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Development History
Do you know that the migration of Hainanese to Singapore started in the late 19th century, and most Hainanese were engaged in the service and catering industries? As most Hainanese worked as cooks on European ships during the migration process, the Hainanese in Singapore is also famous for their Western cooking.
The reason for Hainanese being a minor Chinese dialect group in Singapore:
Hainanese arrived in Singapore much later than other dialect groups. Many of them did not plan to settle in a foreign country, so they came alone, hoping to save costs and return home for family reunion after making a fortune. Hainanese going abroad did not necessarily mean immigrating but to make a living.
Timeline
Before World War II
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The Second World War
The Interwar Period
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The vast majority of Singaporean Hainanese were the lower class of the local society.
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A large number of Singaporean Hainanese engaged in the following occupations:
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Mineworkers, plantation farmers, coffee shop clerks
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Waiters in small restaurants and hotels, peddlers, apprentices, etc.
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Overseas Hainanese back then stayed in Singapore for a living, and they generally seldom participated in local political activities.
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The Overview of Singaporean Hainanese Workers’ Occupational Distributions, 1929
Interesting Fact:
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The Hainanese forefathers worked as servants in European homes. Most of their children’s first jobs in Singapore were also domestic helpers.
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Over time, servants of European families were monopolized by the Hainanese as they were only able to work in the middle and lower class. Their European employers considered them as their domestic servitude, commonly known as "cooky."
1930's Period
(The '30s in the 20th Century)
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Most of the overseas Hainanese began to run small businesses independently or start small joint venture businesses.
Among the early pioneering Hainanese entrepreneurs were Wang Shaojing, Li Dashi, He Linshu, etc.
Why were Hainanese so active in promoting education?
Psychological reasons
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Hainanese had been struggling at the bottom of the society for a long time, the older Hainanese did not want their future generations to follow their footsteps but improve their lives and social status through education.
Acceptance of identity
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Hainanese generally believed that education is the only way to achieve economic success and social mobility.
In the Nanyang Region, to allow the young to be culturally educated, the overseas Hainanese of Qionghai established many Chinese schools, such as
Xinmin, Yumin, Yude, Qiongqiao, Yuying, Peidao, Huameng, Xinghua Public School, Yinghan, Sanmin and other Chinese schools.
During World War II
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During the war, many businesses declined or closed. After the war, Hainanese shifted from over focusing on one industry to multiple sectors.
Post-World War II (1950-1960)
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Around 1950-1960 period
The Year 1965
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Singapore became an independent nation, and most Hainanese sojourners also naturalized as Singaporeans. They contributed tremendously to the economic development of Singapore and also actively participated in political affairs and activities such as
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Li Da Cai (former Member of Parliament of Singapore)
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Wang Xiande (legal advisor to the Singapore government's Ministry of Law and Chairman of the Singapore Qiongzhou Association)
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Zhu Jia Bing (Director of Teaching Materials Unit, Ministry of Education, Singapore)
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Wang Dun Bo (Director of the United Nations Planning Office)
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The Year 1965
Since then, the new government has committed to promoting racial harmony, religious equality and, narrowing the racial educational gap.
With the improvement of Singapore's multiracial nation-state mechanism, the integration of Hainanese into mainstream society was no longer as difficult as it was before.
They better adapted into the society, actively participated in the local political and cultural activities. They were granted citizenship and loyal to the government. They also strove for equality and fairness, and embraced the national identity of Singapore.
1929 Singapore Hainan Business Classification Table
After Singapore gained independence
The post-independence Hainanese began diversifying their businesses and occupations.
The number of businesses has increased from a few to hundreds. It is the result that Hainanese strove to seek for their identity change. By improving their cultural literacy and professional competency, they have broadened their professional fields, changed their ethnic identity features, reconstructed the Hainanese cultural identity, and better integrated into the local community.
They have broadened their field of work by developing their cultural literacy and improving their professional skills, reshaping their ethnic identity, rebuilding their Hainanese cultural identity, and better integrating into the local community.
In the year 1854
Han Wang Yi and Wang Zhi De initiated the organization of the Qiongzhou Association (Hainan Hwee Kuan), one of the first Chinese societies in Singapore.
The building is located at 6 Malabar Street and the vicinity is shared with the Kheng Chiu Tin Hou Kong (Chinese temple).
Click here to learn Interesting Facts
Related People
参考资料：
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周文培 (2020年)。 跨国主义与新加坡琼人= Transnationalism and Hainanese in Singapore，南洋理工大学人文学院，页21-128。上网日期：2022年1月27日。检自：https://hdl.handle.net/10356/151444
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新加坡海南会馆 （2013年）。中国海南岛与新加坡密切联系。新加坡海南会馆。上网日期：2022年1月27日。检自：
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林诗成 (2009年4月10日）。新加坡的“海南街”。海南省人民政府（来源：海口晚报网）。上网日期：2022年1月27日。检自： https://www.hainan.gov.cn/hainan/lsyg/200904/56c5f0eae170423dbf9626080e759e94.shtml
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韩山元 （2016年1月9日）。40多年前海南人怎么样回乡探亲。上网日期：2022年1月27日。检自：http://www.sgwritings.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=82628
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云愉民（1931年）。新加坡琼侨概。海口：海南书局，页55-70。上网日期：2022年1月27日。