Episode Details

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. The master-apprentice system was a fixture in many trades in Old Singapore. In the 1960s, it was transitioning as the Economic Development Board’s Light Industries Services was employing sifus to train its recruits in manufacturing.

So young Charles Ngui found himself with two masters – Kok Seng and Lee Cheng Kok. As the eager student met his willing sifu, this became one of the main reasons for Singapore's rapid industrialisation in the 1970s.

Part 1 | https://youtu.be/6-u7rymWSKk

Part 2 | https://youtu.be/UtyDCpVboNY

Part 3 | https://youtu.be/v2eHkDbDJ3Y

Part 4 | https://youtu.be/Tz-PjDMHJvk

00:00 Master Craftsman Kok Seng

07:09 His Background

12:21 Taking the Initiative

15:39 Master-Apprentice System in Transition

22:58 The Old System & Its Tensions

27:14 Master Lee Cheng Kok

31:49 The Cantonese

35:08 Unwilling Sifu

41:15 Culture of Change

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

Do like the video and subscribe for future episodes. This will help the channel a lot.

Write to lkshis@gmail.com if you have any of these stories:

• Old places or kampongs.

• Communities – their way of life & culture.

• Childhood & schools.

• Work or business.

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