In the 1960s and 1970s, the Thye Hong Biscuit and Confectionary Factory, with its bronze lion and flame-lit torch was a defining landmark for locals and visitors alike. Standing at the junction of Alexandra Road and Tiong Bahru Road, the factory was started by businessman Lee Gee Chong in 1935. Thye Hong biscuits were popular in the region, and were served even on the former Malayan Airways.
At its peak, Thye Hong employed more than 200 people, with most workers from nearby Leng Kee, Kampong Henderson and Redhill areas. In the 1970s, business declined and the 1.42 hectare site was sold in 1981 for an office complex with the same name.