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The Thong Family – Paul Thong Woon Pin, The Grandfather, His Wife And Mother

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Subject :The Thong Family – Paul Thong Woon Pin, the Grandfather, his Wife and Mother
Published By : None 
Location : Tapah, Perak
Estimated Year : 2002
Media Type : Photograph
Source : Lily Thong He Len, Ipoh
Remark :

Paul Thong Woon Pin, born in 1875, was a 20th Generation clansman who settled in Malaya when he was 13 years old. With all his hard work and effort over the years, he eventually owned a rubber estate in Tapah, Perak. In 1926, Paul Thong returned to his hometown - Siao Lok - and built ‘Soong Zhen Loo’, a traditional ancient Chinese style home with 12 rooms.

Among the unique features of the home include :

a couplet on either side of the main door, with the words “Respect & Practice the Ancestral Virtues with Discipline & Self-development”

an outer and inner hall with a small courtyard in the middle

2 walls on the Eastern and Southern sides, with a large orchard in between

a fishpond on the Southern side


This home was said to be the cleanest and most comfortable home in Siao Lok village. A geomancer once told Monica (Paul’s wife) that since there was a window built above the main entrance, the Thong offspring would have all “flown out through the window”. Coincidentally, the extended family have settled in various parts of the world - Malaysia, Britain, Australia, America, Canada, Netherlands and Hong Kong.

Paul Thong was a patriotic overseas Chinese - he supported the Revolution in 1911 led by Dr Sun Yat Sen. He was also a great philanthropist, having in 1925 donated generously to building a primary school - Fudan School - in Sao Lok village. During the Cultural Revolution, the school was reduced to a single storey building, but in June 1993 the school was re-established.

Paul Thong and his wife Monica Tsai had three children :

  • Lucia Thong Kim Heong (1896-1923), who married (in 1911) Yoong Yoon Yee (1897-1969); they had 2 sons, Peter Yoong Foong Shin (1912 - 1951) and Michael Edward Yoong Choong Kong (Foong Ni) (1917 - 1969). Michael married (1939) Therese Khaw Guat Poh (1920 - 2007). They had 6 Children - 4 Girls and 2 Boys.

  • Simon Thong Tet Hin, who married Maria Yap Foong Chun, Chung Siew Song and Ng Swee Chan.

    Maria Yap gave birth to: John Thong Ko Sin, Louis Thong Git Sin, Joseph Thong Min Sin, Monica Thong Pi Len, Stephen Thong Chen Sin and Thong Sit Len

    Chung Siew Song gave birth to: Lily Thong He Len, George Thong Kuo Sin, Louise Thong Pit Len, David Thong Chee Sin, Charles Thong Yin Sin, Gregory Thong Tin Sin, Albert Thong Hon Sin, Florence Thong Mee Len, Jerome Thong Yau Sin and Thong Yo Len

    Ng Swee Chan gave birth to: Thong Kean Sin and Patricia Thong Sook Len
  • Peter Thong Jim Hin, who married Mary Chong Pat Moy; they have 4 children, Bernard Thong Kwong Sin, Winnie Thong Wee Len, Juanita Thong Yuk Len and Bernice Thong Lee Len
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    The picture shows Paul Thong (left) and his wife Monica Tsai Yin Sook. On the extreme right is a picture of his mother Maria Wong who bore five other children, Lucas Thong Woon Kee, Rose Thong, Agatha Thong, Lucia Thong and Juliana Thong.

    Filename : 20100107-004