Lien Ying Chow

Lien Ying Chow, George, (1906 – August 6, 2004) was a Singaporean businessperson. He is the founder of Overseas Chinese Union Bank (later known as Overseas Union Bank), which merged with United Overseas Bank in 2001.[1]

Early life

Lien was born 1906 in the village of Taipo, Guangdong, China,[2] becoming an orphan at the age of ten.[3] Around the age of fourteen, Lien immigrated to Singapore, with little money to spare. In 1928, some eight years after reaching Singapore, Lien founded his own trading company, Wah Hin and Company, using his savings.[2]

Career

Lien was given the role of president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce in 1941.[2] Also a food and drink supplier to the British Army,[4] he fled by boat to Australia, a few days before the Japanese occupation of Singapore.[2] Singapore's Mandarin Hotel belonged to him.[2] During the 1960s, Lien was the High Commissioner of Singapore to Malaysia.[5] Lien cofounded Nanyang University[6] and is the founder of Overseas Union Bank (formerly Overseas Chinese Union Bank), which, in 2001, became part of United Overseas Bank,[3] as well as the Lien Foundation, which he established in 1980.[6] He was winner of the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award in 1981, becoming the first non-American recipient.[2]

Personal life

Lien was married to Margaret and he predeceased her.[7] Lien was acquainted with Abdul Rahman, then-Prime Minister of Malaysia. The duo were said to be "good friends".[2] He also had ties with the royal family of Thailand as well as a number of Thai officials.[8]

Lien had four wives. The first, Wee Siew Kim, passed away. His next two marriages to Mok Mei Lan and Kay Leong ended in divorce. In 1964 Lien married Margaret Chan Wen Hsien, better known as Margaret Lien, who survived him when he died. He had four daughters, Geck Choo (Judy), Geck Chin (Margaret), Geck Ling and Geck Cheng (Lily); and four sons, Seow Wah (Tommie), Chin Wah (Johnnie), Tiong Wah (Sonnie) and Kok Wah (Eddie). Seven of his children were by Wee Siew Kim, and the last child (Geck Cheng) was by Mok Mei Lan.[9]

Death and legacy

Lien died August 6, 2004,[2] aged 98.[3] The cause of his death was pneumonia.[3] Lien was described by Ming San Tee as "[t]he business kingpin known by households",[10] while the Los Angeles Times wrote that he was a "Self-Made Singapore Banking Tycoon".[3]

References

  1. ↑ http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1786_2011-02-24.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Corfield, Justin (2010). Historical Dictionary of Singapore. Scarecrow Press. pp. 152–. ISBN 9780810873872.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Lien Ying Chow, 98; Self-Made Singapore Banking Tycoon". Los Angeles Times. August 11, 2004.
  4. ↑ Wong, David W. F. (2004). The Koi Pond. Armour. pp. 15–. ISBN 9789814138178.
  5. ↑ Natasha 2003, p. 131.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship". Lien Foundation. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ "#13 Lien Family". Forbes. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ Natasha 2003, p. 132.
  9. ↑ http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1786_2011-02-24.html
  10. ↑ Ming San Tee (1995). The Singapore Successful Business Elites. Cross Country Creative Century. pp. 256–.

Bibliography