Ong Boon Tat (Bukit Brown)

Mr Ong Boon Tat (son of Mr Ong Sam Leong) was born in Singapore in 1888. He studied in Raffles Institution and won a Guthrie Scholarship. He was a Justice of Peace and Municipal Commissioner for 5 years. Mr Ong Boon Tat was the managing director of of New World Limited (New World Park). He was a Director at Overseas Assurance Corporation (during the time where the Chairman was Mr Lim Nee Soon).

In the early 1900's, a young Ong Boon Tat stepped into the offices of the Straits Times to apply for the position of shorthand reporter and did a good job of it during a time where the entire editorial team is made of Europeans. However his family business activities came calling and he had to leave. He however never lost interest and later in life became the director of the Malayan Tribune Press Ltd. As the head of the firm Ong Sam Leong and Co, who were the contractors for Christmas Island, he had to travel to Christmas Island to deal with workers unrest / riot there in 1919. He also expanded the company to Penang. Ong Boon Tat was a well travelled man and a well known socialite.

Mr Ong Boon Tat

Ong's and New World 
Established in 1923 by Ong Boon Tat and Ong Peng Hock, the New World was the pioneer amusement park in Singapore. It was the inspiration of their mother, Mrs Ong Sam Leong and her love for operatic shows that encouraged their son's foray into this business.  New World was also the venue sponsor that supported many of the China Relief Fund activities . The Governer, Sir Cecil Clementi visited New World in 1923 to grace the Empire Shopping Week held at its premises.

New World

New World 

In 1938, its air-conditioned cabaret opened with great fan fair by the President of the Municipal Commissioners, Mr. W. Bartley and witnessed by 1,500 guest. The air-con 4,400 sq ft sprung dance floor was built at the cost of $290,000. It was the largest of its kind east of the Suez. Other activities in New World included international boxing tournaments, "ronggeng" competitions and beauty contest. "Talkies" theatres entertained many and Chinese and Malay operas too.

The air-con cabaret was shelled and bombed by the Japanese and a new one rebuilt in 1947 by Ong Peng Hock and Shaw Ltd at a cost of $350,000.

In 1963, Shaw Brothers took over, acquiring majority stake. In 1970 they opened a $300,00 Pacific Theatre, a air-conditioned 700 seater that screen's Mandarin Films. In 1987, it was bought over by City developments for $35 million and redeveloped into residential property (City Square residences).

Death
On July 5 1941, while Ong Boon Tat and his friends were inspecting a sea pavilion that was being constructed at his new house in Pulau Dama Laut, it collapsed and buried them. Mr Ong Boon Tat survived but was in shock, while his friend, Mr Low Kim Swee died instantly. Ong Boon Tat died on July 8, 1941 at the General Hospital, never recovering from his injuries and shock plus the fact that he had health problem's of the heart for the past few years. He leaves behind two widows, 4 sons (Ong Tiang Wee, Ong Tiang Guan, Ong Tiang Choon and Ong Tiang Hin ) and 3 daughters (Ong Lim Neo, Ong Kwai Kheng, Ong Kwai Yong), 2 son-in-laws (Tan Gim Yang, Liu Yoke Lin). New World Park and Cabaret was closed as a mark of respect. The family also requested that wreaths need not be send but rather be donated to the War Fund or China Relief Fund.

Mr Ong Boon Tat 

Mr and Mrs Ong Boon Tat in Bukit Brown

Family

Son: Ong Tiang Wee ( T.W. Ong )
His eldest son, Ong Tiang Wee ( T.W. Ong ) was also a Municipal Commissioner. In 1932, he married Miss Getrude Chung Tiam Fook (the only daughter of Mr and Mrs William Chung Tiam Fook, a diamond merchant in British Guiana, South America. Getrude herself was awarded the M.B.E and a Certificate of Honor for her contributions in the Blood Transfusion Service.

Ong Tiang Wee

Getrude Chung, Ong Tian Wee's wife  (middle)

Son: Ong Tiang Guan, Wallie
Ong Tiang Guan, Wallie married Miss Chua Hock Tay, Phyllis (the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Chua Cheng Hock of Malacca). Chua Cheng Hock was one of the directors in Cycle and Carriage and is also buried in Bukit Brown. The wedding took place at the brides home at 21 Scotts Road and reception held at New World cabaret where over 1,000 guest attended !

Ong Tiang Guan and Miss Chua Hock Tay

Daughter: Ong Kwai Yong, Lucette
Miss Ong Kwai Yong , Lucette (daughter of Mr and Mrs Ong Boon Tat) married Mr Liew Yeok Lin (son of the late Mr Liew Fong Phiow and Mrs Liew Fong Phiow) in September 17, 1939 at the Kheh Community Guild, 20 Peck Seah Street.

Mr Liew Yeok Lin and Miss Ong Kwai Yong 

Mr. Liew Yeok Lin and Miss Ong Kwai Yong 

Wife: Madam Oon Chim Neo 
Mrs Ong Boon Tat nee Madam Oon Chim Neo is the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Oon Chin Soon. She was one of the earlier batches of chinese ladies to receive western education and graduated top of her class from the Singapore Chinese Girls School. Madam Oon's father,  Mr Oon Chin Soon was the chief cashier at Messrs. Katz Bros. Ltd. (Mr Oon passed away in April 1929 and is buried in Bukit Brown).Madam Oon Chim Neo passed away at the age of 31 on March 12, 1917 at her father's house in 6 Balmoral Road and had a son, Mr Ong Tiang Wee.

Wife: Madam Gwee Soon Neo 
Mrs Ong Boon Tat nee Gwee Soon Neo passed away at the age of 58 on August 29, 1952 at 10:50 am at Bukit Rose, 259, Bukit Timah Road after several months of illness. She is survived by her sons, Ong Tiang Wee, Ong Tiang Guan, Ong Tiang Hin, daughters; Ong Lim Neo and Ong Moh Eng. Grandchildren; Ong Eng Yeow, Ong Eng Kong, Ong Eng Sim, Ong Sin Leng, Ong Sin Qui and Ong Chong Bee. Madam Gwee Soon Neo is buried in Bukit Brown, next to Ong Boon Tat.

Madam Gwee Soon Neo
(photo courtesy of Sharon Ong )

Wife: Madam Tham Yim Seong
Mrs Ong Boon Tat nee Tham Yim Seong passed away at the age of 83 on August 30, 1978, leaving behind a son, Ong Tiang Choon and other sons and daughters. The cortege left from 221 Tembeling Road for Mount Vernon.

References
Untitled. (1919, December 27). The Straits Times, page 8
Police Escort for Bride. (1932, September 18). The Straits Times, page 5
Empire Shopping Week Exhibition at New World. (1932, May 28). Malayan
400 Guest Entertained.(1932, December 6). Singapore Daily News, page 5
Developments of the New World. (1935, October 8). The Singapore Free Press, page 23
New World Air-conditioned cabaret open last night. (1938, May 22). The Straits Times, page 7
Cabaret girls act in China war play.(1939, June 12). The Straits Times, page 13
Untitled. (1940, September 21). The Straits Times, page 11
Chinese old style wedding. (1940, September 20). The Straits Times, page 11
Death of Mr Ong Boon Tat. (1941, July 9). The Singapore Free Press, page 3
Death. (1941, July 14). The Straits Times, page 2
Death of Mr Ong Boon Tat after accident on island. (1941, July 9). The Straits Times, page 10
Two Deaths in one mishap. (1941, July 23). The Straits Times, page 11
Death.(1952. August 30). The Straits Times, page 6
Deaths.(1978, September 1). The Straits Times, page 24
New World Amusement Park. [website]. Blog to Express.
Song, O.S. (1984). One hundred years history of the Chinese in Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press