Kan Keng Tjong

Kang Keng Tjong (22 June, 1797—May 11, 1871), also spelt Kan Keng Tiong, was a Chinese-Indonesian tycoon and one of the richest men in Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies (now known as Indonesia).[1][2][3]

Born in Zhangzhou, Fujian, Qing Empire, he migrated to the East Indies in the early nineteenth century.[3] He was involved in sugar and rice trading, and became an important Landheer or landlord in the east of Batavia.[3] Among others, he owned the particuliere landen or private domains of Bekasi, Karang Tjongok, Papisangan, Gaboes and Loewong.[4][5] He was raised by the Qing imperial government to the rank of mandarin of the third rank.[3]

Kan was married three times to locally-born Peranakan Chinese women: Siauw Po Nio in 1831, Oeij Thu Nio in 1844 and Jo Heng Nio in 1848.[1][3] He died in Batavia in 1871.[3] His widow, Jo Heng Nio, founded in 1897 the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van vastigheden Jo Heng Nio en Kan Keng Tiong, a company to manage the family's vast landholdings.[6][7]

Kan's widow, Jo Heng Nio, was a niece of a Chinese officer, Jo Teng Kong, Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen; and many of Kan's children married into families of the 'Cabang Atas' gentry of colonial Indonesia.[8][3] His daughter, Kan Oe Nio, was married to Han Oen Lee, Luitenant der Chinezen of Bekasi; and another daughter, Kan Pan Nio, was married to Lie Tjoe Hong, the 3rd Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[1] His son, Kan Tjeng Soen, was married to Khouw Tjoei Nio, daughter of Khouw Tjeng Tjoan, Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen and an older sister of Khouw Kim An, 5th Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[1] Through his daughter, Oe Nio, he became the grandfather of Hok Hoei Kan, arguably the most important Chinese-Indonesian statesman of the late colonial period.[1][9]