从1938年，宏船长老会跟随泉法师南下星洲，在东南亚一带弘扬佛法，并在槟城落脚创建妙香林寺。1940年与转道长老于光明山普觉禅寺启建“大悲法会”，祈祷世界和平。于是转道长老传法与宏船长老作为法脉继承人。
1943年，会泉长老圆寂后，宏船长老担任妙香林住持。1945年回星洲接任光明山普觉禅寺住持。在隔年请转岸法师设计寺院蓝图，并扩建放生园及发生池。当时光明山普觉禅寺，地处荒山野林，周围坟墓遍野，生活条件非常艰苦。
1947年正式接任光明山普觉禅寺方丈。隔年成立了新加坡佛教总会。1949与其他宗教组织成立了 “新加坡宗教联谊会”。
From 1938, Venerable Seck Hong Choon followed Venerable Shi Hui Quan to Singapore. They visited and gave Dharma talks in the surrounding Southeast Asia region and established Beow Hiang Lin Temple in Penang, Malaysia. In 1940, Venerable Seck Hong Choon collaborated with Venerable Sik Zhuan Dao to co-organise the “Great Compassion Repentance Puja” at KMSPKS, with the intention of offering prayers for world peace. Succession matters were discussed, and Venerable Sik Zhuan Dao officially passed the abbacy of KMSPKS to Venerable Seck Hong Choon.
In 1943, Venerable Seck Hong Choon became the Abbot of Beow Hiang Lin Temple after the demise of Venerable Hui Quan. He returned to Singapore in 1945 to take charge of matters of KMSPKS. In the following year, he engaged the assistance of Venerable Shi Zhuan An to design a monastery development blueprint which eventually led to the expansion of the animal liberation garden and pond. During that time, living conditions at KMSPKS were difficult, and the monastery grounds were surrounded by wild forests and untended graves.
In 1947, Venerable Seck Hong Choon is officially appointed as the Abbot of KMSPKS. He founded the Singapore Buddhist Federation (SBF) in the following year and was later appointed its Vice-President in 1949.