Lim Boon Keng - President of OCA

President of OCA

In 1942, Lim's family were interned at a Japanese concentration camp at Arab Street. According to Shinozaki Mamoru, Lim was in a state that he was so shocked that his voice was inaudible. However, with Shinozaki's help, Lim was able to get home with Shinozaki's protection cards.

Lim was asked by the Japanese to become the leader of the Overseas Chinese Association (OCA), an association which was designated to serve the needs of the local Chinese community under the approval of the Japanese. In response, Lim refused, claiming that he was too old to take up the role of a president. Lim's wife was then made to kneel down under the scorching sun for four hours at a stretch, in addition to bearing other insults. After Shinozaki persuaded him, telling him that Lim's position as president was merely to be a figurehead without needing to do much work, Lim finally relented.

In March 1942, Lim was ordered by the Japanese to raise a "donation" of $50 million for Japan. However, only $28 million was raised with much difficulty. In response to the anger of the Japanese, Lim made an emotional speech:

"We never told a lie. When we promised to give the military contribution, we mean to do it. Financial conditions are now such as to be beyond our control. If we are unable to pay, then die we will. I wish to point out, however, that the manner in which the Government raise this military contribution is without any parallel in any country."

In the end, the Japanese agreed to a loan for the remaining sum through the Yokohama Specie Bank.

Lim also supervised the construction of the Endau settlement in 1944. In view of Singapore's inability to feed her large population, it was meant to be a place for local citizens to migrate to.

Known as the grand old man of Singapore's Chinese society, during the Japanese occupation, he would feign a drunken stupor rather than cooperate with the Japanese.