Historian John Tan, of Kuching and Australia, wrote the following essay about early Chinese immigration. He translated and used information from the Chinese language publication Hainan Temple 天后宫 published by Dr Lin YT and his own sources.
The Han Chinese
The Han Chinese migrated to the south of China from the central part over about two thousand years. They formed groups such as the Cantonese, Hakka, and Teochew, who lived in Guangdong province while the Hokkien and Foochow migrated to Fujian.
These groups maintained their own dialects, which retained parts of the old Han language. The customs and traditions were unique to each group. One of the traditions embodied in all groups was children were expected to care for the elderly. This custom prevented Chinese migrations.
After the death of the second Ming emperor in 1424, a new decree was enacted by the Confucian Palace Officials that banned overseas travel and migration. Those who disobeyed were treated as criminals or Empire deserters. When the Manchu seized China in 1636, they continued the decree.
The Han Chinese, who were against the Manchu, went underground and formed the secret society, Heaven and Earth天地会. Many sailed overseas to escape persecution. Other than for political reasons, the Chinese sailed for the following reasons:
1. Imperial Officers who conveyed messages and traded for the government.
2. The people of the southern provinces were embroiled in civil war, poverty or famine.
3. Those who were affected by population increases, hardships and the shortage of farming land.
4. The Southerners were far from the centre of government, and edicts took a long time to reach them.
5. Southern Provinces were close to the sea. People here were more exposed, knowledgeable and curious about the outside world.
The earliest Chinese settlers to Sarawak were those seamen or sailors who married local women and assimilated into the population. The following Chinese came in groups:
The Cantonese粤藉
One of the earliest migrants to Sarawak was Lau Chek, who arrived in ~1830. He and a few of village friends sailed to Simmanggang ( Seri Aman) and established farms. Later, they moved to the Kuching area and began vegetable farming. Lau became an aide to Rajah James Brooke while his followers and others continued their agricultural activities. This group would assist Brooke in the 1857 rebellion.
In 1880 another group of Cantonese came from Hong Kong and sailed up the Rajang River. They became timber loggers and sent Belian wood back to Hong Kong. Some later settled in Bintangor and Sarikei doing commerce and farming. In 1901 an educated Cantonese,Tan Kung Shook, had an agreement with Raja Charles Brook to bring in 5000 Cantonese from Guangtung to settle in the upper Rajang area. They came in groups of ten.
The Hakka (客藉)
The earliest Hakka in Sarawak was around 1830. James Brooke first landed in Sarawak in 1839. When sailing upstream to Bau, he found 30 Hakka men and 5 Sambas women mining and farming. In 1850 Dutch Colonials were oppressive towards the Chinese in South Kalimantan. The Dutch instigated rivalry between two large mining Companies “Kongsi”, San Tiou Kow “三条沟” and Ta Kong “大港”. These labourers were killing one another. Many of them escaped from Sambas settled in Bau. The biggest group, numbering 3000, was led by Liu Shan Pang “刘善邦” from the San Tiou Kow Company. In 1854, the Dutch raided
the Ta Kong Company, forcing many to flee to Bau. These Hakkas were mainly from Ka Yin Chew “嘉应卅” China. In Bau, they continued with their mining and farming.
Later, another group of three hundred “Sin On 新安” Hakka, under Rajah Charles Brooke invitation and led by Kong Kui En 江贵英, came to Kuching and farmed vegetables.
The Hokkiens (闽藉)
The Hokkien is also referred to as the dialect spoken by people from Southern Fujian Province “闽南” in China. It consists of subgroups, Kinmen 金门， Chao-An, Qian and Zhang
The earliest Hokkiens residing in Kuching were Ong Ewe Hai, 王友海 and Lim Eng Moh, 林英茂。 They came shortly after 1841 from Singapore to Kuching to trade. Later, more Hokkiens came from Singapore or direct from Xiamen 厦门. In 1877, another famous Hokkien,Yeo Ban Hock 楊万福， came to Kuching, leaving behind the Ban Hock Wharf and Ban Hock Road developed by him.
The Teochews (潮藉)
The earliest Teochew was Law Kian Hua,刘建发. In 1852 he came from Swatow 汕头 China with his village friends and settled at Penrisen Road, Batu Kitang and Bako areas. They planted sugar cane and pepper. Law brought in more Teochew to farm with the Second Rajah Charles Brooke consent. At the same time, more Teochews came to Kuching, Simunjan and Bintulu to trade.
The Hainanese (海南藉)
Most came in 1888, and 651 labourers sailed from Hainan Island to Kuching. In 1901 and 1902, an additional 700 of them came.
Brooke’s Immigration and Land Policy.
Rajah James Brooke
Most Chinese came through friends or relatives. Some batches were recruited coming in groups. Their main occupation was farming with commerce being secondary. After the Bau rebellion on February 18, 1857, James Brooke halted Chinese immigration. The number of Chinese in Sarawak decreased, and Bau became a dead town. On June 11, 1863, James implemented his first” Land Law of 1863″ specifying land use control and ownership, halting free occupation of land by the Chinese from across the border. The Bau incidence caused revenue for James to dwindle. Subsequently, James suffered from illness and ceded the throne to his nephew, Charles, in 1863. James returned to England and died on September 11, 1869, at 68.
Rajah Charles
Charles adopted a different attitude towards the Chinese migration. He needed the Chinese to grow cash crops like pepper to bring in revenue to sustain his kingdom. Charles provided various incentive schemes to attract Chinese migrants. The Chinese population then increased. In 1872 he enacted the first ” Plantation Law” to attract investors from Singapore.
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