Lim Soe Keng Sia

[1][2][3] He acted as administrator of the 'Ngo Ho Tjiang' Kongsi, the most influential consortium of opium monopolists in early to mid-19th century Batavia.

[6][1] His grandfather and father were Kapiteins der Chinezen of Tegal from 1770 until 1813, and from 1813 until 1826, in which capacity they governed and administered the local Chinese community on behalf of the Dutch colonial authorities.

[1] According to historian Phoa Kian Sioe, Lim received a good education and was well-versed in the Chinese classics and in the Dutch language.

[1][4][3] Phoa also claims that Lim's family fell into genteel poverty due to financial mismanagement, which forced him to move from Tegal to Batavia to seek new opportunities.

[5] In Phoa's account, Majoor Tan Eng Goan subsequently arranged for his new son-in-law to be appointed administrator of the influential 'Ngo Ho Tjiang' Kongsi.