Born in Fujian, China, Tan Swee Hoe (陳瑞和, 1872-1939) arrived at Singapore when he was a teenager. A hardworking man with astuteness in business, he later became the co-founder and director of Ho Hong Bank Limited (和丰银行) in 1917.
In September 1932, Ho Hong Bank Limited, Chinese Commercial Bank Limited and Overseas Chinese Bank Limited were merged to become the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) Limited, with a paid-up capital of $10 million. Tan Swee Hoe went on to become one of OCBC’s directors after the merger.
In 1934, Dr Philip Tyau (1880-1974) was welcomed by Tan Swee Hoe at his grand Batu Pahat residence. The Chinese Consul-General for Malaya was on his way from Singapore to Malacca to attend Sir Cecil Clement’s (Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1930 to 1934) opening of the new Government Hospital.
In the 1930s, Tan Swee Hoe was appointed as the President, for two terms, of Batu Pahat’s Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In 1937, he and other prominent Malayan Chinese business leaders met at Singapore’s Chinese Chamber of Commerce to discuss funding plans for the construction of new consulate buildings in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Tan Swee Hoe was also the member of Council of State for Johore, and received SMJ in recognition of his public services and contributions. He had actively donated to schools, hospitals, boy scouts and Child Welfare Society at Batu Pahat, and also to China’s war efforts against Japan in the late 1930s.
Tan Swee Hoe fell sick and died in his house at Singapore’s Grove Road on 29 July 1939, leaving behind two wives, six sons, six daughters and many grandchildren. He was buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery a few days later on 6 August.
Tan Swee Hoe left behind many properties and assets in Singapore and Batu Pahat, including the former Tan Swee Hoe’s mansion, situated near the junction of Jalan Kluang and Jalan Tan Swee Hoe. Jalan Tan Swee Hoe was named after the business and community leader himself.
After his death, Tan Swee Hoe was honoured by the local community at Batu Pahat in the 1940s, where they named the winning trophy for a local football league competition as Tan Swee Hoe Shield.
Tan Swan Khian, one of Tan Swee Hoe’s sons, continued the Tan family’s legacy by taking over as one of Batu Pahat’s Chinese community leaders. He was also well-known in the business circle in Singapore.
Tan Swan Khian succeeded his father as the chairman and director for many companies in Batu Pahat and Singapore, such as Tan Swee Hoe Company, Ho Lee Limited, Ho Guan Investments and Ho Aik Steamships. He died in 1948 at age 54.
In 2018, the former Tan Swee Hoe’s mansion and site were acquired by the Johor Sultan, with plans to convert the building into a museum or cultural centre for the local Chinese community.
Many years have passed, however, with the former mansion still in an abandoned and dilapidated state.
By RemSG
Published: 17 March 2026
Remember Singapore 