Kwa Soon Hock is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Kwa Siew Tee. He was a staff of the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation, Ltd. He was studying for the Institute of Bankers, London and Passed Part I of the exam in 1935.He was an avid photographer and participated in the first of its kind "Overseas Chinese Photographic Exhibition" organised by Overseas Chinese in Malaya in 1935.
He passed away at No 236 Pasir Panjang Road on July 28, 1936.
Parents (Mr. Kwa Siew Tee and Madam Wee Yew Neo)
His father is Kwa Siew Tee, a Java-born Chinese and his mother is Madam Wee Yew Neo (daughter of Wee Theam Seng), a Straits-born Chinese. Kwa Siew Tee was a Municipal Commissioner. He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour (1951).
Madam Wee Yew Neo passed away on May 14, 1980. She is survived by 3 sons; Kwa Soon Siew, Kwa Soon Chuan, Kwa Soon Bee ; 4 daughters; Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, Kwa Geok Eng.
Brother: Kwa Soon Chuan
Mr Kwa Soon Chuan, fourth son of Mr Kwa Siew Tee in 1949 got engaged with Ivy Lim Seok Cheng (second daughter of Mr Lim Chong Pang). Kwa Soo Chuan retired after 26 years of government service at the age of 55 in 1977. He was educated in Anglo-Chinese School and Raffles College. He was the first local appointed to the then Colonial Administration in 1950. He went through many posting including the Land Office, acting collector of Land Revenue, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Permanent Secretary (Labour) and finally Permanent Secretary (Culture).
Sister: Kwa Geok Lan (Mrs Yong Nyak Lin )
Miss Kwa Geok Lan married Mr. Yong Nyak Lin (son of Mr Yong Tian Yong and late Mrs Yong Tian Yong in September 1939.
Sister: Kwa Geok Choo (Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew)
Miss Kwa Geok Choo is the third daughter of Mr and Mrs Kwa Geok Choo. She married Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the eldest son of Mr. Lee Chin Koon in 1950. Madam Kwa Geok Choo graduated from Raffles College in 1947 with first class honors in Arts Diploma and was awarded the Queen's scholarship. She later passed her professional bar at Cambridge in 1950. Both Kwa Geok Choo and Lee Kuan Yew made legal history for being the first husband and wife team to be admitted to Singapore's colony bar.
References
Photographic Show. (1935, February 28). The Singapore Free Press
Untitled. (1935, March 28).The Straits Times
Domestic Occurrences. (1936, July 28). The Straits Times
The Lee's make legal history. (1951, August 8). The Straits Times
Soo Chuan to retire after 26 years. (1977, January 5). The Straits Times
Untitled. (1980, May 15). The Straits Times
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| Tomb of Kwa Soon Hock |
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| Picture taken by avid photograher: Kwa Soon Hock (source: NewspaperSG) |
His father is Kwa Siew Tee, a Java-born Chinese and his mother is Madam Wee Yew Neo (daughter of Wee Theam Seng), a Straits-born Chinese. Kwa Siew Tee was a Municipal Commissioner. He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour (1951).
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| Group photo of the founding of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in 1932 Kwa Siew Tee is standing behind. (source: a2o) |
Brother: Kwa Soon Chuan
Mr Kwa Soon Chuan, fourth son of Mr Kwa Siew Tee in 1949 got engaged with Ivy Lim Seok Cheng (second daughter of Mr Lim Chong Pang). Kwa Soo Chuan retired after 26 years of government service at the age of 55 in 1977. He was educated in Anglo-Chinese School and Raffles College. He was the first local appointed to the then Colonial Administration in 1950. He went through many posting including the Land Office, acting collector of Land Revenue, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Permanent Secretary (Labour) and finally Permanent Secretary (Culture).
Sister: Kwa Geok Lan (Mrs Yong Nyak Lin )
Miss Kwa Geok Lan married Mr. Yong Nyak Lin (son of Mr Yong Tian Yong and late Mrs Yong Tian Yong in September 1939.
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| MissKwa Geok Lan and Mr Yong Nyak Lai |
Miss Kwa Geok Choo is the third daughter of Mr and Mrs Kwa Geok Choo. She married Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the eldest son of Mr. Lee Chin Koon in 1950. Madam Kwa Geok Choo graduated from Raffles College in 1947 with first class honors in Arts Diploma and was awarded the Queen's scholarship. She later passed her professional bar at Cambridge in 1950. Both Kwa Geok Choo and Lee Kuan Yew made legal history for being the first husband and wife team to be admitted to Singapore's colony bar.
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| Miss Kwa Geok Choo and Mr Lee Kuan Yew |
References
Photographic Show. (1935, February 28). The Singapore Free Press
Untitled. (1935, March 28).The Straits Times
Domestic Occurrences. (1936, July 28). The Straits Times
The Lee's make legal history. (1951, August 8). The Straits Times
Soo Chuan to retire after 26 years. (1977, January 5). The Straits Times
Untitled. (1980, May 15). The Straits Times
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