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Acknowledgements This book is a collective effort rather than an individual venture. It would not have been written and published without the cooperation of many scholars, writers and friends. First of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation to the 176 writers of this book for their valuable contributions. I would also like to thank the country editors for their efforts and the panel of international advisers for their comments and advice. I am particularly grateful to Professor Wang Gungwu, chairman of the panel of advisers, who has been very generous in giving me his valuable advice, encouragement, support and writing a Foreword for this book. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Tommy Koh, former chairman of the Chinese Heritage Centre (CHC), for inviting me to be the director of the CHC which gave me the opportunity to further develop my interest and research, and Professor Su Guaning, successor of Professor Koh,for his continuing support.Without the resources of the CHC,this project could have not been undertaken. My sincere thanks also go to the former and current staff members of the CHC — Lim Boon Hock, Kwan Siu Hing,Ang Cher Kiat, HoYi Kai, GohYu Mei, CheongWaiYin, and Chew Kiat Yin — who helped me in this project.Special thanks also go to Dr KevinY.L.Tan and Dr Michael Montesano, who gave me special assistance when it was badly needed. I want to record my deep appreciation to Mrs Triena Ong, Managing Editor of ISEAS Publishing, for her expert advice and kind assistance in editorial and publication matters. I would also like to thank the Lee Foundation and the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan for their generous grants for the project. Lastly, while thanking all the authors for their valuable contributions again, I would like to state that they are responsible for the facts and the interpretations in the entries that they have written. Leo Suryadinata August 2012 ...

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