Phoa Beng Gan

[5][4] This tax was imposed upon the Company's Chinese subjects over the age of sixteen, and was payable to the colonial authorities through the new Kapitein who was entitled to a portion of the total amount.

[5] Despite initial community ill will, Kapitein Phoa Beng Gan acquitted himself well as Chinese headman thanks to his irrigation work, for which he is best remembered today.

[5] Kapitein Phoa Beng Gan organised for funds to be collected from the Chinese community to finance the draining of Batavia's swamps, and took charge of the project himself.

It connected the city to the then agricultural area of Tanah Abang and beyond, and therefore functioned as a major transportation channel to supply the colonial capital with food produce and other resources from the hinterland.

[5][2][7][4] In recognition of the Kapitein's irrigation work, the colonial authorities granted him an estate (particuliere land) in Tanah Abang, where Phoa later cultivated sugar cane.