Whereas in or about the year 1845 the late Seah Eu Chin a Teochew Merchant in Singapore and twelve other Teochew Merchants of Singapore (hereinafter referred to as “the Founders”) of the twelve Sehnhs of clans Lim, Heng, Tan, Quek, Low, Chia, Goh, Teo, Yeo, Ng, Sim and Chua respectively, subscribed, collected and established funds for the promotion, propagation and observance of the doctrines, ceremonies, rites and customs of the religion or religions (other than the Christian Religion) commonly professed or maintained by the Teochew Community in Singapore and for such other charitable purposes for the benefit of the members in Singapore of the Teochew Community who originated from the eight Districts (hereinafter referred to as “the said Eight Districts”) following, viz: The Teo Ann District, Theng Hai District, Teo Yeonh District, Kit Yeonh District, Jeow Pheng District, Phow Leng District, Hui Lye District and Nam Oh District of the Kwangtung Province of China as the Founders in their discretion thought fit to assist or contribute to:

And Whereas the Founders established a society (hereinafter referred to as “the said Society”) in Singapore called or known as “The Ngee Ann Kongsi” for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned and for the purposes of administering and managing the properties purchased with such funds and the income derived in respect thereof and the said Seah Eu Chin and others of the Founders were the first trustees of the said Society:

And Whereas the said Society acquired land at Phillip Street in Singapore upon which was erected a temple (hereinafter referred to as “the Teochew Temple”) for the observance of the doctrines, ceremonies, rites and customs of the religions (other than the Christian religion) professed and maintained by the members in Singapore of the Teochew Community of the said Eight Districts:

And Whereas the said Society purchased or otherwise acquired other lands in Singapore which were and are used as sites of Temples and as burial grounds for the members in Singapore of the Teochew Community of the said Eight Districts and for other purposes of the said Society:

And Whereas the said Society never adopted any definite rules or by-laws for the purpose of defining its objects, constitution, management and administration, and the management of its affairs and its administration generally were left in the hands and to the discretion of the persons who from time to time acted as Trustees of the said Society:

And Whereas the Trustees of the said Society were changed from time to time and the persons who immediately before the consideration and conferences hereinafter more particularly referred to were the Trustees of the said Society were the persons following, that is to say, Seah Eng Tong of Bendemeer, Serangoon Road, Singapore, Seah Chin Mui of No. 58, River Valley Road, Singapore, Kwek Liang Choon of Chop Kwek Khai Seng of No. 60, Chulia Street, Singapore, Low Peng Soy of Chop Low Yong Hong of No. 57, Boat Quay, Singapore, Chan Kim Seng of Chop Chan Yong Soon of No. 561, Beach Road, Singapore, Goh Tek Chng of Chop Goh Yong Buan Long of No. 51, Circular Road, Singapore, Teo Keong Meng of Chop Teo Nguan Hwa of No. 49, North Boat Quay, Singapore, Heng Pang Keat of Chop Heng Say Yee Heng of No. 7, North Canal Road, Singapore, Yeo Huang Kok of Chop Yeo Liang Huat of No. 21, Teochew Street, Singapore, Tan Miang Long of Chop Tan Liang Seng of No. 25, Hertford Road, Singapore, Ng Chok Sam of Chop Ng Hock Seng of No. 55, River Valley Road, Singapore, Sim Ka Siew of Chop Sim Kheng Soon Seng of No. 48, Circular Road, Singapore, Chua Ngak Chew of No. 21, Carpenter Street, Singapore, Lim Hak Khiam of No. 1-B, River Valley Road, Singapore:

And Whereas the property, affairs and management of the said Society were the subject of consideration and conferences between the several persons mentioned in the last preceding recital and other influential members in Singapore of the Teochew Community of the said Eight Districts, viz: — “Lim Nee Soon of Chop Thong Mui, 112 and 144 Robinson Road, Singapore, Yeo Chan Boon of Chop Yong Guan Seng, 60 Circular Road, Singapore, Tan Chew Char of Chop Sam Lye Heng, 10 Carpenter Street, Singapore, Lee Wee Nam of Chop Chye Hua Seng, 17 New Bridge Road, Singapore, Goh Yang Pheng of Chop Siang Hua, 58 Boat Quay, Singapore, Yeo Choo Tian of Chop Long Huat, 35 Circular Road, Singapore, Chew Swee Lin of Chop Nam Heng Hak Kee, 4-5 Fish Street, Singapore, Tan Lip Sek of Chop Tan Guan Lee, 79 Boat Quay, Singapore, Quek Theng Thong of Chop Teo Siang Guan Kee, 65 Circular Road, Singapore, Sim Ai Tng of Chop Kheng Soon Long, 9 Circular Road, Singapore, Lim Woo Ngam of Chop Seng Moh, 166-5 Middle Road, Singapore, Nah Wee Liat of Chop Wee Heng, 253 South Bridge Road, Singapore, Tan Guan Chua of Chop Chua Seng Heng, 20-14, Armenian Street, Singapore, and Low Chia Heng of Chop Low Miang Heng, 25 and 26 Circular Road, Singapore” and as a result of such consideration and conferences in which the aforesaid persons were assisted by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, it was considered expedient that the said Society should be incorporated, and that its constitution should be governed by definite rules, and that the administration of its property and affairs should be vested in the Society when incorporated as aforesaid so that the Society might be enabled better to carry out its objects:

And Whereas subsequent to the said consideration and conferences the administration and management of the affairs, property and funds of the Society were on the eighth day of September, 1930, handed over to the following persons, that is to say, to Lim Nee Soon, Low Peng Soy, Lee Wee Nam, Tan Lip Sek, Lim Woo Ngam, Yeo Choo Tian, Kwek Liang Choon, Liau Chia Heng, Yeo Chan Boon, Tan Chew Char, Goh Teck Chng, Tan Miang Long, Sim Ka Siew, Goh Yang Pheng, Kwek Soo Kow, Low Chia Heng, Lim Soo Siam, Chew Swee Lin, Nah Wee Liat, Kwek Teng Thong, Low Peng Soo, Lee Kim Soo, Lim Chong Pang and Seah Eng Tong, who from the time of such handing over have acted as Trustees of the said Society.