Study of the history of the overseas Chinese is an important issue in the field of History study. Among all, study of the history of the overseas Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia are most important and popular. Because of their ideal geographical location, Singapore and Malaysia served as a window for the western countries to develop Southeast Asia and constructed a close economic relationship with South China....[ Read more ]

Study of the history of the overseas Chinese is an important issue in the field of History study. Among all, study of the history of the overseas Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia are most important and popular. Because of their ideal geographical location, Singapore and Malaysia served as a window for the western countries to develop Southeast Asia and constructed a close economic relationship with South China.

In the study of Overseas Chinese history, remittance is one on the topic that cannot be neglect. The literature nowadays is mainly concerning the remittance method, amount, organization and the effect of remittance on the homeland of the overseas Chinese. However, remittance network is seldom concerned. Actually, remittance network represents the financial network that connecting South China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia together. It’s because remittance not only mean remit money to homeland, but also mean a close trading and investment relationship. This financial network, in a large extent, is based on the remittance network of the local remittance houses, with the two main centers of Singapore and Hong Kong. This flow of the capital provided a closer economic relationship and encouraged the economic development between South China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

Remittance network is based on the remittance houses, however, seldom case study on remittance house is available. Thus, it’s difficult to analysis the structure, change and the flow of capital of the remittance network. And Eu Yan Sang, a family business that established by Eu Ton Sang, was a large remittance house before the Second World War. Eu Yan Sang’s business covered China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, was a transnational enterprise. By studying the remittance business of Eu Yan Sang, we can have a better understanding of the remittance network in Southeast Asia and how this network will change it’s structure when facing economic transformation. It can enrich the present study of overseas Chinese remittance in Southeast Asia.