Singapore Futsing (Fuqing) Association
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The Singapore Futsing Association was set up in 1910 with 1200 members. Their members comprise of mainly Chinese Singaporeans from the Hockchia dialect group. There are approximately 30,000 Chinese Singaporeans who are Hockchia.
Early Hockchia Settlers
Early Hockchia settlers to the region came from the city of Fuqing in Fujian Province, China. Fuqing is one of the ten districts or counties in the province under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital of Fuzhou. The people speak their own dialect, which is a variation of Fuzhou. Most of them were trishaw riders who later entered employment in public transport companies. Most of the owners of early bus companies such as Hock Lee, Green Bus and Tay Koh Yat were Hockchia.
Schools and Events
In 1919, the Association set up the Poi Ching Primary School in Victoria Street. Poi Ching was a Chinese language school founded by businessman Guok Koh Mou. However, due to financial situation, the Futsing Association took over the management of the school. In 1924, the school moved to Queen Street and then to Toa Payoh where it has been since 1970. In 2000, the school moved to a 1.8-ha site in Tampines. Since 1992, the school was selected to become a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school offering both Chinese and English as a first language. In addition, the Futsing Association organised and subsidised educational tours to the Fujian Province for the schools teachers in 1997.
In October 2000, the Association organised an international beauty pageant, said to be the first to be held by a Chinese clan association in Singapore. In order for the clan to remain appealing to the young, the association also celebrated the Eastern version of Valentine's Day. The clan now wants to target people between the ages of 15 to 25 years old and plans to organise activities to entice them.
Author
Gabriel Tan
References
Cultivating a culture of school-clan ties. (1998, December 18). The Straits Times, Home Focus, p. 81.
Leong, W. K. (2000, May 30) Prettiest Hockchia girl gets to go home. The Straits Times, p. 35.
Leow, J. (1997, May 17). Lively events help pull in the young. The Straits Times, p. 43.
Wong, C. M. (1998, July 6). Poi Ching to get new building. The Straits Times, p. 20.
Further Readings
Xin jia po fu qing hui guan qi shi zhou nian ji nian te kan (1910-1980). [Singapore Futsing Association 70th anniversary souvenir (1910-1980)]. (1982). Xin jia po: Gai hui guan.
(Call no.: RSING 369.25957 SIN)
The information in this article is valid as at 1999 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Subject
Organisations>>Associations
Ethnic Communities
Associations, institutions, etc.--Singapore
Clans--Singapore
People and communities>>Social groups and communities