Etymology and History
Originally called Japan Street, Boon Tat Street was the first to be renamed by the Municipal Commissioners in 1946 after the Japanese Occupation of Singapore.
The new name commemorated the Singapore-born businessman and former Municipal Commissioner, Ong Boon Tat (1888-1941), the elder son of Ong Sam Leong. Ong Boon Tat was the proprietor of the New World amusement park in Jalan Besar. Ong extended his father's business and was the owner of brickworks, sawmills and rubber estates. In the 1920s, he was described as "one of the group of young Straits Chinese who is taking a practical interest in public affairs, having realised the duties of citizenship which devolve more especially on the men of education and standing in our community".
The Hokkiens refer to this street as ma cho kiong pi, meaning "beside the ma cho temple", referring to the Thian Hock Keng temple at Telok Ayer.
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