Soo Beng Dispensary 104 Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, George Town
Soo Beng Dispensary
Soo Beng Dispensary is a heritage building at the junction of Lebuh Carnavon and Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong. It was built in the Art Deco style of the 1920's and finished in Shanghai plaster. The dispensary belonged to Dr Lim Chwee Leong (1891-1957), a famous medical practitioner and paediatrician, and one of the earliest Chinese to study Western medicine.
Dr Lim Chwee Leong was a brilliant student who studied medicine at the King Edward VII College in 1909. He was a top student and was awarded the Lim Boon Keng Medal when he graduated in 1913. For a short period of time, he worked as Assistant Surgeon for the Government District Hospital before starting up his own practice in 1914. The dispensary he opened was named after Soo Beng, his native village in Fujian province in southern China.
In addition to being a medical practitioner, Dr Lim Chwee Leong was active in pushing forward the education of his fellowmen. He was the President of the Hu Yew Seah (1915-18), the Straits Chinese British Association (1939) and the Chinese Recreation Club. He was also made a trustee of the Penang Chinese Town Hall shortly before his death in 1957. Among his sons are Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, former chief minister of Penang, Lim Chong Soo, a pharmacist, Lim Chong Beng, an accountant, and Lim Chong Keat, an architect.
Prangin Road was renamed Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong in his honor.
Getting there
The Soo Beng Dispensary can be reached by taking the Rapid Penang Bus T10, U301, U302, U307, U401 and U502, disembarking at Lebuh Carnavon. Check the Rapid Penang Bus Routes for details. Walk along Lebuh Carnavon to the junction with Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong. The Soo Beng Dispensary is at the left corner of the junction.
Where to stay when in Penang? Well, it depends on what you are looking for and your threshold for "budgetness". The Penang Budget Accommodation Guide provides a selection of budget accommodation for you to look at. If I am allowed to be biased, I would recommend Hotel Mingood. It is operated by a friend of mine, Arthur, who has been in the hotel business for a few decades. I have visited it and found it to be a pretty decent place to stay, on a budget. But before you decide, go through the list of Penang hostels and check out their location before you book.
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