• SHHK hosted 185th anniversary gala dinner with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in attendance as the guest-of-honour
• Hokkiens from the Chinese Community Liaison Group, including Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, as well as Members of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa, Cai Yinzhou (non-Hokkien, Tao Nan Alumni), Valerie Lee (non-Hokkien, Tao Nan Alumni), Gho Sze Kee, and Choo Pei Ling, also joined in the celebration
• $1.85 million raised from a Charity Run and Walk event saw a cheque presentation from SHHK to NTU Singapore
• The 2-hour dinner programme lineup included 11 performing groups from SHHK affiliated schools and entities, and invited traditional arts groups. SHHK council members, together with Nan Chiau High School choir, led all guests in singing the orignal song “Hokkien Lang Zuey Din Gia” (Hokkiens, let’s forge ahead together!)

Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) today held a gala dinner as part of its 185th anniversary celebrations. Hosted at Marina Bay Sands grand ballroom, the dinner saw more than 1700 distinguished guests in attendance, including the Chinese Community Liaison Group members, SHHK board of governors, council, honorary council and committee members, working partners, affiliated schools’ principals and staff, Chinese clan associations’ leaders and representatives.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, guest-of-honour at the gala dinner, witnessed the presentation of a cheque totalling $1.85 million from SHHK President Mr Thomas Chua to NTU President Professor Ho Teck Hua. The funds were raised from a successful Charity Run and Walk event held at NTU in May this year. In celebration of its 185th anniversary, SHHK continues the legacy of its forefathers in supporting education and uplifting the community.

The donation includes S$1.25 million for NTU’s Accessible Education Support Fund, which supports students with special educational needs. The funds will go towards accessible transportation and assistive devices, financial support for daily living, and clinical assessments that help level the playing field for students with disabilities. An additional S$600,000 will support research at NTU’s Chinese Heritage Centre on Chinese dialect groups, in particular the Hokkiens, and subcultures in Singapore and beyond. This initiative will contribute to the preservation and a deeper understanding of dialect heritage, identity, and history in multicultural societies.

SHHK President Mr Thomas Chua said, “For 185 years, SHHK has upheld the spirit of our forefathers in championing education and helping the needy. We are honoured to mark this historic milestone by donating $1.85 million to NTU Singapore, in support of initiatives to enable physically disadvantaged students, and the study of Chinese dialect culture. We firmly believe that education lays the foundation for the future and culture is the thread that weaves together our shared identity. As we celebrate Singapore’s 60th anniversary and SHHK’s 185th anniversary, we will continue to do our part for nation-building, by serving the community and nurturing the future generations.”

NTU President Professor Ho Teck Hua said: “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan on its 185th anniversary. NTU deeply appreciates this meaningful gift, which reflects the Huay Kuan’s enduring commitment to education and heritage. The donation will boost our efforts to build a campus where every student can access exciting opportunities. It will also help us preserve and deepen our understanding of Chinese heritage, enriching the fabric of our multicultural society.”

The dinner also saw a vibrant array of performances that celebrated Huay Kuan’s commitment towards arts and culture. Guests were treated to traditional Chinese arts displays including wushu, 24 festive drums and dance performances by students from SHHK’s six affiliated schools. Song and dance performances by SHHK affiliated entities further enlivened the evening. The celebration concluded on an uplifting note as SHHK council members joined the Nan Chiau High School choir in leading all guests in singing the original song “Hokkien Lang Zuey Din Gia” (Hokkiens, let’s forge ahead together!), symbolising the unity, resilience and enduring spirit of the Hokkien community.

Watch the SHHK 185th anniversary video here: https://youtu.be/QAi_rExIGPo