Early Settlements and Mining Industry

["Dixie" <Dixie@singnet.com.sg>]

The rich source of gold and tin in Southeast Asia (SEA) during the 18th and
19th centuries drew an influx of immigrants to the region. The majority of
the Hakkas in SEA lived in towns and mining settlements. The Hakkas were
also known as "Khek". However, they were sometimes subsumed within other
Chinese dialect groups. For example, a Hakka from Fujian province was
allowed to join the Fujian clan associations in SEA.

In many parts of SEA, colonial administrators appointed "Kapitans" (or
headman) in the local community in order to gain a better control of the
people and to maintain law and order. Most of the Kapitans were influential
or wealthy individuals in the Chinese communities.

("From Guest People to Citizens" magazine, 1997)

- Dixie