Lie Tjoe Hong Sia was born in 1846 in Batavia into the Lie family of Pasilian, an eminent landowning family of the 'Tjabang Atas' gentry with a tradition of public service.[2][4][5] His father, Lie Pek Thaij (1809 - 1848), was an honorary Kapitein der Chinezen, while his grandfather, Lie Tiang Ko (1786 - 1855) had the rank of Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen (1847 - 1850), then Kapitein-titulair der Chinezen (1850 - 1855) under Tan Eng Goan, the first Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[4][5] Two of Majoor Lie Tjoe Hong's uncles, Kapitein Lie Pek Tjiat and Luitenant Lie Pek Tat, were also as Chinese officers.[4][5]
He bore the hereditary title 'Sia' as a descendant of Chinese officers.[6] His own bureaucratic career began with an appointment as Luitenant der Chinezen of the outlying district of Lonthar Tanara in Banten from 1866 until 1869.[4][5]
From 1872 until 1876, he served as Luitenant der Chinezen in Batavia under his predecessor, Tan Tjoen Tiat, the city's second Majoor der Chinezen.[1][4][5] Lie Tjoe Hong was elevated to the higher post of Kapitein der Chinezen, which he held from 1876 until 1879.[4] When Majoor Tan Tjoen Tiat retired from his post, Lie was appointed by the colonial government to succeed the former as third Majoor der Chinezen.[1][2][4][5]
In February 1891, in recognition of the Majoor's 20 years of government service as a Chinese officer, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Star for Loyalty and Merit by Royal Decree.[1] Majoor Lie Tjoe Hong served in office until 20 July 1896, when he resigned.[5]
Lie died six days after his resignation, and was buried in Grogol, Batavia.[4][5]
His son, Kapitein Lie Tjian Tjoen (1886 - 1964), would continue the family tradition of public service, and served as both a Chinese officer and member of the Chinese Council.[7] His daughter-in-law, Ny. Kapitein Lie Tjian Tjoen (born Aw Tjoei Lan), was a prominent philanthropist and founder of the charity organisation Ati Soetji.[7] The Majoor's son-in-law, Hok Hoei Kan (1881 - 1951), was the most prominent politician of the centre-right political party Chung Hwa Hui (CHH) in the first half of the twentieth century, and served in the Volksraad (colonial parliament) of the Dutch East Indies.[8]