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On our first evening in Penang, John Tang and I dropped into the Penang Club, where we quite by chance met Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew, who's chairman of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi. It is the most impressive Chinese clan association in the city. The next day, Mr. Siew directed his secretary to give us a personal tour of the clan's magnificent compound. Of this fortuitous coincidence, John said to me, "Someone is looking after us."

Entering, you pass through this stately row of 19th century terrace houses, now configured into a just-opened boutique hotel.



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