Of the five major cultural groups of overseas Chinese (Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochow, Hainanese, and Hakka), the Hokkien have the greatest economic savvy and soon settled into leadership positions in the Chinese community. Tan Kah Kee's father was a leader of a clan organization formed by Hokkien Chinese of the Tan clan, and served as the organization's chairman for 25 years.
華僑 5 大幫群（閩、粵、潮、瓊、客）中，閩南人經濟實力雄厚，穩居華僑社會的主導地位，陳嘉庚的父親更是閩僑陳姓宗親組織「保赤宮」的領導人之一，擔任會董的時間長達 25 年。