Aw Boon-Haw (1882–1954), OBE, was a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as founder of Tiger Balm. He was a son of Hakka herbalist Aw Chu-Kin, with his ancestral home in Yongding County, Fujian, China.

Career

Aw was born to Chinese herbalists in Rangoon (now known as Yangon), Burma on 1882 under the British colonial government. In 1926, due to problems with the British Colonial government at the time, Aw migrated to Malaysia and expanded their business overseas to South East Asia, where he cofounded the business with his brother. Aw used cartoon commercialisation to promote his Tiger Balm product, named after himself, to any potential customer as well as at any public celebration. In the 1920s, his main factory, Eng Aun Tong, was set up at 89 Neil Road, Chinatown, Singapore. Aw also founded several newspapers, including Sin Chew Jit Poh, Sin Pin Jit Poh, and Sing Tao Daily. Aw fled to Hong Kong during World War II and managed the business from there, while his brother stayed in Singapore until he closed down the factory and went to Rangoon. Aw returned to Singapore after the end of World War II and re-established his business. He set up Chung Khiaw Bank and once owned Pulau Serangoon (present day Coney Island), Singapore.

Death

In 1954, at the age of 72, Aw died from a heart attack following a major operation in Honolulu while on a trip to Hong Kong from Boston, US. He is remembered through his work with Haw Par Villas throughout Asia, with locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Fujian province of China.

Legacy

In 1932, Aw and his brother Aw Boon Par founded St. John Hospital (Hong Kong) on Cheung Chau island. As of 2023 the original building, a historical landmark, continued to serve the approximate 12,000 residents of the island. His sons took over his businesses after Aw's death.

Personal life

Aw had an adopted daughter, Sally Aw, a businesswoman and former politician. Born in Rangoon as the daughter of Aw Boon Haw and his fourth wife, Aw Seng (胡星), Sally has resided in Hong Kong and Singapore and set up a company under her father's name, Aw Boon Haw Pte Ltd, to continue the heritage and legacy of her father. Aw Seng died on 10 April 2012 in Vancouver, Canada, aged 100.

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