Singapore Kityang Huay Kwan marks 85 years, looks ahead to its centenary

Singapore Kityang Huay Kwan celebrated its 85th anniversary under the theme “Radiant 85”, looking back on its history while setting its sights on the next stage of development. It will continue to digitalise its operations, recruit new members and gradually hand responsibilities to the younger generation as it prepares for its centenary.

Nearly 700 guests attended the anniversary dinner at Orchard Hotel Singapore on Saturday (24 October), with Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng as guest of honour. Association president Xu Huaiping said the anniversary theme reflected both its history and its hopes for the future.

Xu said, “‘Radiant’ is a word that conveys brilliance. It celebrates the association’s achievements and transformation over 85 years, while also encouraging young people who join to participate actively in its affairs and step forward to take on leadership roles.”

Preparations for the celebration began last year, with active efforts to involve the younger generation. First vice-president and organising committee chairman Zhang Weiwei said the youth wing organised and ran the entire dinner, aiming to give it a more contemporary, technology-driven feel.

At the dinner, the association presented honorary adviser Dr Lim Boon Heng with the “Kityang Distinguished and Esteemed Community Member Award”. Vice-president Huang Nande and honorary life president Chen Xinan received the “Kityang Lifetime Contribution Award”. The awards presentation incorporated artificial intelligence (AI), using photographs of the three recipients to generate videos tracing their lives from their youth. The videos also showed their involvement with the association at different stages, highlighting their decades of dedication and contributions.

This was not the first time the younger generation had been involved in the association’s affairs. For years, the association has held the traditional Teochew coming-of-age ceremony “chu huay hng”, appointing a youth wing member to chair the organising committee each time. This brings fresh ideas and a youthful perspective to the traditional custom. Secretary-general Lin Jinyuan said such innovative activities made the association feel interesting and vibrant to young people, encouraging them to get involved and become members.

The association has also actively pursued digital transformation in recent years. Its official website has been comprehensively revamped using AI, moving away from a largely static format towards streamlined text, stronger visuals and interactive design to attract visitors. Administrative work is also going digital: about 80% of membership records have been digitalised, and financial transactions are now handled mainly electronically. Cheque and cash services remain available to accommodate older members’ preferences.

Beyond cultural activities, young people are drawn to the association for different reasons. Lin said some hoped to broaden their networks among people with the same ancestral roots. Others became curious about their ancestral hometowns and family roots after watching the Teochew film Dear You, prompting them to approach the association. Like Lin, deputy secretary-general Chen Hanwei initially joined to trace his roots. Chen said, “I joined the association to find my roots. Only by remembering where we came from can we look to the future. I feel that Kityang Huay Kwan has given me an excellent platform to learn from the older generation.”

Founded in 1941, Singapore Kityang Huay Kwan now has more than 500 members. When floods struck the county of Jieyang that year, people from the area living in Singapore came together to rally fellow townspeople to raise funds for disaster relief. This led to the initiative to establish the association. Over the years, it has built on its role in fostering hometown ties and mutual support, expanding into educational awards and assistance, charity and mutual aid, cultural heritage preservation, and exchanges with clan associations at home and abroad.

After 85 years, handing over to the next generation has become a key priority for the association’s next phase. Xu sees his role as “bringing the two generations together”, enabling younger members to learn from their predecessors’ experience and develop through hands-on work. Zhang is confident about the future. He said, “We are at the stage where the older generation is handing the association over to younger board members. I am confident that we will celebrate Kityang Huay Kwan’s centenary.”