Low Kim Pong (

Simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one that is simpler (usually shorter), according to a well-founded ordering. Examples include: ...

: 刘金榜;

Traditional Chinese A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examp ...

: 劉金榜) (29 November 1837 - 18 December 1909), was a prominent Chinese trader in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

. He was a leader of the

Hokkien Hokkien ( , ) is a Varieties of Chinese, variety of the Southern Min group of Chinese language, Chinese languages. Native to and originating from the Minnan region in the southeastern part of Fujian in southeastern China, it is also referred ...

community in Singapore.

Biography

Low was born on 29 November 1837 in

Zhangzhou Zhangzhou (, ) is a prefecture-level city in Fujian Province, China. The prefecture around the city proper comprises the southeast corner of the province, facing the Taiwan Strait and (with Quanzhou) surrounding the prefecture of Xiamen. Nam ...

Fujian Fujian is a provinces of China, province in East China, southeastern China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefe ...

. He came to Singapore in 1858 as a general trader, and founded Chop Ban San, a medical store, after meeting with success. Chop Ban San later became one of the largest Chinese druggist stores in Singapore. He also established a private banking business, as well as Chop Hock Nam, another medical store. In 1898, both he and his son had an unusual dream of a golden man arriving from the west. He then met Venerable

Xian Hui Xian Hui (; Xiao'erjing: ; born March 1958) is a Chinese politician of Hui ethnic heritage, who is currently a vice chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. She previously served as the Chairwoman (Governor) of ...

, who was returning to Fujian after a six-year pilgrimage in

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

. Low believed that Xian Hui was the man he encountered in his dream, and persuaded him to stay in Singapore. He and Yeo Poon Seng raised the funds to construct the first Chinese Buddhist temple in Singapore known as Siong Lim Temple on Kim Keat Road, which was completed in 1906, and Xian Hui became the temple's first abbot. In 1906, he and several fellow prominent members of the Chinese community in Singapore founded the General Chinese Trade Affairs Association (later known as Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce). He was later appointed director of the chamber, as well as the

Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) (), or the Singapore Hokkien Association in English language, English, is a cultural and educational foundation. It was established in 1840 to promote education, social welfare and the preservation of the Chinese ...

. He was also a member of the Singapore Po Leung Kuk and the Chinese Advisory Board.

Personal life

Low had a wife, two sons, three daughters, and twenty grandchildren. He lived on 99 Devonshire Road. He had donated to the

Victoria Memorial Hall The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a performing arts centre in the Central Area of Singapore, situated along Empress Place. It is a complex of two buildings and a clock tower joined together by a common corridor; the oldest part of the ...

, and the Straits Medical School. For his seventieth birthday, an evening party was held to celebrate the event and over one hundred Europeans attended. A

wayang ( , ) is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. The term refers both to the show as a whole and the puppet in particular. Performances of wayang puppet theatre are accompanied by a ''gamel ...

was performed at his residence for his seventy-second birthday in 1909. Low died on 18 December 1909. As he did not leave a will, multiple people claimed to be his

next of kin A person's next of kin (NOK) may be that person's spouse A spouse is a significant other in a marriage. A female spouse is called a wife while a male spouse is called a husband. Married The legal status of a spouse, and the specific righ ...

in order to inherit his estate as he owned a large amount of property. Kim Pong Road was named in honour of him.

References

{{Reflist 1837 births 1909 deaths People from British Malaya