Singapore Char Yong (Dabu) Association History
1857
The Association was built.
1858
It was officially established. The management committee comprised of the Chairman,Seow Xian Wu, the Manager, Chong Cheng Kang, the Assistant Manager, Chow Soon Heng, and eleven other executives. The address was No. 16 Peking Street.
1890
Fei Choon Kwan was established at No 456 Beach Road.
1906
Mr Lew Choon Yong, Mr Chong Ra Xi and several others initiated fund raising activities for the building of Khee Fatt School. Mr Lew Choon Yong was the President. A shop house along Loke Yew Street was rented as the school premises. Mr.Lee Zheng Wu was the school principal.
1911
The management council led by Mr Lan Jin Qing added 3 more levels to the Association building at Peking Street and demarcated them as classrooms, thus incorporating Khee Fatt School into the building.
1918
The Association and Khee Fatt School relocated to 31 Hill Street..
1919
“Fei Choon Kwan” relocated to No. 363 Balestier Road and was renamed “Char Yong Fei Choon Hospital”.
1936
The management council was restructured with Mr Chong Jin Zhi as President. The Association managed both Khee Fatt School and “Char Yong Fei Choon Hospital”.
1937
Mr. Chong Mong Shen, Mr. Lee Lian Chew, Mr. Lim Shi Man , Mr. Chin Han Xin and several others managed to acquire the neighbouring shop house at No 29 Hill Street. This laid the foundation of unification of Association and school. The 4 Clansmen were appointed as office bearers.
1938
The Association moved into the new premises at Hill Street.
1941
The Association and school premises were bombed and destroyed by the Japanese Army
1947
The President Mr. Lim Shi Man and council members raised funds to acquire the property at No. 30 Cairnhill Road. The Association moved into the premises and concurrently re-established Khee Fatt School. Mr. Liow Guo Chou was the principal then.
1952
A new school building was planned and the project was supervised by President Mr. Chong Mong Shen, Vice President , Mr.Lan Yun Chang, Mr Huang Yin Xuan and others.
1955
The Association proposed an expansion plan for both Association and School to further develop their establishment. The “Char Yong Expansion Committee for Association and School” was thus formed with Mr.Chong Mong Shen as its President and others as council members.
1956
An Executive Committee of 48 members was elected. Chairman Mr Chong Mong Shen, Vice-Chairman Mr Huang Shao Wen together with another 48 members in the committee took charge the expansion project of Association and School. The total funding was $300,000 for the construction of a 3-storey building.
1958
The ground breaking ceremony was held early of the year and ready for the opening ceremony by year end.
1959
The Association began its era of revolutionary changes and undertook many large projects including the expansion of Association and school premises.
1966
On 13 November, during the official opening ceremony of the Association, our first Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, planted a tree to commemorate the occasion. Today, this tree’s lush stature is symbolic of Char Yong (Dabu) Association’s rich heritage.
1985
Due to urban re-developments plan and a dip in student enrolment through the years, the school ceased its activities. The MOE established a new school premise at No 50 West Coast Road and retained the name, Qifa Primary School. The Association donated $100,000 to the school. A condominium was jointly developed with DBS Land at the Association/school site named “Char Yong Gardens”. The Association would be allotted 36 units of apartments.
1988
In the 23rd Term of its re-establishment, the Deputy General Secretary Mr Yong Soong Piau, initiated the idea of locating the Association to a property at No 29 Lorong 22 Gelyang.
1989
On 5th March, the Association celebrated her 131st Anniversary. BG Lee Hsien Loong, then the Minister for Trade and Industry officiated the opening ceremony of the new premises..
1990
In April, the Association officially received 36 units of apartment from Char Yong Gardens. The management council then established the Management Committee of Char Yong Gardens.
1991
Char Yong Gardens completed interior renovation and a property firm was engaged to manage the leasing of the units.
1992
The Association consolidated the revenue received to finance charitable purposes. The first donation was $20,000 to the Lee Kuan Yew Foundation.
In the same year, the association purchased 5 bays niches (ashes urns) at Sam Shen Columbarium of Fong Yun Thai Association and re-sold them to clansmen at purchased prices.
1993
The Association embarked on many activities, especially festive occasions, to foster closer ties among clansmen and members. When a member passed away, a sum of $500 was given by the Association as a gesture of condolence to the family.
Members’ children who excelled in their studies were awarded scholarships by the Association. The Association also awarded scholarships to students of all races in Qifa Primary School and Da Qiao Primary School.
1994
The Association, together with Nam Yuen Yong Fang Co.and Chung Cheng Alumni jointly organised the Wuhan Drama Festival to raise fund for the Chung Cheng Building Foundation. The Association had strong ties with Chung Cheng and had helped to raise $500,000 for Chung Cheng through the years. To commemorate the ties, “Char Yong Dabu Arts Studio” was enacted in Chung Cheng school premises.
1995
The Char Yong (Dabu) Foundation was established to manage the charities contributions on behalf of the Association.
In October, the First World Dabu Conference was held to foster the development of Dabu.
1997
In October, the Second World Dabu Conference was held again at the homeland of Dabu. Many of Association’s Advisers, President, Vice Presidents, Honorary Presidents were conferred “Dabu Honorary Citizens” as an appreciation of their contribution to Dabu homeland.le.
1998
The Association celebrated her 140th Anniversary. In conjunction with the celebrations, a souvenir magazine was published and Dabu Cultural Troupe was invited to perform in Singapore. The scroll comprising honourable members, who had graciously and generously contributed to the cause of Char Yong Fei Choon Hospital, was unveiled and a plaque was enacted. A Gala Dinner with 140 tables was held at the Neptune Theatre and the Guest of Honour was Mr. Chan Soo Sen, Prime Minister’s Office, MCDS and Ministry of Health,
1999
3 June – the Committee for the Redevelopment
of Char Yong Complex was set up,
chaired by the President Yang Shuang Biao.
Director Zhang Yao Guang headed the team to
execute the project.
2000
On 17 Feb, notice of public tender for the re-construction of the Char Yong Building was published in the newspaper.
On 17 July, ground breaking ceremony was held.
2001
On 18 August, topping off ceremony was held.
In September, President Mr Yong Soong Piau, led a research team to Dabu, China, to collect artifacts and other historical information. A forum on the historical documents of Dabu County was held where 21 town mayors attended.
The Youth Group was inaugurated with the objective of grooming successors for the Association.
2002
On 18 February, the organizing committee of grand celebration of 5 events was formed, President Yong Soong Piau as Chairman of the Grand Celebration and General Secretary Ho Lam Kwong as Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
On 15 June , a ceremony was held to commemorate the relocation of the Association into the Char Yong Building.The management council held dinner to celebrate successful completion of Char Yong Building.
On 3 December, DPM Lee Hsien Loong, accompanied by Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office & MCDS graced the official opening of Char Yong Building and Heritage Hall.
On 4 December, a Gala Dinner “Char Yong Nite” was held at the Neptune Theatre. The Guest of Honour was Mr. Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State.
1500 guests attended the Gala Dinner. Artists from Dabu as well as local staged a radiant performance. The evening marked a colourful chapter for Char Yong (Dabu) Association.
2003
On 17 and 18 of March, National Heritage Board of Singapore and Char Yong Association jointly organised the “2003 Traditional cultural Festivals”.
From 12 to 20 December, Mr Ho Phang Phow, Head of Heritage Committee, led a delegation to The Miao Li county of Taiwan to attend the 9-day << 2003 Asia Pacific Hakka Cultural Festival>> and Hakka Culture Forum.
2004
On 6 March, Char Yong (Dabu) Association, Bukit Panjang Hakka Association and Foong Shoon Association jointly organized a fellowship session for their Karaoke class students.
On 5 December, the Association organized the First National Hakka Songs Appreciation night at Char Yong Auditorium.
2005
On 2 May, in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, the Association organised the << Let’s Sing Hakka Songs -05>> at Char Yong Auditorium.
On 13 August, Char Yong (Dabu) Association and Char Yang ( Dabu) Lee Chee Association jointly organized a Gala Dinner in celebration of the 40th National Day, Association 147th Anniversary, and Lee Chee Association 71st Anniversary.
2008
The 150th Anniversary marks the major milestone in the history of the Association. The theme was “Set your sights on the world while keeping your homeland to heart”. A cultural festival from June to September 2008 with support from 19 Hakka associations in Singapore was held.
On 21 & 22 June, the Association kicked off 2 evenings of Hakka Culture show. It showcased the best opera, songs and dance performance by troupes such as Han Yue Research Society from Dabu, Gan Nan Cai Cha Song and Dance Troup from Jiangxi Province and other Hakka performing arts groups from Fujian and Guangxi provinces, as well as song groups from Hakka clans in Johor and Singapore.
On 21-23 July, a charity art exhibition displayed more than 50 paintings by Dabu artist Li Xiaojin
On 24-26 July, a Chinese calligraphy exhibition featuring more than 100 works by 3 artists from Dabu. Proceeds from sale of paintings and calligraphies were donated to charity.
On 03 Aug, a Hakka Food Festival was organized which attracted a large crowd of Singaporeans and foreigners to the tastes of Hakka Specialties. Proceeds from the sale of food coupons were donated to charity.
On 17 Aug, the Association sponsored one evening concert “The Yellow River Chorus”, by Chung Cheng High School Choir and five other song groups.
On 05-07 Sept, a photography exhibition displaying some 200 pictures from different parts of China such as Dabu, Chengdu, Meizhou, Ganzhou, Guangxi, Hepou showing the lives, architecture such as the Wei Lou and other pictures from Taiwan.
On 04 Oct, a Grand Celebration Gala Dinner attended by 1400 guests was graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as Guest-of-Honour. PM Lee delivered a very inspiring and encouraging message to the members, friends and guests of the Association. A donation of $100,000 was presented to the Prime Minister for Ang Mo Kio GRC.
On 05 Oct, 3 publications were launched to commemorate this celebration : Dabu Communal Dwellings (A handbook of Hakka Architecture Heritage), Little Lotus (150 students works) and An Endless Topic of Research (Essays on Hakka Culture).
At the end of the Hakka Culture Festival and celebrations, the Association hopes to promote the appreciation of Hakka culture, and to enhance interaction with other dialects groups/races in Singapore..
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