[3][4][5] The Chinese lieutenancies of Khouw's father, uncles and grandfather were honorary appointments without any of the entailed governmental authority.

[5] The future Majoor's Chinese training, however, stands in sharp contrast to the Dutch education of many in his increasingly westernised social class and generation, most obviously exemplified by his cousin, the naturalised Dutchman and philanthropist O. G.

Khouw's wife was also the granddaughter of Phoa Tjeng Tjoan, Kapitein der Chinezen of Buitenzorg (now Bogor).

[6] Khouw, who was still a Luitenant, was quickly raised to the rank of Kapitein in 1908 before his final appointment in 1910 as the fifth and last Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.

[6][5][8] He maintained close relations with other Chinese members of the Volksraad, such as Hok Hoei Kan and Loa Sek Hie.

[6][5] Many community activists had criticised the system of governance by Chinese officers, or 'Indirect Rule', as an archaic relic of feudalism.

[6][5] While on a visit to The Netherlands in 1927, he was received formally at Court by Queen Wilhelmina, and conveyed to the Sovereign the loyal greetings of the Chinese community of the Dutch East Indies.

[5] The Majoor celebrated his Silver Jubilee as Chinese Officier on February 10, 1930, on which occasion the Queen conferred upon him the Great Gold Star for Loyalty and Merit (Groote Gouden Ster voor Trouw en Verdienste) in recognition of his long service to the Crown.