Background
He was born in Malacca, April 6, 1888.
rubber merchant and estate proprietor
He was born in Malacca, April 6, 1888.
He attended the High School, Malacca, and Raffles Institution, Singapore.
Cheng-lock Tan served as a schoolmaster at Raffles Institution from 1902 till 1908, then as Assistant Manager in Bukit Kajang Rubber Estates Limited from 1908 till 1909 and Appointed Manager in Malaka Pinda Rubber Estates, Limited in 1910.
He floated various public Rubber Companies including the Ayer Molek, Malaka Pinda and United Malacca Companies during 1909 and 1910.
Mr. Tan was Visiting Agent, Nyalas Rubber Estates, Limited since 1912. He made a Justice of the Peace in 1912. He also served as a Municipal Commissioner, Malacca from 1912 till 1923.
Cheng-lock Tan took prominent part in the re-formation of the Chinese Company of the Malacca Volunteer Corps and served as a private in the Chinese Company from 1916 till 1919. He has served as an Unofficial Member for Malacca on the Legislative Council, Straits Settlements, continuously since January 1st 1923. He was President, The Straits Chinese British Association (Malacca), since 1928, President, The Asiatic Planters' Association of Malaya from 1927 until that body became the Malayan Estate Owners' Association of which he was President, Vice-President, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Malacca since 1926. He was awarded the C.B.E. in 1933 for services on the Legislative Council,Straits Settlements.