Aw Boon Haw
Aw Boon-Haw (; 1882 in British Raj – 1954 in Hawaii), OBE, was a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as founder of Tiger Balm. He was a son of Hakka herbalist Aw Chu-Kin, with his ancestral home in Yongding County, Fujian Province, China. Career. Aw Boon Haw was born to Chinese herbalists at Rangoon Road on 1882 under the British colonial government. In 1926, Aw Boon Haw immigrated due to problems with the Colonial British government and expanded their business overseas to South East Asia, where he cofounded the business with his brother. Aw Boon Haw  used cartoon commercialisation to promote their Balm product to any potential customer as well as at any public celebration. In the 1920s, his main factory named Eng Aun Tong was set up at 89 Neil Road. Aw also founded several newspapers, including "Sin Chew Jit Poh" and "Sin Pin Jit Poh"; and "Sing Tao Daily". Aw fled to Hong Kong during WWII and managed the business from there, while his brother stayed in Singapore until he closed down the factory and went to Rangoon. One of his sons lost his life. Aw returned to Singapore after British victory and re -established his business. He set up Chung Khiaw Bank and once owned Pulau Serangoon(present day Coney Island), Singapore. Death. In 1954, at the age of 72, Aw died from a heart attack following a major operation in Honolulu while on a trip to Hong Kong from Boston, US. He is remembered through his work with Haw Par Villas throughout Asia, with locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Fujian province of China. Legacy. His sons took over his businesses after Aw's death. Personal life. Aw's adopted daughter is the Hong Kong businesswoman and former politician Sally Aw. The  daughter of Aw Boon-Haw and his fourth wife, Aw Seng (胡星), resides in Singapore and has set up a company under her father's name, Aw Boon Haw Pte Ltd, to continue the heritage and legacy of her father. Aw Boon-Haw's fourth wife died on 10 April 2012 in Vancouver aged 100.