SINGAPORE - Singapore's early migrants are unsung heroes who contributed to the nation's extraordinary achievements, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, urging today's youth to uphold their work ethic and solidarity in contributing to the country and their families.

PM Lee, speaking in Mandarin at a gala dinner on Sunday (April 1) marking the 100th anniversary of the Singapore Chin Kang Huay Kuan, noted that the first Chinese sailboat to arrive in Singapore was a junk from the city of Jinjiang in Fujian, China - where the clan association's members had originally hailed from.

That was in 1821, just two years after Sir Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore.

Subsequently, more Chinese sailboats arrived at the Singapore River from the Fujian and Guangdong provinces.

"Many of the early migrants from Jinjiang worked at the Singapore River as coolies, taking on the laborious task of loading and unloading goods. They contributed significantly to Singapore's development as a thriving port today," said PM Lee, who was guest-of-honour at the dinner.

Despite changes over time, Chin Kang Huay Kuan, along with other established groups in the Chinese community, continues to serve the people and contribute to society today, he added at the dinner at the Raffles Convention Centre, attended by more than 1,000 guests.

For instance, as Singapore ages, the clan has often partnered community groups to organise activities for seniors.

Noting that Singapore will be paying tribute to its pioneers when it marks bicentennial next year, PM Lee said that that calls for members of Chin Kang Huay Kuan and other clans to be actively involved in commemorative events to help Singaporeans appreciate the contributions of the Chinese community in its early years.

Members of the clan, for instance, set up a clan house and a school to help students whose education had been disrupted after the war in the past, said PM Lee.

Today, it continues to play a role in the cultural and economic development of the country by holding networking events with members of other Jinjiang clans from around the world, and takes an inclusive approach by welcoming youth without connections to Jinjiang to take part in activities organised by the clan's youth group.

In the last two years, the clan has also opened its doors to the public for visits during the Singapore Heritage Festival.