陈振贤与战前新加坡社会 = TAN CHIN HEAN AND THE SOCIETY IN SINGAPORE BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Abstract

Mr Tan Chin Hean (Chen Zhenxian, M, 1893-1976) was a Chinese community leader of Singapore in the mid-20th century. He was a Chinese leader who is not well-known by people nowadays. However, he had extremely unique leadership experiences and provided significant contributions towards the Chinese society in the first half of the 20th century in Singapore. His unusual leadership experiences had shrouded him in a cloud of mystery, which serves as a key catalyst behind the research Initially, Tan Chin Hean was not an active leader in the Chinese community, as he did not display interests in leadership roles within the Chinese community. However, he became the Chairman of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) two years after he attained the position of bank manager. This brought him into the leadership core within the Chinese community. During his tenure as the Chairman of SCCCI, the Japanese invasion of China occurred. At this vital point in history, he played an important role by donating to China. And also, this was his most active moment in participating in the leadership of Chinese community till the year of World War Two happened. In the scope of the colonial history of Singapore - especially during tb the first half of the 20 century, when she was governed by the British - this thesis will explore the significance and impact of Tan Chin Hean from three aspects. The first aspect was his role as a Chinese community leader in Singapore. The second aspect was his relationship with the British colonial government, and the third aspect was his relationship with China. Meanwhile, this thesis will also discuss about Tan Chin Hean's contributions as a leader of the Chinese community in Singapore. motivation for this thesis, because there has not yet been any in-depth study about Tan Chin Hean. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to conduct an investigation of Tan Chin Hean to unearth his personality, contributions, as well as his leadership role in the first half of the 20th century of Chinese society in Singapore. Tan Chin Hean was bom and raised in a renowned family in Chaoan County in Guangdong province. He had a very famous grandfather, Tan Hiok Nee (Chen Xunian, PlR (ll , 1827-1902). Tan Hiok Nee was a successful trader in Malaya in the second half of the 19th century. He was made the Major China of Johore by the Maharajah in the 1870s. Tan Hiok Nee's achievements in commercial trading inadvertently resulted in Tan Chin Hean and his family's migration to Singapore. This was due to the fact that Tan Chin Hean had to manage his grandfather's inheritance in Singapore. Tan Chin Hean had shown his talents in business management. He was employed by the Singapore Four Seas Communications Bank with the position of Bank Manager within ten years of settling down in Singapore. Working in this bank was a turning point for Tan Chin Hean, which galvanized him to get into the core of the leadership community within the Chinese locality.Mr Tan Chin Hean (Chen Zhenxian, M, 1893-1976) was a Chinese community leader of Singapore in the mid-20th century. He was a Chinese leader who is not well-known by people nowadays. However, he had extremely unique leadership experiences and provided significant contributions towards the Chinese society in the first half of the 20th century in Singapore. His unusual leadership experiences had shrouded him in a cloud of mystery, which serves as a key catalyst behind the research Initially, Tan Chin Hean was not an active leader in the Chinese community, as he did not display interests in leadership roles within the Chinese community. However, he became the Chairman of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) two years after he attained the position of bank manager. This brought him into the leadership core within the Chinese community. During his tenure as the Chairman of SCCCI, the Japanese invasion of China occurred. At this vital point in history, he played an important role by donating to China. And also, this was his most active moment in participating in the leadership of Chinese community till the year of World War Two happened. In the scope of the colonial history of Singapore - especially during tb the first half of the 20 century, when she was governed by the British - this thesis will explore the significance and impact of Tan Chin Hean from three aspects. The first aspect was his role as a Chinese community leader in Singapore. The second aspect was his relationship with the British colonial government, and the third aspect was his relationship with China. Meanwhile, this thesis will also discuss about Tan Chin Hean's contributions as a leader of the Chinese community in Singapore. motivation for this thesis, because there has not yet been any in-depth study about Tan Chin Hean. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to conduct an investigation of Tan Chin Hean to unearth his personality, contributions, as well as his leadership role in the first half of the 20th century of Chinese society in Singapore. Tan Chin Hean was bom and raised in a renowned family in Chaoan County in Guangdong province. He had a very famous grandfather, Tan Hiok Nee (Chen Xunian, PlR (ll , 1827-1902). Tan Hiok Nee was a successful trader in Malaya in the second half of the 19th century. He was made the Major China of Johore by the Maharajah in the 1870s. Tan Hiok Nee's achievements in commercial trading inadvertently resulted in Tan Chin Hean and his family's migration to Singapore. This was due to the fact that Tan Chin Hean had to manage his grandfather's inheritance in Singapore. Tan Chin Hean had shown his talents in business management. He was employed by the Singapore Four Seas Communications Bank with the position of Bank Manager within ten years of settling down in Singapore. Working in this bank was a turning point for Tan Chin Hean, which galvanized him to get into the core of the leadership community within the Chinese locality.