Ee Hoe Hean Club

Co-founded in 1895 by Lim Nee Soon, Gan Eng Seng and Lim Boon Keng,{{cite web|last=Cornelius-Takahama |first=Vernon |url=http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_526_2005-01-07.html |title=Lim Nee Soon |access-date=28 August 2007 |publisher=National Library Board Singapore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705030338/http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_526_2005-01-07.html |archive-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=dead }} the three-storey high Ee Hoe Hean Club was originally located on Duxton Hill but moved to 38 Club Street in 1911.{{Cite web |title=Ee Hoe Hean Club {{!}} Infopedia |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1532_2009-06-11.html |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg}} It subsequently moved to Bukit Pasoh Road in 1925. The club was a social-cum-business club where like-minded Chinese businessmen could mingle and exchange ideas. Members such as Teo Eng Hock, Tan Chor Nam and Lim Nee Soon were actively involved in the Xinhai Revolution and later the establishment of the Republic of China. Among the more famous visitors to its clubhouse included Sun Yat-sen and Jawaharlal Nehru.{{cite news | title = Club 'Nerve Centre Of Reform' | date = 5 October 1995 | publisher = The Straits Times }} In 1923, when Chinese businessman, community leader and philanthropist, Tan Kah Kee, known as the Rubber King of Singapore and Malaya, assumed chairmanship of the club, its focus shifted from being a purely social and business club to one that was politically active.{{Cite book |last=Yong |first=C. F. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/868980141 |title=Tan Kah-kee : the making of an overseas Chinese legend |date=2014 |isbn=978-981-4447-90-4 |edition=Revised |location=New Jersey |pages=165 |oclc=868980141}}

Tan brought to the club his political awareness of Chinese matters. In 1928, following a public outrage over a massacre at Jinan (known as the Jinan Incident) in Shandong in which more than 5,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians were slaughtered by the Japanese,Foong, "The Singapore Overseas Chinese Salvation Movement", p. 217. the club set up the Shandong Relief Fund. Its purpose was to raise funds for China, to create awareness amongst the Chinese about the Japanese invasion of China, and to encourage the Chinese to boycott Japanese goods and services. The Chinese community contributed a total of S$1.34 million within a year of its inception.Uma, "Ee Hoe Hean Club", pp. 68—69. In response to the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, the China Salvation Movement was born, with its Southeast Asian headquarters located at the club until 1942, when the Japanese invaded Singapore.

After the Japanese occupation of Singapore, the club's anti-Japanese agenda became redundant and it reverted being a club for social and business interaction once again. Its members were later active in the struggle for citizenship, voters' registration campaign and other philanthropic activities. After Singapore's independence in 1965, it became a focal point where local Chinese businessmen socialised and forged ties, and it continued to play an active role in community services such as charity work and giving public talks. Among its 200-odd members today are luminaries of the Chinese business community such as the founder of the Overseas Union Bank, Lien Ying Chow, and United Overseas Bank chairman Wee Cho Yaw. It is still an all men's club – the youngest members are mainly in their 50s and membership is by invitation only.{{cite news |last = Chia| first = Sue-Ann | title = Young towkays wanted - to share sweet potato porridge | date = 26 October 2003 | publisher = The Straits Times }}

In 2006, in collaboration with the Tan Kah Kee Foundation, the club underwent a S$2.5 million (US$1.85 million) reconstruction works in order to preserve the century-old historic building.{{cite news | last = Leong | first = Weng Kam | title = Hall to honour Chinese pioneers | date = 17 July 2008 | publisher = The Straits Times | page = H5 }} On 9 November 2008, the club was officially reopened by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam with a new {{convert|2000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} memorial hall to honour Tan Kah Kee and other early Chinese community leaders.{{cite news | last = Luo | first = Serene | title = 'Hall of fame' for pioneers of finance | date = 10 November 2008 | publisher = The Straits Times | page = B7 }} The new hall is named Xian Xian Guan (The Pioneers' Memorial Hall) and is located on the club's ground floor. It contains exhibits such as a wax figure of Tan Kah Kee, old photographs, and interactive multimedia facilities. The second floor is used for social functions, and the third floor continues to house the social club. The memorial hall is open by appointment to the public, in particular to schools and tourist groups from China and Taiwan. The club house and other places related to Tan are included as part of the heritage trails and guided tours around Singapore.

{{Portal|Singapore}}

• Force 136
• Lim Bo Seng
• Battle of Singapore

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• {{cite book | last = Foong | first = Choon Han | title = The Price of Peace—True Accounts of the Japanese Occupation | publisher = Singapore: Asiapac Books | year = 1997 | isbn = 981-3068-53-1 }}
• {{cite book | last = G. Uma | first = Devi | title = Singapore 100's Historic Places | publisher = Singapore: National Heritage Board | year = 2002 | isbn = 981-4068-23-3 }}
• {{cite journal | last = Chan | first = Chow Wah | title = Storm in Shuang Lin | journal = Biblioasia | volume = 3 | issue = 1 |date=April 2007 }}
• Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, Singapore.
• National Heritage Board, Singapore.

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{{Coord|01|16|46.45|N|103|50|25.07|E|type:city|display=title}}

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Category:Landmarks in Singapore

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1927

Category:Chinatown, Singapore

Category:Outram, Singapore