Hong Lim Exclusive
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THE HONG LIM COMPLEX
Join Amanda Chong as she discovers the morally ambiguous man behind the park...
Hong Lim Park is Singapore’s first privately-owned public garden, named after the wealthy Cheang Hong Lim, who bought the land in 1876. While the official narrative celebrates Cheang as a public-spirited philanthropist, historical accounts reveal him to be a man of far greater moral complexity.
From Police Yard to Public Garden
Hong Lim Park was once a disused piece of wasteland in front of the Central Police Station. Despite its barren state, it was given the rather aspirational misnomer of Dunman’s “Green”— after Thomas Dunman, the first Commissioner of Police who retired in 1871. In 1876, then-Colonial Secretary John Douglas sought contributions from Chinese businessmen for the purpose of beautifying Dunman’s Green, with the view of turning it into a public park for Chinatown residents. As Douglas lacked influence amongst the Chinese businessmen, he enlisted the help of Cheang Hong Lim, a respected Chinese communityleader. Although Cheang failed to interest his fellow Chinese in donating, he generously took the entire project upon himself. Cheang bought over the Green at $3000, erected an iron fence around it, and supplied two gardeners to tend to it on a regular basis. The Park was then opened for public enjoyment. To honour Hong Lim’s charity, the Green was given his name.
Consummate Philanthropist
Opening Hong Lim Park was merely a speck in the sea of Cheang’s charitable endeavours. Born in Singapore in 1841, the Hokkien businessman gave to a diverse range of causes across racial, religious and geographical lines. Not only did Cheang fund the refurbishment and erection of several Chinese temples, he was also the largest donor for the building of a new convent in Singapore in 1876. He founded a Women’s Shelter and several schools where poor children could learn English for free. To serve the needs of Chinatown residents, he built a wet market along Havelock road, which still bears his name.
Cheang contributed to Singapore's early