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Ng Fat Chuen
Ng Fat Chuen
Manager of Ng Hon Ko Tso, Nga Tsin Wai Village
Sex: Male Birthyear: 1935 Age at Interview: 77 Education: Primary Occupation: Farmer Theme: Community, Social Life, Japanese Occupation Ng Fat Chuen's faimly migrated frequently among villages of Kowloon City in order to obtain suitable land and water for farming. When he was 4, his yourger brother was born. To improve their living quality, Ng Fat Chuen’s father vacated the house in Mau Chin and moved to Tai Hom Village. He father started to run a bean sprout factory on Ng Hon Ko Tso’s farmland (presently Lung Cheung Road, opposite to Hollywood Plaza) with two hired staff. Clean water was instrumental to growing bean sprouts. Tai Hom Village had fresh and clean “lung shui” (spring water from underground) which made it a very suitable place for growing bean sprouts. When Ng Fat Chuen was a small child, the “lung shui” was within easy reach. However, it was all gone after Lung Cheung Road and the MTR station were built. Producing bean sprouts involved procedures such as buying beans, soaking beans in water, and irrigation. Ng Fat Chuen thought his father was very competent. The bean sprout factory was made up of two houses in the size of 600 to 700 square feet. The sprouted beans would be transported to and sold in the market on Sa Po Road, Kowloon City.
Title Parents grew bean sprout in ancestral farmland in Tai Hom village where spring water was abundant Date 13/02/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 2m25s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-001 Ng Fat Chuen's family suffered great changes during Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong. To give way for the expansion of the Kai Tak Airport, the Japanese demolished many villages nearby including Mau Chin in Nga Tsin Wai. Affected villagers were resettled in newly built duplex houses in Model Village in Kowloon Tong (i.e. the lot between Broadcast Drive and LaSalle Road today). Villagers were also given farmlands where they could grow crops. Six months after moving into Model Village, Ng’s father answered to a recruitment call and headed south to work as a mason, helping the Japanese build the airport. However, he never came back and lost contact with the family since. Ng’s mother had to take care of the two sons herself. The younger son, born in 1939, was only three years old then. Ng Fat Chuen lived next to his aunt. Feeling that Ng’s mother could not keep the family up, the aunt sent Ng’s younger brother to Longgang, Shenzhen, and put him in the care of relatives there. Soon, he lost contact with his younger brother. In 1968, Ng Fat Chuen and his mother travelled to Longgang to look for him. Since Ng’s mother knew the Hakka dialect, she had no problem communicating with the local villagers and was taken to the village where she was finally reunited with her younger son. Ng Fat Chuen recalled the harsh life during the Japanese occupation with a sigh, saying that he did not come by the life he enjoyed today easily.
Title Forced migration and family destruction during the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong Date 14/02/2012 Subject Community|Social Life Japanese Occupation Duration 2m28s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-002 Both Ng Fat Chuen and his father were farmers. They married their wives through market gathering and matchmakers. Ng Fat Chuen’s father raised pigs in Mau Chin in Nga Tsin Wai, while his mother came from the Lam family that owned land in Po Kong Village. She had raised pigs and grew vegetables since a young age. The Ngs and Lams married with each other due to rural friendship. They did not considered whehter they shared a common background. Ng Fat Chuen's marraige was arrnaged by his widow-mother. His wife came from the Wong family in Kwun Yam Shan, Shatin, who owned fields and earned a living by growing grains and sweet potatoes. They had a similar background as Ng’s family. Both sides were not particular wealthy, so they got along quite well. His wife would carry firewood and sweet potatoes to the Kowloon City Market regularly and sell them. Ng Fat Chuen’s mother got to know her daughter-in-law when she bought firewood from her. Her mother thought she was a seemly choice to be her son’s bride after knowing that she was skilled in farming and raising pigs. Finally therir marriage was fixed by a Wong couple from Kwun Yam Shan Village who acted as matchmakers and coordinators of the wedding.
Title Father and son married their wives through market gathering and matchmakers Date 20/02/2012 Subject Community|Social Life Duration 2m42s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-003 Ng Fat Chuen and his mother grew vegetable in Wong Tai Sin for years. They had accumulated many knowledges on agriculture. He thought that his mother was very competent. Although she never went to school, she knew how to farm by her instincts and understood the principle of “awns fall at Manzhong and water fills the field at Xiazhi” (i.e. it was not suitable to grow rice during rainy season). Her mother grew crops according to seasons. For example, the third and fourth months of the Lunar Calendar would be the season for planting water spinach, while the fifth month was suitable for cabbage. Ng's family once grew bok choy and brocolli. Three catties of bok choy only worth 10 cents. However, it was not vulnerable to insects. Brocolli was frequently attached by black worm. They could climb up to the soil’s surface and eat up a whole crop overnight. To curb the problem, Ng’s family used American-made insecticide.
Title Mother and son's wisdom on farming seasonas and fighting insect Date 06/06/2012 Subject Community Duration 2m37s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-004 Ng Fat Cheun maintained a close relationship with his fellow clansmen in the same branch. Ng Hon Ko Tso had descendants in Tai Peng Village, Lamma Island. Driven by the traditional believe of recognising oneself with the ancestors, they maintain contact with their relatives in Nga Tsin Wai through attending Jiao Festival and going to worship. Ng Fat Cheun is also belonged to Ng Hon Ko Tso. While he was studying in Lok Sin Tong Primary School from 1949 to 1951. As a child, he was naughty and fearless, and would go swimming at Lamma during summer vacation. He would spend one night in Tai Peng Village at Ng Shui Gun or Ng Yau Hei’s house. Yau Hei welcomed Ng Fat Chuen warmly and did not mind that he was poor. He would take Ng Fat Chuen to swim at Yung Shue Wan or take a boat out and catch fish for him from the sea. The tie between the two families lasts until today. As owners of boats and houses, Lamma clansmen were considered quite well-to-do within the clan.
Title Maintaining a close relationship with his fellow clansmen in Lamma Islands since young Date 28/05/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 2m58s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-005 Ng Fat Chuen's family lived in Dai Yuen Zone, Chuek Yuen Village for many years and they had a harmonious relation with neighbours in Wong Tai Sin. In 1950, Ng Fat Chuen and his wife took the marriage. The wedding took place at Ng Fat Chuen’s home. At that time, he and his mother had built a wooden house. Their neighbours, who newly migrated to Hong Kong, helped with cooking and preparing fine dishes such as pig skin, salted vegetables, pork and mushrooms. Eight people sat together at each table and they were served one meal in the morning and another in the afternoon. A typical gift from a guest was two dollars; a top gift was up to 10 dollars. Ng’s grandfather knew a lot of Wong Tai Sin residents. Ng Fat Chuen was also close to the neighbours. Thus, when the community learnt about the wedding, they all came without needing to invite them. He lamented this kind of community tie was long gone.
Title Developing strong community tie with Wong Tai Sin neighbours Date 20/02/2012 Subject Community Duration 1m55s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-006 Ng Fat Chuen's faimly was familiar with villagers from Kwun Yam Mountain. It was favourable for him to organize ancesotr worship. Before 1957, the Ng Hon Ko Tso branch worshiped their ancestors twice a year. It was the idea of Ng Fat Chuen’s mother. Ng Hong Ko Tso’s grave was located in Mau Tat Village on Kwun Yam Shan. Everyday villagers carreid firewood and bamboo broom downhill and sold them in market. At that time Ng Fat Chuen and his mother reared pigs in Chuek Yuen Village. Although they alread had enough firewood in their store room, hey were willing to offer a favourable piece for buying firewood and bamboo broom from them. By doing so, the country people did not need to worry about carrying unsold goods back to Kowloon Peak. Through this kind of trade they became familiar with the villagers. Ng Fat Chuen thought it would be difficult to go up hill for worship had there not been such friendship.
Title Mother and son built up 'firewood relationship' with villages on Kwun Yam Mountain Date 28/05/2012 Subject Community Duration 1m23s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-007 Festival of Lords of the Three Mountains that brought unity to villages in Kowloon, Sha Tin and S...Through participation in festivals, Ng Fat Chuen befriended with villagers from different districts. He had participated in Festival of Lords of the Three Mountains since he was small. When it was time for a festival, the adults would let Ng know. It made Ng very happy because he could go and get himself food. Villages from Kowloon, Shatin and Sai Kung wouild come and participate. Kowloon City was a centre of cohesion for the country folks from the villages around the area. People got to know each other at the market. Each town and village communicated according to the festival schedule and took part in each festival proactively, needing no invitation from the organisers. The country folks offered money and labour in the organisation of the festival; they also cooked their own food. The main activity of the festival was a race for the cannon that looked like a spirit tablet. A large group of young people would vie for the cannon, risking their safety for auspicious blessings that the race brought them. It was believed if a village was successful in getting the cannon, then peace and bliss would follow.
Title Festival of Lords of the Three Mountains that brought unity to villages in Kowloon, Sha Tin and Sai Kung Date 06/06/2012 Subject Community|Social Life Duration 1m54s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-008 Due to gradual development of Wong Tai Sin, Ng Fat Chuen was forced to give up agricutlural lives. In the past Ng Fat Chuen’s family grew vegetables in Wong Tai Sin. In 1957, the government resumed the land in Wong Tai Sin for development purposes. Ng's family moved to Ma Chai Hang Ma Chai Hang (the present Tin Ma Court and Tsui Chuk Garden). After the move, the Ng family ceased to grow vegetables and all they could do was to raise pigs. In 1969, the government again resumed the land in Ma Chai Hang and asked the Ng family to move to a settlement in Sau Mau Ping. Ng Fat Chuen refused to accept this arrangement because the place was quite remote. The Squatter Control and Clearance Office was finally sent in to demolish Ng’s pig house, but Ng insisted in staying and resisted the demolition with the support of his neighbours. The riot police was later called in, and finally both sides agreed to compromise. Ng Fat Chuen moved into the settlement in Tsz Wan Shan instead, while the government provided his family with furniture and water pipe system in the new place, in addition to half a shop unit in Lei Cheng Uk Estate. When the neighbours learnt they grew no more vegetables, they secretly hung some cabbage hearts on their door. Ng Fat Chuen’s mother knew the skill of bone setting and offered free massages to farmers who had arm and leg injuries, which earned the friendship of her neighbours
Title A forced change of lifestyle due to urban growth Date 06/06/2012 Subject Community|Social Life Duration 2m56s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-009 In 1935, Ng Fat Chuen was born in an old house in Mau Chin, Nga Tsin Wai (presently the Kai Tak Nullah on Choi Hung Road). He is in the 25th generation of the Ng clan and is the descendant of Ng Hon Ko Tso from the 19th generation. Ng Hon Ko Tso built around 10 of those houses. Those residents were descendants of Ng Hon Ko Tso The branch of Ng Hon Ko Tso is divided into three descent lines. The first line was exterminated during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in WWII. The second line is further divided into two streams: one settled on Lamma Island and the other was Ng Fat Chuen’s family. The third line was most populous, and it proliferated into more than 10 families. However, by Ng Fat Chuen’s generation, all of Ng Hon Ko Tso’s properties in Mau Chin had already been divided and shared among clan members.
Title Ng Hon Ko Tso: a branch of Ng clan living outside Nga Tsin Wai Date 13/02/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 1m4s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-010 Getting a share of money during ancestor worship is a way to strength clan idenity. Before 1957, the Ng Hon Ko Tso branch worshiped their ancestors twice a year on Ching Ming and Chung Yeung. Ng Hon Ko Tso was the only branch in Nga Tsin Wai who did so. It was the idea of Ng Fat Chuen’s mother to worship twice a year. Ng Hon Ko Tso got an income from rents. His mother believed that all clansmen could share in this blessing by getting a portion of the money at the worship. She hoped that Ng Hon Ko Tso could exist forever, as it helps maintain the friendship and amity among family branches.
Title Getting a share of money during ancestor worship is a way to strength unity among Ng Hon Ko Tso clansmen Date 28/05/2012 Subject Community|Social Life Duration 1m39s Language Cantonese Material Type Audio Collection Oral History Archives Repository Hong Kong Memory Project Note to Copyright Copyright owned by Hong Kong Memory Project Accession No. LKF-NCF-HLT-011