At the invitation of Mr. Chua Kee Seng and Mr. Tan Tock Han, Vice Presidents of the Singapore Kim Mui Hoey Kuan, Representative and Mrs. Ta-Tung J. Chang attended the association’s celebration on 10 March 2016 to commemorate its 146th anniversary cum the birthday of the Chen Yuan En Zhu Gong of the Tang Dynasty. Also present at the celebration were clan delegates from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, Singapore Ann Kway Association, Singapore Hui Ann Association, Singapore Chin Kang Huay Kuan, Eng Choon Hway Kuan Singapore, Tung Ann District Guild, the Johor Kim Tong Har Association, as well as Mr. Stephen Y. F. Chang, Coordinator of Overseas Community Affairs Council, and officials from the Taipei Representative Office.
In his address, Representative Chang paid tribute to the clan’s forebears who, in the spirit of mutual aid and unity, had reached out to fellow folks who left their homeland to make a new life in Singapore. The Wu Jiang Fu Ji Miao (temple), which was the predecessor of Singapore Kim Mui Hoey Kuan, was a key meeting point of service for clan members and kinsmen. Kinmen Island today, too, has come a long way and sees 1.51 million visitors every year.
In response to the funding, recruitment and succession planning challenges faced by Singapore’s traditional clan associations, Representative Chang encouraged the Kim Mui Hoey Kuan to keep up with times by adopting new ideas and leveraging on technological advances to attract new blood and keep the association strong.
