Ex-Warlord From China At Haw Par Villa
Wednesday, 22nd September 1937
General Chan Chai Tong, who is returning to China was entertained to a special dinner at Haw Par Villa. The Ex-Warlord from Kwantung (China) was treated to a 12-course Chinese dinner along with 30 rich merchants. Also present was Dr. Lim Boon Keng who until recently was a principal of Amoy University. Dinner was served on the floodlit lawn, but after the fourth course, there was a rush for the villa when it started to rain. Millionaire brothers, Messrs. Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par was also celebrating the "House Warming" of their new Haw Par Villa which was located on a small hill along Pasir Panjang Road.
The villa which sits on a three-acre ground costed $250,000 to build was designed by Mr. Ho Kwong Yew. It was one of the most costly single story house in Singapore. It has a 75-yard concrete driveway to the villa where is a arch way bearing "Haw Par Villa" in English and Chinese. There is also an large 50 feet by 25 feet swimming pool.