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Han Chin Pat Sou / Han Chin Pet Soo - Part 1- The Hakka Miners' Clubhouse

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Subject :Han Chin Pat Sou / Han Chin Pet Soo - Part 1- the Hakka Miners' Clubhouse
Published By : None 
Location : Treacher Street, Ipoh
Estimated Year : 1930
Media Type : Photograph
Source : The Committee, Han Chin Pet Soo
Remark :

These three photographs show the Hakka Miners Clubhouse at different stages of its life. The club was founded by Leong Fee aka Liang pi Joo, in 1893. A Kar Yin Hakka he was at the the leading Chinese miner in the area and prominent in both Perak and Penang.

Based on the original two-storey shophouse, the current building modified and extended in 1929 was designed as an elegant and striking three storey building, it was furnished tastefully throughout with inlaid Chinese furniture on the ground floor (the meeting room) and with more practical mahjong tables and chairs on the first floor. Included in the decor were two wash hand basins specially imported from Scotland.

The club was run at his expense until his death in April 1912, when his son Leong Yin Khean aka Liang En-Chuen, continued to sponsor the club and then in 1927, having deliberately devalued the land he sold the house cheaply to the members.

The photographs show the building:

  • On the 5th May 1930, the 37th anniversary of the club when it was called Han Chin Pat Sou. The occasion for the photograph was the celebration and 'House Warming'party marking the first year that the club had owned the building, which was lit and decorated by electricity, possibly the first time that this had been done.

  • On the 5th May 1959, the 66th anniversary of the founding of the club. The President and his Committee stand on the steps. Now it is called Han Chin Pet Soo, which demonstrates the confusion that is still caused by the anglicisation of Chinese characters into different dialects, prior to the introduction of Hanyu Pinyin for standardisation.

  • On the 9th January 2010 when ipohWorld was privileged to visit the club. Photograph by Ian Anderson. You will note that some significant changes have been made to the first floor windows.
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    To go to Part 2, click here.

    To read more about Towkay Leong Fee, click here.

    Filename : 20100131-002