Living Conditions of Chinese Immigrants

Source 1: An image of the Chinese coolies’ living quarters reproduced by the Asian Civilization Museum.

Reference:

Asian Civilisation Museum (2015). Coolies Living Conditions. Asian Civilisation Museum (ACM) – Virtual Learning. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/JoonMengYok/asian-civilisation-museum-acm-virtual-learning

Source 2: An image of a Peranakan Chinese family during the 19th century Colonial Singapore.

Reference:

Wilkins, R. C. (2019). Who are the Peranakan Chinese? Los Angeles Review of Books: China Channel. Retrieved from https://chinachannel.org/2019/01/24/peranakan/

Source 3: A description of the Thong Chai Medical Institution during the 19th century Colonial Singapore.

Source 4: A description of the Chinese Protectorate during the 19th century Colonial Singapore.

The Chinese Protectorate was established in the Straits Settlements in 1877 to address matters concerning the Chinese community. Its main functions included establishing a pool of civil servants conversant in the Chinese language, managing newly arrived coolie labourers, regulating secret societies, rescuing female victims of prostitution and containment of venereal diseases. William Pickering was appointed the first Protector of Chinese.

The protectorate oversaw matters concerning the Chinese community. Its primary functions encompassed the establishment of a pool of civil servants conversant in the Chinese language, managing newly arrived coolie labourers (known as sinkeh), regulating secret societies, rescuing female victims of prostitution and containment of venereal diseases.

Prostitution was a difficult problem which Pickering had to deal with. Even though prostitution was permitted on the account of a woman’s free will, many were deceived or coerced into it. The Chinese Protectorate sought out victims of forced prostitution to free them from the control of brothels and secret societies. The protector was authorised to remove from the brothels any girl under 16 years whom he found was trained for immoral purposes.

The protectorate also enforced the Contagious Disease Ordinance of 1870. In addition, it registered prostitutes and founded the Poh Leung Kuk or “office to protect virtue”. Managed by the protectorate with the advice of a committee of prominent Chinese, Poh Leung Kuk offered protection to girls who had been sold or unwillingly lured into prostitution.

Reference:

Lim, I. (2008). The Chinese Protectorate. Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board. Retrieved from https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1346_2008-12-10.html?s=healthcare%20of%20chinese%20in%20singapore

Source 5: A description of the beginnings of Tan Tock Seng Hospital in the 19th century Colonial Singapore.

Established in 1844, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) is one of the oldest hospitals in Singapore. It was set up with the help of a generous donation by a wealthy philanthropist, Tan Tock Seng.

Health conditions in the 19th century were deplorable, with the poor and sick given little access to medical treatment. Tan, an immigrant of Fujian descent from Malacca who became a wealthy merchant in Singapore, offered to donate $5,000 to set up a hospital for the poor. He was responding to the governor’s request for advice on how to legally compel the rich to contribute to the welfare of the less well-off. On 25 May 1844, the foundation stone for Tan’s hospital was laid on Pearl’s Hill. The hospital was first called Chinese Pauper Hospital – the name engraved on the brass plate commemorating the laying of the foundation stone. It was later named Tan Tock Sing Hospital, and the spelling was changed only in the 1850s to Tan Tock Seng in official documents.

Reference:

Thulaja, N. R. (2016). Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board. Retrieved from https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_70_2004-12-24.html

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