摘要

華人移民早年在東南亞地區成立會館或宗鄉團體的宗旨，不外是為了照顧同鄉福利，聯絡鄉誼，以便協助同鄉適應人地生疏、語言不通的東南亞熱帶新環境。這包括安頓同鄉新客的落腳處、推薦或介紹就業、救濟鄉梓災民、排難解紛、舉辦慈善事業、祭拜共同神祇、購置義山處理鄉親後事等。此外，亦有開辦私塾或義學，以教育同鄉子弟等。就以吉隆坡最早成立的客家會館——惠州會館（現稱雪隆惠州會館）為例，該會館早期所發揮的角色就是要照顧、協助與團聚鄉親，並積極參與教育、社會和公益方面的會務發展，例如創辦循人學校、參與創辦廣東義山、隆雪華堂和同善醫院等組織，為社會付出貢獻。不過，在進入21 世紀後，一些早期屬於會館的功能和角色已逐步被取代。因此，在面對全球化的環境下，會館勢必作調適方有利日後的發展。本文將以雪隆惠州會館為例，對該會館的自我轉型與發展作初步的探討。

The initial purposes of setting up associations or sectarian groups in Southeast Asia by Chinese immigrants were mainly to take care of the welfare of their fellow immigrants as well as to maintain ties with each other so as to assist their fellow immigrants in overcoming the sense of unfamiliarity and the problems of language faced by them in the region that had a tropical climate. Specifically, the functions of the associations or sectarian groups were arranging accommodation for their fellow immigrants, helping them to look for jobs, assisting the victims, resolving conflicts, setting up schools, etc. For example, the initial functions of the Fui Chiu Association （now being called as Selangor and Federal Territory Fui Chiu Association） – the oldest Hakka Association in Kuala Lumpur – were to take care of the welfare of its fellow immigrants as well as to reunite them. Meanwhile, it also actively involved in matters related to education and public service such as the founding of Tsun Jin School, Kwong Tong Cemetery Kuala Lumpur, The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall （KLSCAH） and Tung Shin Hospital. Nevertheless, some functions of the associations or sectarian groups are gradually being replaced when moving into the 21st Century. Hence, in the face of the age of globalization, the associations or sectarian groups must adjust themselves for future development. This paper will conduct a preliminary examination of the self-driven transformation and development of the Selangor and Federal Territory Fui Chiu Association.

全文下載