimedia technology to present history in an interesting and lively way. They should enlist the help of young Singaporeans who are creative and technology savvy. Our search for fortunes of our forefathers and permanent stay in the different countries of Nanyang can be made interesting and educational. The Chinese Heritage Centre can help in this. The material can also be posted over Internet to give easy access to the young as well as overseas Chinese.

Clan groups should keep abreast with a fast changing world. A Hui Guan should not be merely a place to play mahjong. If Kwangtung Hui Kuan can continue to update its services and activities to contribute to the lives of its members, it will celebrate its 100^th anniversary in a bigger way.