Lim Boon Keng

From Pagenation

Doctor Lim Boon Keng was born on 18 October 1869 in Singapore and died on 1957. Doctor Lim Boon Keng was a pioneer Straits Chinese who actively sought to improve the status of the Chinese in Malaya through education and social activism. He held top positions in the Legislative Council and liased actively with the Manchu government. Lim Boon Keng was a third generation Baba (or Peranakan) born in Singapore, the second son of Lim Thean Geow. Lim Boon Keng's mother had died when he was just 10. He was orphaned as a teenager with the death of his father when he was only 16. He was brought up by his grandparents instead who placed him in the clan temple to master the Chinese Classics.

He was first educated in English at the Government Cross Street School, and later at Raffles Institution, marking his academic brilliance by becoming the first Chinese to win the Queen's Scholarship in 1887. His scholarship took him to study medicine in Edinburgh University, guided by the best in the medical arena with many of his lecturers becoming leaders in specific branches of medicine. He graduated in August 1892 with an MB C. M. (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) gaining first class honours. In 1893, on his return from England to Singapore due to financial difficulties. He established a private practice in Telok Ayer Street. He had avoided the government service observing that few locals could obtain positions higher than that of assistant medical officer.

He strongly advocated the reformation of the Straits Chinese community beginning with his famed queue-cutting (see note below) campaigns and rallies against opium smoking culminating in the formation of the Khai Eng Soh, "The Opium Refuge", under Dr S. C. Yin in 1906.

In 1937, Doctor Lim was interned by the Japanese during the War. He formed the Goh Loo Club at Club Street which initially served to protect Chinese leaders some of whom had been involved in raising relief funds for China. However, the Japanese renamed the club the Overseas Chinese Association which was required to raise S$50,000 on behalf of all Malayan Chinese, a symbol of support for the Japanese army. The Japanese used the Association to transmit propaganda and rehabilitate the Chinese. In his twilight years, Lim spent his time in retirement at Paterson Hill Road where he remained until he died in 1957.

Note: During the Qing shaved foreheadand queue (long beaded pony tails) symbolised Manchu autocratic authority and its cultural dominance. The ponytail was never to be cut for it would merit execution as treason. In the early 1910s, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese man no longer had to wear it.