Pasir Ris Red House
The Public will know it as either the Pasir Ris Red House, Loyang Red House, the Pasir Ris Opera House, or the CK Tang House just to name afew.
Loke Yuen Peng was born in 1917, the youngest daughter of Loke Yew and Lim Cheng Kim. She was also the sister of the late Loke Wan Tho, founder of Cathay Organisation. She married Sir Percy McNeice (knighted in 1956, same year as his retirement from civil service) in her late twenties . Sir Percy McNeice held many key posts in the early days of civil service. His appointments included the Secretary of Chinese Affairs, President of the Singapore Municipal Commissions, President of the City Councillor and Head of the Singapore Improvement Trust (forerunner of HDB). He set up and became first Social Welfare Secretary of the Social Welfare Department or SWD in 1946. (we now know it as MCYS). Sir Percy McNeice was also a founder and President of the Singapore Family Planning Board in 1959.
Lady McNeice too was heavily involved in public and community service, having served in many associations and organisations. In her later years she would be known also as a wildlife enthusiast, gardener and ardent conservationist. In 1948, the Red House was purchased by Lady McNeice's mother who gave it to her, and it was used primarily to help the people of Kampong Loyang (as the place was then known). The Social Welfare Department had to deal with alot of poverty and hunger among the people, and in 1946 started setting up what was known as "The People's Restaurants", where cheap yet nutritious meals were sold. In 1947, the Children's Feeding Centres were also set up, to provide free daily meal to young children.
The Red House, being privately own by Lady McNeice, must have served all kinds of needs arising from a rural kampong without much amenities. In 1960, the People's Association (PA) was established, and took over all community functions and later on, the grassroot activities. With the formation of such grassroots management activities, the Red House then lost its purpose, and in 1964, was sold off to Tang Choon Keng Realty Ltd (CK Tang). The House had remained it its present state till now.
