Luk Lau Ying

Biography

Luk Lau Ying was born in Hong Kong in 1937. Her native place is Xiqiao. Her parents came to Hong Kong before the outbreak of the Second World War. They engaged in herbal medicine wholesale trade and operated an herbal store in Sheung Wan. Luk Lau Ying lived in Sheung Wan when she was a child. She started school when she was 9 years old. Upon graduation from primary school, she helped to run the family business. In the mid-1950s, she came to know her husband at work. In 1963, they got married. After marriage, Luk Lau Ying moved to the 13 Streets in To Kwa Wan and lived with her husband. Her husband opened the Wing Ming Craft Shop, a mold casting workshop at their home. Luk Lau Ying helped her husband with the duties of issuing invoice, collecting bills and plaster production. After her eldest daughter was born in 1965, she spent most of her time taking care of the family. In 1971, her husband closed down the workshop and set up the Ming Wo Product Manufacturer in Kwun Tong. Luk Lau Ying was responsible for office duties such as payment collection, answering telephone calls and preparing pay slips for the workers. When the deadline was tight, she would help with packaging. Ming Wo was closed down in the early 1980s, and she re-started a mold casting workshop in To Kwa Wan with her husband. Luk Lau Ying has lived in the 13 Streets since 1963. In the early 1980s, her husband became chairman of the mutual aid committee of the building and she helped with collecting electricity fees from the residents and kept accounts for the committee until she resigned in 2003.