Heng Pang Kiat (王邦杰) is the main name that is cited in the literature.
You may have noticed that there is a variation on how the third character is written (look at the picture on the homepage)
The other common spelling is Hing Pang Kiat. (ref: Lee 1984, URA 2003)
His name in Mandarin or Hanyu Pinyin is listed as Wang Bangjie 王邦杰 (ref: NUS Library Portal Databank (2019))
Interestingly, and rather amusingly, Heng Pang Kiat also had many aliases. The reason for this is unknown.An aunty of mine suggested that it may have been due to superstitious reasons but perhaps it was also due to business structures? (personal conjecture)
In the announcement published by the Malaya Tribune for the conferment of his certification of naturalisation by His Excellency the British Governor,it is stated that Heng Pang Kiat was otherwise known as Heng Kwe Ho.
(ref: Malaya Tribune 12 July 1920)
In a Notice of Estate for Heng Pang Kiat published by The Straits Times on behalf of Allen and Gledhill, Solicitors.
His aliases are listed as follows:
Heng Peng Kiat*
Heng Pong Kiat*
Heng Pung Kiat*
Ong Pang Kiat^
Heng Quee Ho**
Hing Quee Ho**
Heng Quee Hoe**
Heng Pheow Kee^^
Heng Chim Hak^^
(ref: The Straits Times 1 Sep 1930)
Personal comments
*The names Hing Pang Kiat, Heng Peng Kiat, Heng Pong Kiat, Heng Pung Kiat all sound very similar when pronounced in Englishand should be regarded as the same Teochew name Heng Pang Kiat, just with different English spellings.This may reflect the recording British officer's interpretation of the Teochew pronounciation of Heng Pang Kiat. (personal conjecture)
^The surname Ong is technically the same as Heng, written in the Chinese character as 王.Ong is considered the Hokkien version of 王, whereas Heng is the Teochew version.Heng Pang Kiat was a Teochew by descent, so the surname Ong may have been used accidentally when a recording British officerwas perhaps trying to translate the Chinese character 王 in official documents back to English.It is possible that the officer who recorded the surname as Ong in English, failed to realise that Teochew and Hokkien were not one and the sameChinese dialect group even though the spoken language is similar and share many common words. (personal conjecture)
**The other distinctly different name used is Heng Quee Ho. The other two names appear to be just different English spellings of the same name - Hing Quee Hoe, and Heng Kwe Ho(as mentioned in the newspaper article announcing his naturalisation as a citizen of the Straits Settlements).
^^Finally, there are two more distinct names, Heng Pheow Kee and Heng Chim Hak.I will endeavour to look for any related articles that mention these alternate names of Heng Pang Kiat.
• Appointed Member of the Chinese Advisory Board
• Appointed Justice of the Peace (JP) for the Settlement of Singapore
• President of the Singapore Anti-Opium Society
• Committee Member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce
• Committee Member of the Poh Leung Kuk (保良局) - "office to protect virtue”
• Committee Member of Tuan Mong School
• Committee Member of Chun Hua School
• Member of the Board of Visitors to the St. John's Island Quarantine Station
• Committee Member of Tong Chay Hospital
• Committee Member for the management of Tan Tock Seng Hospital
(ref: The Straits Times 15 July 1930)
When I was a child (late 70s or early 80s), I remember my own mother (grand-daughter of Heng Pang Kiat) proudly pointing out to me a large wall plaque located along the external corridors of the old Tan Tock Seng Hospital building in Balestier Road, with Heng Pang Kiat's name inscribed on it.Sadly, the plaque did not survive the move to the new hospital premises, as far as I know.
In an NUS article, it is stated that "亦为新加坡亚洲保险有限公司发起人之一。" This translates as "He is also one of the founders of Singapore Asia Insurance Company Limited."
(ref: NUS Library Portal Databank (2019))
There are also newspaper articles listing him as one of the co-founders of Asia Insurance (more references to come so watch this space...)
Heng Pang Kiat has been recognised as a keystone developer of Emerald Hill estate, near Orchard Road.He also ended up owning a few of these properties, of which number 44 and number 42 are confirmed on documents. (ref: Lee 1984, family documents TBA)
In a Straits Times Domestic Occurences announcement, it is stated that he passed away in number 28 Emerald Hill Road (ref: The Straits Times 9 May 1930)It is very likely that number 28 was one of his properties that housed other family members. (personal conjecture)
The subject of Emerald Hill and Heng Pang Kiat is discussed in greater detail on this page.
References
Lee Kip Lin (1984) Emerald Hill - the Story of a Street in Words and Pictures National Museum Singapore, ISBN 9971917092, 9789971917098, p88
Malaya Tribune (12 July 1920) Untitled Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, National Library, Singapore. Microfilm reel NL3887 p 5
NUS Library Portal Databank (2019) Wang Bangjie article https://libportal.nus.edu.sg/media/lib_ch/databank-wangbangjie.pdf [note this link no longer works] [accessed Jan 2019]
The Straits Times (9 May 1930) Domestic Occurrences Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, National Library, Singapore. Microfilm reel NL635, p6
The Straits Times (15 July 1930) Heng Pang Kiat obituary Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, National Library, Singapore. Microfilm reel NL637, p19
The Straits Times 1 Sep 1930 Notice of Estate for Heng Pang Kiat by Allen and Gledhill, Solicitors Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, National Library, Singapore. Microfilm reel TBA, p4
www.HengPangKiat.com This is a not-for-profit website about my great-grandfather Heng Pang Kiat - an important Chinese Teochew pioneer in Singapore CPC 2023 Any Amazon UK affiliate program commissions via this family website will be used to help offset its maintenance