Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Biography of Lau King Howe

Mr. Lau King Howe

        Mr. Lau King Howe (1869-1932) was the second son of Pastor Lau Meng Shy and Mdm Hii, originally from the Nan Yu Village of the Hou Guan District of the Hokkien Province in China. Pastor Lau was very involved in charity work and built many schools and hospitals in China.
        After completing his education at Methodist Anglo-Chinese College, Foochow, Mr. Lau King Howe entered the Manila Teacher Training College in the Philippines where he graduated with honour. He worked in USA Philippines Navy Base as an administrator, and subsequently became the principal of the Philippines Chinese School. He returned to China in 1914, and he was appointed as the Chief Secretary, and later in September of the same year as Acting Manager of Si Chuan Salt Affairs Audit Department. He then resigned from government service and became a businessman in Shanghai.
        In 1916, Mr. Lau King Howe arrived in Sibu to seek better opportunities. He had 3 sons from his previous marriage.

Mr. Lau King Howe and his wife Mrs. Fu Bao Yu Mr. Lau's last wife was his housemaid, Mdm Fu Bao Yu (1902-1977), who was 14 years old when she married him. Mdm Fu and Mr. Lau adopted Mr. Lau younger brother's second son (Liu Cheng) because they had no children of their own. Mr. Lau was 47 years old when he arrived in Sibu. He ran a rubber tree plantation in Engkilo which was located on the east side of Sibu, and made his fortune.

In view of the inadequate facilities in the Sibu's government hospital, Mr Lau proposed to the Rajah Brooke Government in 1930 to build a new and more modern hospital.

Letter from chief secretary to J.M. Hoover

Power of Attorney from Lau King Howe to Hoover and Lim Khai Cheng

In 1931, he pledged to bear 50% of the building cost of the proposed hospital through the donation of part of his wealth. In the same year, Mr. Lau's pledge was formally acknowledged and accepted by the 3rd Division Resident, Mr. C.D. Adams and the new hospital was named after Mr. Lau King Howe. Mr. Lau and his family returned to China later in May 1931, and passed away the following year in October 1932. Construction of Lau King Howe Hospital commenced in 1931 and was completed in 1936.

Old picture of Lau King Howe Hospital

Lau King Howe Hospital September 1, 1994, the New Sibu Central Hospital was launched and officially opened. Lau King Howe Hospital was transformed into a polyclinic during the transition period.

Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum before renovated Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum before renovated. August 03, 1996, Lau King Howe Hospital's outpatient clinic, pharmacy, and emergency department were preserved and converted into Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum.

June 2005, the remains of Lau King Howe Hospital totally demolished due to the development project of Sibu Town Square Phase 2. The Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum renovated and reopens to public since December 04, 2008.
       A Brief Biography of the Mr. Lau King Howe By the late Reverend Lim Khai Cheng
written in the 1960s
       Mr. Lau King Howe, was the second son of the Pastor Lau Meng-Shy and Madam Hii, originally from the Nan Yu Village of the Hou Guan District of the Hokkien Province in China. He was diligent and intelligent, and was highly regarded during his school years. After completing his studies at the Methodist Anglo-Chinese College in Foochow, he entered the Teachers Training College in Manila, the Philippines, where he passed the final examination with honours. He later became the principal of a Chinese school in Manila. Before long, he returned to China and worked as a Chief Secretary at the Head Office of the Salt Affairs Audit Department in the Province of Sze-Chuan. Subsequently, he engaged in business in Shanghai.
       Mr. Lau King Howe, who had a kind and generous heart, was also a devoted Christian. In 1916, he came to Sibu, Sarawak, where he managed a rubber plantation. In order to improve medical services in Sibu, in 1930, after consulting Rev. James M. Hoover and Rev. Lim Khai Cheng, he expressed his willingness to donate all his property to the Government for the establishment of a large and modern hospital to benefit the people of Sibu. He later wrote to Mr. C. D. Adams, the Resident of the Third Division, Sibu, Sarawak, regarding this donation. Mr. Adams then sought the advice of the Rajah of Sarawak on the matter. On 22 November 1930, Mr. J. C. Swayne, the Chief Secretary of the State of Sarawak, replied accepting the donation and promised that the proposed hospital would be named Lau King Howe Hospital.
       On 7 March 1931, Mr. Lau King Howe was honoured by Mr. Charles Vyner Brooke, the Rajah of Sarawak, who presented him with a commemorative metal plaque in recognition of his generosity. Later, as Mr. Lau wished to return to China, he and Mr. Adams authorized Rev. James M. Hoover and Rev. Lim Khai Cheng to manage all the donated property and to oversee the completion of the proposed hospital. In May 1931, Mr. Lau retired and returned to China. The following year, he passed away in October 1932.
       With the aim of improving social welfare, as mentioned above, Mr. Lau King Howe donated his property for the establishment of a large and modern hospital in Sibu. In appreciation of his generosity and contribution, the Government named the hospital Lau King Howe Hospital as a lasting memorial to his kindness and public spirit. I have written this account so that future generations may better understand how the hospital received its present name.