LEE Sing Tiong 李成忠
Education in Singapore (Part 2: Chinese),
Accession Number 002066
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 22
Total Reels
- Yap Wee Cheng
Interviewer
- 10:57:33
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 22
Metadata
- 23 Oct 1998
Recording Date
- 00:29:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Family background. Description of Thomson Road (Hai Nan Shan). Memory of father. Description of Dan Shui Kang. Memory of father and his skill in rubber trading. Studied at Su Zheng School. Mother was strict. Thomson School was founded by Phor Kark See Temple. School was bombed during World War II. Fund raising organised by Singapore China Relief Fund Committee. Father was district leader for the anti-Japanese movement. Hostels provided by Lee Rubber Company. Impression of Lee Kong Chian.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 22
Metadata
- 23 Oct 1999
Recording Date
- 00:30:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Lee Kong Chian's generosity influenced his father. Impression of his fellow villagers who worked for his father. Lee's employees started their own business after learning the trade. Rubber industry during and after the war. Different kinds of rubber and differentiation. Father had great influence on him. Stored enough rice to last his family through the Occupation. Bombing at his village.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 22
Metadata
- 23 Oct 1998
Recording Date
- 00:29:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Battle at Thomson Road. Sook Ching at Thomson Road. Family destroyed documents before Japanese came. Looting in the initial period. Encounters with Japanese soldiers at Aik Hoe Factory. How his sisters used to avoid Japanese soldiers. Father and friend sought Japanese businessman's help to manufacture tyres for bicyles. Father also supplied 'white' soil. Used to dig soil at Jurong and in Lee Kong Chian's rubber estate, near Seletar River. Father refused to enrol him into school. Helped in father's 'white' soil and tyre factory.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 22
Metadata
- 23 Oct 1998
Recording Date
- 00:31:10
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
During Japanese Occupation, dug soil near Nanyang University (Nantah) in Jurong. Described process of how workers dug 'white' soil manually near Seletar River. His feelings when Japan surrendered. His brother-in-law was beaten by Japanese. Father was a one-star auxiliary police. Why father's business was not affected during Occupation. A traitor was beaten to death after the Japanese surrender. How they became self-sufficient in food. Anti-Japanese fellows were asked to leave his village after villagers discovered them.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 22
Metadata
- 6 Nov 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:14
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Prepared food for Australian prisoners-of-war (POWs) who passed by. Witnessed the bombing by US planes in 1944. Celebration of the villagers when they heard the news of Japanese surrender. Movement to eliminate traitors in the districts. Fights between Malays and Chinese. Description of Su Zheng School.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 22
Metadata
- 6 Nov 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Founding of Su Zheng School. Description of Or Kio (Balestiar Road). School life at Su Zheng School. Occasional street opera performances at his village. Temples in Thomson. Birthday of deities that villagers celebrated.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 22
Metadata
- 6 Nov 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Prayers, rituals and selection of leaders. Teochew operas were more popular although villagers were made up of various dialect groups. Booking seats for opera performance at night. Day time performances. Crowds at night. Description of the opera stage. Hawkers that gathered during such events. Fund raising during such occasions before Japanese Occupation. Studied at Sin Min Public School (Thomson) after the war. Found treasure in a Japanese shrine near the school's compound. School branches were set up at various places. Surroundings of the school.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 22
Metadata
- 13 Nov 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:06
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Found treasure found in the grounds of the Japanese shrine. Surroundings of Shin Min Public School (Thomson). School life. Father was one of the school directors. Transferred to Tao Nan School. Directors at Shin Min. Why Thomson School was not revived after the war. Reasons for the closure of Shin Min. School uniform and system of Shin Min. Transferred to Tao Nan School in 1948. Compared shcool life at Tao Nan and Shin Min. Developed the habit of book collection when he studied at Tao Nan.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 22
Metadata
- 13 Nov 1998
Recording Date
- 00:30:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Principal of Tao Nan School. Participated in public speaking and its impact on him. He had pocket money to buy books. Book shops found around Bras Basah Road. Influences of his father on him. Good relationship with Chinese teachers. English lessons at Tao Nan. Society's view on English in the early 50s. Surroundings of Tao Nan. Parents were liberal in his future plans.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 22
Metadata
- 13 Nov 1998
Recording Date
- 00:29:30
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Difficulties faced after Catholic High School switched to the English medium. Photographic sessions with classmates. Reasons for the switch in teaching medium at Catholic High. Transferred to Chung Cheng High School. Surroundings of Catholic High. Impressions of teachers at Catholic High. How he became a 'free thinker'. Failed his bible examination. A history teacher at Catholic High. Joined the Boy Scouts for a year. Chinese schools combined sports meet. Wore uniform even on non-school days.
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