Khaw Soo Cheang

Khaw Soo Cheang (1797–1882, Chinese: 許泗漳, POJ: Khó͘ Sù Chiang, other names Khaw Teng Hai and Kor Su Jiang) was born in Xiayu Township, Longxi County of Zhangzhou, China (present-day Longhai City). At the age of 25, he left China to Nanyang in search of a better life. He arrived in Penang, then later migrated to Thailand in 1822. Khaw established a tin mining and shipping empire. He was appointed governor of Ranong Province in 1854 and given the princely title of Phraya Na Ranong by the royal family.^[1]^[2] The role of governor included collecting taxes on behalf of the state.^[3] Khaw became primogenitor of the Khaw na Ranong family, one of the most prominent Thai Chinese families in Thailand, which grew so politically and economically powerful as to challenge British colonial interests in Southeast Asia.^[4]

Descendants

Khaw Sim Kong (1840–1912), Governor of Ranong
Khaw Sim Bee (1857–1913), Governor of Trang
Khaw Joo Ghee (d. 1932), Governor of Ranong
Wichit na Ranong, known to many as the Father of Phuket Tourism
Kittiratt Na-Ranong (born 1958), Thai Finance Minister

References

^ Suwannathat-pian, Kobkua (2004). "Khaw Family: A Sinu-Thai Politico-Business Dynasty". In Ooi, Keat Gin (ed.). Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor. ABC-CLIO. pp. 723–725. ISBN 9781576077702.
^ Jennifer W. Cushman (March 1986). "The Khaw Group: Chinese Business in Early Twentieth-Century Penang". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 17 (1). Cambridge University Press on behalf of Department of History, National University of Singapore: 8–79.
^ Salma, Khoo (2009). "Hokkien Chinese on the Phuket Mining Frontier: The Penang Connection and the Emergence of the Phuket Baba Community". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 82 (2): 81–84. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
^ Carl A. Trocki (June 2002). "Opium and the Beginnings of Chinese Capitalism in Southeast Asia" (PDF). Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 33 (2). The National University of Singapore: 313–314.

[1] Suwannathat-pian, Kobkua (2004). "Khaw Family: A Sinu-Thai Politico-Business Dynasty". In Ooi, Keat Gin (ed.). Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor. ABC-CLIO. pp. 723–725. ISBN 9781576077702.

[2] Jennifer W. Cushman (March 1986). "The Khaw Group: Chinese Business in Early Twentieth-Century Penang". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 17 (1). Cambridge University Press on behalf of Department of History, National University of Singapore: 8–79.

[3] Salma, Khoo (2009). "Hokkien Chinese on the Phuket Mining Frontier: The Penang Connection and the Emergence of the Phuket Baba Community". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 82 (2): 81–84. Retrieved 23 August 2025.

[4] Carl A. Trocki (June 2002). "Opium and the Beginnings of Chinese Capitalism in Southeast Asia" (PDF). Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 33 (2). The National University of Singapore: 313–314.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]