Two roads, one from Samkong and the other from the base of the hill on Mae Luan Rd, closed at about 4pm for the opening ceremony to the memorial to be held, marking the great achievements of Khaw Sim Bee, who died 103 years ago today.
The recently completed memorial building to be officially opened today itself is named in honour of centennial of his passing.
The roads will remain closed until 9pm.
Khaw Sim Bee was the Governor of Trang in 1890 and became the governor of Phuket in 1902, a position he held until his death in 1913.
He was also known as Phraya Rassada, a title that was bestowed upon him by King Rama V. Among the people of Thailand, he was also known as the father of Thailand’s rubber industry, as he introduced rubber cultivation in Trang in the 20th century. (See story here.)
His family name survives as the Na Ranong family today and he his remembered with a statue located at the top of Rang Hill.