Ong Hong Guan and family (Bukit Brown)

In 1917, Ong Hong Guan was the Secretary for The Commercial Rubber Co. Ltd based at No. 3 Raffles Place. The company was auctioneers, rubber merchants, house and estate agents, auction sales of household furniture, jewelery, merchandise and house properties. The manager of the company was Cheong Koon Seng (who went on to become a famous auctioneer with his namesake company). Appraiser license was granted to Messrs. Ong Hong Guan and Cheong Koon Seng in February 1925. Ong Hong Guan was a Committee Member of the Chinese Swimming Club (1925) during the time when Mr. Cheong Koon Seng was the President and Seow Poh Leng was its Vice-President. 

Ong Hong Guan passed away at the age of 39 at his residence, No. 27-7, Killiney Road on 18 December 1925. He leaves behind a widow, 1 daughter and 5 sons. From the double tomb, we can find out their names;

Wife: Wee Koon Neo (daughter of Majoor Wee Boon Teng)
Sons: Ong Swee Kim, Ong Swee Hock, Ong Swee Chye, Ong Swee Poh, Ong Swee Chin
Daughter: Ong Hee Neo 

Ong Hong Guan 

Family

Mother: Mrs. Ong Liam / Nonya Tan Seok Ay

Mrs. Ong Liam (Nyonya Tan Seok Ay) passed away at the age of 67 at her residence, No 27-7 Killiney Road on 16th August 1922. She is the mother of Messrs. Ong Hong Guan and Ong Hong Kiat. Mrs. Ong Liam is buried at Senh Ong Burial ground. Messrs. Ong Hong Guan and Ong Hong Kiat and family thanked relations and friends including members of the Hoe Kee Club, The Friendly Society, The Peng Hoe Kok Association, The Chinese Swimming Club, The Tanglin Party and The Dengan Segala Hormat Party for sending letters of condolences, telegrams, wreaths and for their kind attendance at the funeral of their mother. 

Son: Ong Swee Hock

The engagement is announced between Mr. Ong Swee Hock (stated in the article as the eldest son of Mrs. Ong Hong Guan and the late Mr. Ong Hong Guan) to Miss Cheang Siok Chin Neo  (youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Cheang Jim Chuan) on 7 September 1940. The marriage took place on 5th October 1940 at the house of the bridegroom, 131 Killiney Road. Dr. Cheong Chee Hai, J.P conducted the ceremony and bridesmaid was Miss Ruby Ong. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Cheang Thiam Chu and the bestman was Mr. Tan Sim Wah. 

Ong Swee Hock and Cheang Siok Chin Neo

Son: Ong Swee Chye (possibly 1916-1993)

Ong Swee Chye is likely an employee of Messrs. Cheong Koon Seng and Co. Ltd. In 25th June 1943, there was an announcement that Mr. and Mrs Ong Swee Chye gave birth to a daughter (Miss Ong May Lin). Following on this possibly lead, i found information on a Charles Ong Swee Chye who passed away on 31st March 1993. One of his daughters is listed as a Ong May Lin, Veronica (hence my guess on the linkage). In 1934, Ong Swee Chye would have been 18 years of age, also possible to be an employee back then of Messrs. Cheong Koon Seng and Co. Ltd. 

 

Son: Ong Swee Poh 

Ong Swee Poh's name appears in many articles that are related to Swimming and waterpolo in the early 1930's. In the Singapore Amateur Swimming Association's Golden Anniversary in 1989 held at the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex to honour those who contributed to Singapore swimming and waterpolo. Attending the event, was the oldest recipient, Ong Swee Poh  (71 years of age in 1989). He made his nation water-polo debut in 1935 and was then a student and a member of the Chinese Swimming Club back when he was just 13 years old. He shared his best moment of his career which was in 1936 beating the Japanese Olympic Games squad 9-5 in Singapore at the age of 16 (The Olympics was held in Berlin and Singapore was not even participating) and the other event was representing Malaya in the 1948 All-China Games in Shanghai in which they won the gold medal. 

Ong Swee Poh (1935) 

Ong Swee Poh (1949)

Daughter: Ong Hee Neo

Engagement is announced of Mr. Goh Fook Seng (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Goh Chin Watt of Malacca) to Miss. Ong Hee Neo (only daughter of the late Mr. Ong Hong Guan and Mrs Ong Hong Guan) on 1st April 1937. Xavier Willie Goh Fook Seng passed away at the age of 87 on 16th August 2000.

Location of tomb

Mr. Ong Hong Guan is buried in Hill 1 Section B, plot 145. (two rows below Triple tomb of Lim)

There is no death date listed on his wife, Madam Wee Koon Neo's tomb. 

Ong Hong Guan 

Madam Wee Koon Neo (daughter of Majoor Wee Boon Teng)

Madam Wee Koon Neo 

[research on-going]

References

Advertisement. (1917, August 30). Malaya Tribune, page 1 

Death.(1922, August 17). Malaya Tribune, page 6

Death. (1925, December 19). The Straits Times, page 8

Untitled. (1925, September 24). Malaya Tribune, page 7 

Engagement. (1937, April 1). Malaya Tribune, page 12 

Untitled. (1939, March 26). The Straits Times, page 31

Death. (1939, May 3). Malaya Tribune, page 3

Engagement. (1940, September 7). Malaya Tribune, page 10

Ong-Cheang. (1940, October 6). The Straits Times, page 7

Water-Polo Should be Encouraged. (1949, February 20). Sunday Tribune, page 11

Thanks for the memories and golden times, Sasa style. (1989, June 18).The Straits Times, page 30