Lim Boon Keng

Lim Boon Keng, OBE (林文慶; ; October 18, 1869–January 1, 1957) was a Chinese doctor who promoted social and educational reforms in Singapore and China. Lim is of Chinese Peranakan descent, with ancestry from Hai Teng district in Fujian, China.

Early life
Lim was born in Penang, (in present-day Malaysia), to Lim Thean Geow. He moved to Singapore as a young boy and was later enrolled into Raffles Institution. However, the demise of his parents during his childhood inspired Lim to enter a medical career. In 1887, Lim became the first Chinese to receive a Queen's scholarship, and entered Edinburgh University. He graduated in 1892 with a First Class Honours degree in medicine.

Career
In 1895, Lim became a member of the British Legislative Council in Singapore. The following year, he headed a commission of inquiry into the sources of poverty in Singapore. In addition, Lim was also a justice of the peace and a member of the Chinese Advisory Board.

Lim founded the Philomatic society and published the first Straits Chinese Magazine in 1897. In the same year, he also campaigned against the wearing of the pigtails among Chinese men, with the intention of toppling the Qing Dynasty in China.

In 1899, Lim co-founded Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS), with his friend, Song Ong Siang, to facilitate the education of Straits-Chinese women. (Chinese girls were not encouraged to be educated before the 20th century, thus many were illiterate.) The next year, Lim founded the Straits Chinese British Association, and later became a president.

As a member of the Legislative Council, Lim wanted opium banned, forming the Anti-Opium Society. However, opium was not banned until 1943 under the Japanese Occupation.

The British reasoned that imposing a ban on opium would mean that the government would lose a source of income from the tax on opium. To make up for the loss, the Governor suggested taxing the people's incomes. The main group that would be affected by this tax would be the merchants. Therefore, the European and Asian merchants opposed to this, and opium was not banned, although heavier taxes on opium were imposed.

Lim was awarded the Order of the British Empire as an officer in 1918 for his services to the British empire.

Together with Lim Nee Soon, Lim co-founded OAC Insurance in 1920. OAC was the first locally-owned insurance company to be set up in Singapore. The following year in June, upon the requests of Sun Yat-Sen, Lim served as the second president of Xiamen University (University of Amoy), until the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese war in July 1937. The University was founded by Tan Kah Kee, Lim's friend.

As the President of Xiamen University, Lim published The Li Sao, an Elegy on Encountering Sorrows.

In 1937, Lim founded the Straits Chinese China Relief Fund Committee of Singapore to support China in her war efforts against Japan.

President of OCA
In 1942, Lim's family were interned at a Japanese concentration camp at Arab Street. According to Shinozaki Mamoru, Lim was in a state that he was so shocked that his voice was unaudible. However, with Shinozaki's help, Lim was able to get home with Shinozaki's protection cards.

Lim was asked by the Japanese to become the leader of OCA (Overseas Chinese Association), an association which was designated to serve the needs of the local Chinese community under the approval of the Japanese. In response, Lim refused, claiming that he was too old to take up the role of a president. Lin's wife was then made to kneel down under the scorching sun for 4 hours at a stretch, in addition to bearing other insults. After Shinozaki persuaded him, telling him that Lim's position as president was merely to be a figurehead without needing to do much work, Lim finally relented.

In March 1942, Lim was ordered by the Japanese to raise a "donation" of fifty million dollars for Japan. However, only twenty-eight million dollars was raised with much difficulty. In response to the anger of the Japanese, Lim made an emotional speech:

"'We never told a lie. When we promised to give the military contribution, we mean to do it. Financial conditions are now such as to be beyond our control. If we are unable to pay, then die we will. I wish to point out, however, that the manner in which the Government raise this military contribution is without any parallel in any country.'"

In the end, the Japanese agreed to a loan for the remaining sum through the Yokohama Specie Bank.

Lim also supervised the construction of the Endau settlement in 1944. In view of Singapore's inability to feed her large population, it was meant to be a place for local citizens to migrate to.

Known as the grand old man of Singapore's Chinese Society, during the Japanese Occupation, he would feign a drunken stupor rather than co-operate with the conquerors.

Later life
Lim led his remaining years reclusively in Singapore as an ordinary citizen. He finally died at the age of 88 on January 1, 1957, and was buried at Bidadari Cemetery in Singapore.

Family
Lim was married twice. His first marriage was to Margaret Huang in 1896 at a Presbyterian Church, and they had four sons: Robert Kho-Seng, Francis Kho-Beng, Walter Kho-Leng and John Kho-Liau. However, Lim's wife died in 1905.

Lim remarried in 1908, to Grace Yin. They had one son, Peng Han, who later became a race car driver, and Ena Guat-Kheng. Lim also had another son, Peng Thiam, with Chui Geok, niece of one of Lim's wives, probably out of wedlock.

Legacy
The area now known as Boon Keng, including Boon Keng MRT Station, Boon Keng Road and Upper Boon Keng Road are named after Lim Boon Keng.