Contributions

With the profit that he made from his business empire, Mr Tan Kah Kee contributed greatly to the community, both in Malaya and his native Fujian Province. He was one of the 110 founding members of Tao Nan School. He set up the Jimei Schools (now Jimei University) and in 1919, he set up The Chinese High School, now named Hwa Chong Institution, which is currently the top secondary school in Singapore. In 1921, he set up the Xiamen University and financially supported it until the Government of the Republic of China took it over in 1937. He married of his daughter Tan Ai Li to Lee Kong Chian, who worked under him and who later became a famous Singaporean philanthropist and businessman. These contributions made a social impact on Singapore, as they are related to education.