Cheong Fatt Tze Road, George Town
Cheong Fatt Tze Road, within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short narrow street between Rope Walk and Carnavon Street. It is located within the Chinatown of George Town.
It was formerly Hong Kong Street and as its previous name implied, the street was populated mainly by the Cantonese.
A bilingual Cheong Fatt Tze Road sign
There was an original Cheong Fatt Tze Road within the area where KOMTAR now stands, but the construction of KOMTAR in the 1970s had erased the road.
Etymology[]
The street was initially named Hong Kong Street as it was mainly populated by the Cantonese. At the time, the Chinatown was divided between the Cantonese and the Hokkiens, with the adjoining Carnavon Street acting as the boundary separating both groups of Chinese.
The Hokkiens called the street Hiang3 Kang1 Kay1, meaning Hong Kong Street.
Cheong Fatt Tze was one of the richest men in Southeast Asia and held several positions in the Qing government of China.
Meanwhile, the original Cheong Fatt Tze Road was located within the site where KOMTAR now stands. The road was wiped out during the construction of KOMTAR, which began in 1974.
The nearby Teoh Kongsi at Carnavon Street was founded by Cheong Fatt Tze.
Cheong Fatt Tze's residence at Leith Street was painstakingly restored in the 1990s, winning the UNESCO Asia-Pacific's Most Excellent Project Award for Cultural Heritage Preservation in 2000.
In 1992, Hong Kong Street was renamed Cheong Fatt Tze Road, after one of the richest men in Southeast Asia in the late 19th. century and the early 20th. century. His residence at Leith Street, the famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, has been intricately restored and is a well-known tourist attraction. Notably, he also founded the nearby Teoh Kongsi, a clan association for those with the surname Teoh.
History[]
Hong Kong Street has been in existence in the late 19th, century. The street was dominated by the Cantonese, who also resided around its vicinity west of Carnavon Street. At the time, Carnavon Street separated the Cantonese part of Chinatown from the Hokkien part.
In the past, Cheong Fatt Tze Road was a road within the area where KOMTAR now stands. After the construction of KOMTAR commenced in 1974, the road was erased for good.
Members of the Teoh Kongsi, located near Hong Kong Street, subsequently appealed to the Penang Island Municipal Council to rename Hong Kong Street after Cheong Fatt Tze, one of the founders of the Teoh Kongsi. Their request was granted and Hong Kong Street was renamed Cheong Fatt Tze Road in 1992.
Political Representation[]
Penang State Government[]
N.28 Komtar State Assemblyman : Teh Lai Heng (Democratic Action Party)
Malaysian Federal Parliament[]
P.049 Tanjong Member of Parliament : Ng Wei Aik (Democratic Action Party)
References[]
- Khoo S.N., 2007. Streets of George Town, Penang. Areca Books.
- http://www.penang-traveltips.com/jalan-cheong-fatt-tze.htm