<P> Lee moved to Singapore to set up another branch of his family business, called Thye Hin Limited . In Singapore, he founded Eng Hin Company, the Thye Hong Biscuit Factory and Thye Ann Investment, a property firm . He also cultivated large rubber plantations across Malaya . Realising that many newly arrived businessmen had difficulty obtaining loans from established Western banks, Lee and his business associates started several local Chinese banks, including Ho Hong Bank . In 1931, Lee became the managing director of Ho Hong Bank and after it merged with two other banks to form the Oversea - Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), he became a director of OCBC and eventually its chairman . </P> <P> An ardent supporter of the Kuomintang, Lee was involved in secret meetings with Sun Yat - Sen at the Wan Qing Yuan, a two - storey villa at Tai Gin Road . He also helped the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia raise funds to support the Kuomintang in their struggles against the Empire of Japan and Communist Party of China . In 1937, Lee and five other Chinese community leaders bought the Wan Qing Yuan to preserve it as a historical site; it was later handed over to the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), which renovated it and turned it into a national monument, the Sun Yat Sen Villa (now Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall). </P> <P> From 1927, Lee was actively involved with the SCCCI, initially as General - Secretary, then as President . Under his leadership, the SCCCI supported the establishment of Nanyang University and convinced the British to grant citizenship to Chinese immigrants who had lived in Singapore for eight years . Lee was Chairman of the Ee Hoe Hean Club from 1933--1935 and 1941--1945 . Lee was also one of six Hokkien representatives in the Overseas Chinese Association (OCA), which acted as a bridge between the Chinese community and Japanese military administration during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore . During an OCA assignment to the Endau Settlement in Malaysia, his convoy was ambushed by the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army and everyone in the convoy was shot . Only Lee survived, as a bullet hit a Buddhist medallion on his chest; this inspired him to spread Buddhism in Singapore . </P> <P> During World War II, many Japanese soldiers, British soldiers and civilians died in the crossfire and bombings of the Battle of Pasir Panjang at Chwee Chian Hill . On advice from Venerable Hong Choon, Lee purchased the hill from the British colonial government, with the aim of building a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, to liberate the spirits of the people who were sacrificed during the Japanese invasion . In 1950, Lee incorporated the 46,938 square feet (4,360.7 m) Poh Ern Shih Temple (Hokkien for "temple of thanksgiving") as a limited company without shares, and in April 1954, he officiated its opening . </P>

A letter to lee choon seng by khoo seok wan