Khoo Soo Hong (Bukit Brown)

Khoo Soo Hong passed away at the age of 38 on 22 February 1944. On the burial registrar his dialect was listed as Hokkien. 

Khoo Soo Hong

Possible Connection

A possible link is when i look at the ceramic photo of Khoo Soo Hong (1944) from his tomb and comparing it with a famous group photo that list Khoo Soo Hong back in 1932.

The below group photograph was taken in 1932 during the founding of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), which merger's three banks - Chinese Commercial Bank Limited (1912), Ho Hong Bank Limited (1917) and Oversea-Chinese Bank Limited (1919). Standing in the front row are: Mr. Tan Chin Tuan (fourth from left), General Manager Ong Piah Teng (fifth from right), Tan Ean Kiam (sixth from right) and Assistant Manager Khoo Soo Hong (second from left). Back Row: Yap Peng Gek (left), Kwa Siew Tee (third from left), Chew Hock Leong (sixth from left) and a Mr. Teo (right).

Group photo taken in 1932 during the founding of OCBC

If the theory was correct, the photo below would put Khoo Soo Hong about 26 years old in 1932. What do you think? 

Assistant Manager Khoo Soo Hong of OCBC in 1932

Khoo Soo Hong  - age 26 in 1932 vs age 38 in 1944

United Chinese Bank (precursor to United Overseas Bank (UOB)  

When United Chinese Bank first annual general meeting was held on April 1936 at Bonham Building Chulia Street, those present included its Chairman, Messrs. Wee Kheng Chian, Ong Piah Teng, Pang Cheng Yean, Khoo Teck Chuan, Lim Kian Beng, Chua Keh Hai, Chua Khiam Teck, Khoo Teck Soon, Tay Eng Choon, Chionh Ke Hu, Wee Kheng Watt, Tan Boon Khah and Tay Eng Sim. Also present were Goh Cheng and Khoo Soo Hong. From 1938 onwards, Khoo Soo Hong was the Secretary of the United Chinese Bank Limited (UCB) from what i can see from 1940, 1941, 1942.  UCB was the precursor to the United Overseas Bank (UOB). 

The last article i could find that mentions Khoo Soo Hong was in the Syonan Shimbun of 1942, the propaganda wartime newspaper during the Japanese occupation of Singapore and Malaya. From there it went silent. 

I can't still be fully certain, but my guess for now is that this tomb could be of the early banking pioneer, Khoo Soo Hong (Secretary of United Chinese Bank) when he passed away on 22 February 1944.

Family (Possible Connection)

Seeking the assistance and from Raymond Goh, i found out his children were;

Khoo Kay Chai and Khoo Kay Chong 

and there was oral accounts from Khoo Kay Chai where he mentioned his father passed away towards the end of the war (with matches the timeline era) (reference: Reel 1 - page 10 of Oral Interview of Dr. Khoo Kay Chai). 

Wife: Ong Kim Huay (1913-2001)

Mrs. Khoo Soo Hong nee Madam Ong Kim Huay passed away at the age of 88 on 30 July 2001 

She leaves behind;

Sons: Khoo Kay Chai, Khoo Kay Chong

Daughter-in-law: Maggie Khoo, A.R. Khoo

Daughter: Khoo Lay Choo

Son-in-law: Lai Chee Chow

Grandsons: Dr. Kenneth Khoo, Lai Say Beng, Lai Say Seng. 

Mrs. Khoo Soo Hong nee Madam Ong Kim Huay

Son: Khoo Kay Chai /Dr. Khoo Kay Chai

Khoo Kay Chai was born in 27 September 1935 and studied in Gan Eng Seng School, Raffles Institution and studied Civil Engineering at University Malaya before graduating in 1961. Khoo Kay Chai headed Singapore Polytechnic from 1976 to 1995. He passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 80 on 15 September 2016.

From his obituary notice, his wife is Maggie Khoo and son, Kenneth Khoo (Dr). 

Location of tomb 

Block 3 Section C, plot P132 (just below the tomb of  Lim Khiam Soon)

Khoo Soo Hong 

References

United Chinese Bank. First Annual General Meeting.( 1936, April 5). The Straits Times, page 8

Advertisement. (1940, March 20). Malaya Tribune, page 17

Advertisement. (1941, May 7). Malaya Tribuen, page 10

Malaya's Monetary System Works Very Smoothly and Efficiently. Leading Syonan Bankers Declare. (1942, October 30). The Syonan Shimbun, page 4

Untitled. (2001, August 1). The Straits Times, page 4