What' s the story behind Hong Leong Finance being unable to obtain a banking license in S'pore? How did senior Kwek upset LKY?
Three brothers, Hong Leong, Hong Png & Hong Lye emigrated to S'pore from Fujian before the war. They started off in the hardware business in Beach Rd and they prospered and bought a 5 storey building in Philip St to conduct their biz.
After H Leong's death in the 60's, they diversified into property development. H Lye relied on one contractor, Chng Ghim Huat who had pai-kia connections to help their company evict occupants from huge track of squatter land they acquired. Those days squatters were protected by rent-control and the only way to clear them was with pai-kias.
Many aggrieved squatters complained to LKY who was then very much in touch with the ground. As a result Hong Leong Co was marked.
In the late 80's, Png was investigated for tax evasion and some corporate matters involving the Pinetree Club. He got away, but his nephew took the rap.
In the early 90's Png was again investigated by the CPIB. They ended up contributing $130m as donation. Although he managed to settle to avoid conviction, he took it badly and not long after he passed away.
Chng G H is the owner of Hotel Grand Central and a fairly new building along Killiney Rd where NTUC supermarket is located. Chng, although he was strong PAP supporter in Tg Pagar, in early 2000 was charged and convicted for tax evasion and he spent 6 months in Changi.
H Lye and H Png were never involved with politics.
HL Bank belongs to Quek Leng Chan based in KL. It was the former Mui Bank and it was Anwar when he was Finance Minister, he forced Khoo Kay Peng to sell it to LC for a song.