TOR Lam Huat (Dr) 杜南发
Economic Development of Singapore,
Accession Number 003247
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 12
Total Reels
- Jesley Chua Chee Huan
Interviewer
- 10:09:43
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 12
Metadata
- 12 Oct 2007
Recording Date
- 00:53:30
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Local born. Lived in Jalan Sultan when young. Father owned a provision shop. Interviewee’s siblings. Father was strict with children. How father’s stern discipline affected his brother. Mother made kueh at home for his brothers to sell. Father built houses in Geylang Lorong 25 and 27 for rentals. Father subsequently built more houses in other parts of Geylang. Siblings helped to look after parents’ business. Most of interviewee’s brothers showed no interest in studies. Felt that father was business savvy. Why interviewee left school. Interviewee studied in Mercantile School in the afternoon after his classes in Chinese primary school. Advantage of attending English school. He was weak in mathematics in primary school but managed to improve it. Was an average student in school. His standard of English was better than his classmates in The Chinese High School. His favourite subjects in secondary school. Used to skip classes in school due to his involvement in student activities. Leisure in those days. How father was hurt during Japanese Occupation resulting in him walking with a limp. Interviewee mentioned that he was beaten by police during the student riots. Father wanted to send him to study in China to prevent him from joining student activities. He did not go because mother was reluctant to let him leave.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 12
Metadata
- 11 Dec 2007
Recording Date
- 00:54:36
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Why he was poor in music. Mentioned Devan Nair and Teng Liang Hong. How he benefited from his English education in the later years. Why he was interested in Communism when young. When interviewee was made class monitor in secondary two, he set up a class library. His favourite subjects. Applied his knowledge of science in his products. Mentioned importance of good blood circulation. Mentioned Confucian ideas. Felt that one’s education and environment affected one’s political leanings. Joined PAP branch activities at night while helping father in the day. His attitude towards boy-girl relationship. Interviewee got married at the age of 24 with Hoe Puay Choo who was their matchmaker. Why he decided to get married. He did not complete his pre-university education because of involvement in student activities. How interviewee became PAP branch office secretary. He was later made Assistant Camp Supervisor.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 12
Metadata
- 11 Dec 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Responsibilities of Assistant Camp Supervisor. Interviewee was in his 20s. Interviewee studied night classes for his Senior Cambridge. He left PAP branch office as he was not supportive of referendum. Why he decided to work on his own. His views on referendum. Why he did not want to be a businessman when young but ultimately became one. He did not want to help in father’s business. Shared different views from his father and brother on business. Why he took up martial arts in his used -car business. Fought off someone who cheated him. Challenges he faced in the trade. Why he went into building and constructing business. How he was cheated by his friend. Elaboration on his impression of Hoe Puay Choo. They drifted apart because of differing views on Confucianism. Interviewee was not concerned about how others viewed the age gap between him and his wife. Elaboration on his friend who got him into PAP branch offce. Interviewee completed his ‘O’ level in 1958 at the age of 20 years. Elaboration on the construction business contract he entered into. Problems he faced in the business. He went into chit fund and earned money from it. .
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Reel/Disc 4 of 12
Metadata
- 29 May 2009
Recording Date
- 00:53:23
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee gained construction knowledge when he helped his father in his business. Interviewee subsequently set up a company importing Japanese calculators in the 70s followed by auto gate system business. He decided to switch business when it got too competitive. How interviewee got hold of Dearland, a skincare brand from Taiwan. Why his partner left the distributorship to him. Gained his knowledge on beauty products during his trip to Taiwan. Pushed his sales through Rediffusion advertisements and free gifts. Why he did not use TV advertising. Dearland was so popular that his Taiwanese supplier increased its prices many times. Interviewee found the Taiwanese unreliable but he did not take any legal action against them. His initial problems in selling Dearland. Why he decided to create his own brand of products and sell Dearland at the same time. Dearland subsequently took back their distributorship during the mid-80s. How his friend got him into trouble with Hong Leong. How he had to pay Hong Leong and lost the distributorship of Dearland. How interviewee developed his own brand, Firland with a paint chemist. Interviewee was made bankrupt but he accepted and learnt from his mistake. His belief in science. Believed that destiny was within self. He was still running auto gate and Firland after his bankruptcy. Firland ended in mid 80s. How Ginvera came about. How interviewee decided on a product. How the name ‘Ginvera came about. Average product development time. His interest in beauty care products. He was only bankrupt for a year.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 12
Metadata
- 4 Aug 2009
Recording Date
- 00:55:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Initial challenges faced in his business. Created his Bio -Essence product in 2001. His Bio-Essence Face Lifting Cream was challenged by Procter & Gamble Co. His 100 user product challenge. His product was ranked number four amongst international brand. Ginvera Marvel gel. How he managed to be involved in R&D ( research and development) despite his lack of knowledge. His interests in things around him. Believed in scientific way of solving problems. How he got100 volunteers to test his products. Had about 10 staff handling R&D in his China and Malaysian office. Guided his R&D staff with his ideas.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 12
Metadata
- 14 Aug 2009
Recording Date
- 00:53:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Felt that he was successful in R&D because he was able to think out of the box. Why he went into male facial product in 2005. His slimming products, Celebrity’s choice. Why he did not go for high end products. Commented on his market in Hong Kong,Thailand, Taiwan and China. Went to Shanghai in 1995. Challenges faced. China had a different mindset from Singapore. Found Hong Kong market more similar to Singapore. Went to Hong Kong in 2006, Thailand 2004. Had representatives in Burma, Vietnam. Had problems attracting talents into his company due to its small size. Problems of monitoring his business. Staff strength. Set up factory in Quanzhou in 1993. Why his R&D was mainly based in China. Type of products he created. His business strategy. How he prevented secret formula from leaking. His management philosophy. Management of his China employees.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 12
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2010
Recording Date
- 00:53:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Mentioned blue ocean strategy. His application of Sun Tzu’s Art of War in business. Need for product differentiation. His 100 user challenge in 2004 affected Olay. Believes in advertising. Elaboration on his application of Sun Tzu’s strategy in business. Interviewee was able to guide his chemist in his R&D team. He was not afraid of people challenging his products. Company spent about 30 percent on advertising.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 12
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2010
Recording Date
- 00:52:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Elaboration on Sun Tzu’s strategy. Family members and their roles and responsibilities in the company. His working relationship with his children. Most of the time, interviewee was the only one who did not share the same idea as others. Interviewee was also involved in copy writing. He got involved in employee’s work as they could not match his expectations. His children were not interested in R&D. All his products were invented by him. His plans for his company’s R&D. Decided to list his company to ensure company’s continuity.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 12
Metadata
- 9 Jul 2010
Recording Date
- 00:54:58
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How he competed with larger companies. Why he wanted to go to Taiwan to be listed. Advantages of being listed. Had to have new inventions to remain competitive. Effectiveness of his miracle cap. Why he was proud of his miracle cap. Illustration of how he got inspirations for his creations. His views on succession. He was willing to accept non family member to lead. Felt that foreign workers could motivate locals to buck up. His interest in Confucianism. Story of Tor’s ancestor, Zhen Yi Gu（ 贞 义 姑）. Zhen Yi Gu（ 贞 义姑）and relationship with Nanyang Tu-Si Kong Huay. Why his father built a place for Zhen Yi Gu（ 贞 义姑）
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Reel/Disc 10 of 12
Metadata
- 10 Feb 2011
Recording Date
- 00:57:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Elaboration on why father built a place for Zhen Yi Gu（ 贞 义姑）. Why interviewee was chosen to lead Zhen Yi Gu（ 贞 义姑）Association. Relationship between Zhen Yi Gu（ 贞 义姑）Association and Nanyang Tu-Si Kong Huay . Interviewee’s working relationship in Nanyang Tu-Si Kong Huay. Issues faced. Problems faced. Why interviewee left the organization eventually. His views on the management of Nanyang Tu-Si Kong Huay. His views on Confucianism and its application. Mentioned link between health and blood circulation, beauty and cell renewal. Need for constant application of one’s mind. Mentioned his research findings for his miracle cap. Felt that his abilities was due to nurture and hard work. Elaboration on Confucian values.
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