Lim Chan Ngam 林赞岩 (1904-1967), was a pre-WWII immigrant who came to Singapore from China and became a successful trader dealing in rubber in the Riau islands. He made a substantial fortune until unfortunate circumstances led to the collapse of his business. Lim, his two local wives and their married children and spouses lived in a 3-storey house at No.13 Rowell Road. This certificate of admission was introduced after the Aliens Ordinance 1932 took effect in Singapore on 1 January 1933. The legislation was passed by the British colonial authorities to regulate the admission of resident aliens, defined as people who were not British subjects or British-protected persons, back into Singapore following a period abroad. Such control was deemed necessary by the authorities, who felt that some of these returning aliens (mainly Chinese) were responsible for bringing back subversive ideas that challenged colonial rule.
