HWANG, Bryant Tchuan Thau
Special Project,
Accession Number 003164
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 25
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 22:33:37
Total Running Time
- English
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 25
Metadata
- 15 May 2007
Recording Date
- 00:46:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Grandfather founded Poh Kong Chye. Grandfather’s family. Interviewee’s father was the most educated amongst grandfather’s children. Father was educated in Britain. Father was the first Asian to be awarded fellowship to Royal Institute of British architects(RIBA). Father’s outlook was generally Westernized. Father’s view on Chinese culture. Interviewee left for UK in 1964. Languages spoken at home. Interviewee and siblings would greet and attend to father when he returned home. Dinner at home. Dishes they have for dinner. How father administered discipline at home. How father allocate his wealth to the females in the family. Father told the males in the family to provide for the females in the family. Father supported siblings’ education. Grandmother's marriage.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 25
Metadata
- 26 Jun 2007
Recording Date
- 00:55:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Recollection of his grandmother. His impression of his grandfather, Run Run Shaw. Father’s personality. Father had office in Asia Insurance building. Father was called Ng Keng Siang. Why interviewee was surnamed Hwang. Father was a Christian. Father called his children by their English names. . Father wanted his children to learn English early. Interviewee left for England in primary 4. Father build and designed Asia Insurance Building, Nanyang University. Father loves Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. Father taught them not to waste food. Father was the mediator between the non-English speaking Chinese community and the government in Chin Chew Street. Father taught them to care for the less privileged. Father was invited to design for Nanyang University. He designed it for free. Father was western in outlook but he never forgot his cultural roots. Father used to bring his children to Chinatown to see how others lived. Father built his house in Pasir Panjang away from the rest of the tycoons in the area. They kept two ponies at home. Description of the house they lived in. Had black and white ah mahs at home. Interviewee was born in the house.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 25
Metadata
- 17 Jul 2007
Recording Date
- 00:55:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Father left architectural practice in 1950s. Hotel was father’s first business venture besides owning a plantation in Johore. Father sold his plantation eventually when he fell ill. Interviewee wrote to father regularly from England. Father lost his sight eventually from effects of cancer. Father stayed in Singapore while interviewee, siblings and mother were in England. Father’s last days. Interviewee was 12 when father passed away. His views on studying overseas as a child. His reactions on going overseas for study in Primary 4. Need to mature fast to handle discrimination in England. Why he did not return to Singapore during school holidays. Interviewee went to boarding school at the age of 13. Went to preparatory school, Hurstpierpoint College (St John’s College) and polytechnic in London. They lived in the inner part of London.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 25
Metadata
- 7 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:56:12
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee lived in a Jewish area. He developed a love for reading when his aunt made him read Sherlock Holmes. He took French a year ahead of his classmates in boarding school. He took Economics, Art and English, a combination that made it difficult to enter either Cambridge or Oxford University. Why he did not enter St Martin School despite his interest in Art. He was also interested in Economics. Interviewee was adopted by an American family in England. Why he did not miss Singapore when he was young. Why he started thinking about Singapore. He was 19 when he took 6 months off from college to work in a stockbroking firm. His experience in the stockbroking firm. Old boy’s network was apparent in the stockbroking firm.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 25
Metadata
- 14 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:55:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
He felt that Singapore is ultimately home. Interviewee found his network of support in Singapore. Mentioned his neurologist uncle who left Singapore to settle in America. Interviewee’s decision to return to Singapore. Had to give up some of his freedom UK. His sister could not adapt to life in Singapore after having lived in the UK. He focus more on his career. His greatest joy when he returned in 1975 was to get in touch with those he know. His impression of Singapore in the 70s. Why he was prepared to serve national service (NS). He was discriminated against in the army as he could not speak Mandarin. He learnt more about Singaporeans during NS. Difference in philosophy between the East and West with regards to bringing up children. Witnessed Jewish community in UK making sacrifices for their homeland during the 100 - day war.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 25
Metadata
- 28 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:54:53
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Types of local financial institutions. Amount invested by foreign investors were limited in those days as most were held by Temasek Holdings. Closure of the stock market was badly received by foreign institutions. Was a very bad credit crisis as banks recalled their loans. Why he felt that the closure of the stock market was a right move. MAS(Monetary Authority of Singapore) created a lifeboat fund to arrest the panic. Banks and broking houses came in as stabilizing factors to ensure market liquidity and added depth to the market. His views on the crisis. He felt that one cannot blame MAS for the lack of communication strategy to disseminate information. Atmosphere during the Pan-Electric Crisis. Felt that the Pan-Electric Crisis was a fraudulent case.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 25
Metadata
- 4 Sep 2007
Recording Date
- 00:55:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
MAS relationship with local and foreign institutions. He felt that MAS’ move saved Singapore financial market from collapsing. How he and his company was affected by the crisis. Volunteered to suffer pay cut on his own. Many companies went bankrupt during the crisis. Loyalty to his company made him and other senior staff initiated a pay cut. High tension within the office. Had to be very cautious during their transactions. Transaction conversations were taped as the situation was very volatile. Mentioned the various economic crisis over the years. Interviewee left the stock industry to join an investment company. Why he switched from sales to research in the finance industry. Highlights of his career. Felt that research and management is an art.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 25
Metadata
- 11 Sep 2007
Recording Date
- 00:53:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Why interviewee likes to research on small and medium size companies. His highlight is his personal evolution. He enjoyed what he is doing. His toughest time in the finance industry is to chase clients. Elaboration on why he switched from sales to research. His involvement in ‘Sunday Morning’ TV. His views on spending money. Felt that it is important for children to understand their parents. He explains things to his children and sees himself as the CEO of the family. His definition on personal identity. He felt that a sense of history will stop people from leaving the country. His view that poor economy will not attract migrants.
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