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Leung Shek Lun
Leung Shek Lun
Former Village Representative of Nga Tsin Wai
Sex: Male Birthyear: 1936 Age at Interview: 77 Education: Primary Occupation: Janitor Theme: Community,Social Life,Japanese Occupation By the time of his comprehension of things, he was already living in Nga Tsin Wai with his family at the first house at 4th Lane, on lease. He had two little sisters of 2 and 4 years younger. In infancy, SL Leung suffered from an illness, probably a teeth growth problem or things of that sort. His mother lacked the knowledge of baby cares, and he was taken to the doctor by Ng Wai Chi’s wife. As a result, SL Leung’s father had respects for Ng Wai Chi and made his son Ng’s nominal son. SL Leung’s nominal mother was from Shanghai, where she met his nominal father when he did business there. During the Japanese rule, SL Leung’s parents and little sisters died from malnutrition. Before dying, his father entrusted him to Ng Wai Chi, and since then he had lived with his nominal father and mother.
Title Godfather Ng Wai Chi was renowned for his kindness as a parent Date 05/07/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 2m50s 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-LSL-HLT-001 Ng Wai Chi reformed the ancestral trust system so as to prevent clansmen from using public servic...Before Leung was born, Ng Wai Chi was Village Headman of Ng Tsin Wai. At that time, Village Headman was elected by the villagers in the ancestral hall. Besides, only villagers with the surname Ng, Lee or Chan were eligible for the run. Those with other surnames were auxiliary, but they could be appointed as Village Representatives, who would exercise full power in the absence of Headman. Whenever a quarrel ensued among villagers, Ng Wai Chi certainly intervened and always managed to resolve the conflict with reason because the villagers were quite simple and respected the elders in those times. Ng Wai Chi had never been Manager of the Ancestral Trust, but he recommended the younger generation to take up the post.
Title Ng Wai Chi reformed the ancestral trust system so as to prevent clansmen from using public services for personal gain Date 05/07/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 3m31s 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-LSL-HLT-002 Leung Shek Lun was a devout believer in Tin Hau and resorted to divinations for every matter foll...SL Leung had deeply believed in Tin Hau since childhood, and asked for guidance in Tin Hau Temple whenever something happened. He once had a spiritual encounter. When he was still living in the 4th Lane, in an evening, he saw an old woman, foot bound, fanning a spade and sitting on the right of a stone barrier in front of Tin Hau Temple. He was frightened and related the encounter to his mother. His mother told him that the woman was Tin Hau, and asked if Leung had worshipped her. This was a very profound experience to Leung.
Title Leung Shek Lun was a devout believer in Tin Hau and resorted to divinations for every matter following a childhood spiritual experience Date 22/08/2012 Subject Community Duration 1m41s 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-LSL-HLT-003 Leung Shek Lun had helped out in the village as a volunteer since childhood, often washing dishes...SL Leung hardly had any pastimes after school. Usually he did homework, house chores and voluntary work for his neighbours in Nga Tsin Wai such as scrubbing pots and bowls. Sometimes he and other kids had fun together after finishing the work. He once did dishwashing for a congee seller, and was awarded movie tickets at cinemas such as Lung Shing and International. At that time there was no TV yet, and it was well off of a villager to have a radio. The kids would gather at the villager’s door to listen to the radio broadcast. SL Leung lamented that life in that age was rough, and constituted to the cooperation among villagers. The kids in those days were more loyal and helpful. They seldom disobeyed the grownups and were happy to work for the seniors and neighbours.
Title Leung Shek Lun had helped out in the village as a volunteer since childhood, often washing dishes for neighbours Date 28/09/2012 Subject Community Duration 3m20s 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-LSL-HLT-004 Ng Wai Chi died in 1975 and had been ill since a year ago. He knew that his time was near, and he told his life and deeds to Leung and asked Leung to write a biography for him. Ng Wai Chi trusted Leung, yet he told Leung that there was something that must not be detailed. After Ng Chi Wai fell seriously ill, Leung asked no further. Leung regarded himself profoundly influenced by his nominal father’s selfless spirit. The couple of Mr Ng Wai Chi and Mrs Ng were taken care of by Kam Mui before their deaths. Kam’’s husband used to be in the guerrillas. He died during the Japanese Occupation. Ng Wai Chi had sympathy for her and so Kam Mui went living with the old couples. They counted on each other. After Ng Wai Chi passed away, Kam asked Leung for advice because she wanted to continue her accomodation in 4th Lane. Leung understood that he did not take much care of his nominal father and took into consideration that Kam got no other place to live. Therefore, Leung thought it was reasonable to fulfil Kam’’s request. But for fear that the Ng Wai Chi’’s descendants might fight for his legacy, Leung asked Lee Tong, Ng Siu Cheun and other renowned figures in the village to bear witness, with written contract, in approving Kim to continue living in the ancestral house of Ng Wai Chi.
Title Leung Shek Lun wholeheartedly handled his godfather Ng Wai Chi’s funeral Date 05/07/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 2m43s 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-LSL-HLT-005 His nominal father felt that Leung Shek Lun would inherit his personality, and knew that Leung was willing to do work, so, before his death, he had instructed Leung to help with Ng’s clan affairs. Leung saw himself inseparable from Ng’s clansmen. His aunt was married to a Ng’s clansman. His mother-in-law and Nominal father were Ng’s too. When he became Village Representative of Nga Tsin Wai, he assisted in the affairs of Ng’s ancestral worship, such as arranging for clansmen’s transportation to the mountain and buying stuff for tomb sweeping. Being mindful of his nominal father’s grace on his life, he had no regret over working on public affairs. He upheld the spirit of ‘all for me, me for all’, and regarded himself worthy for others and his ancestors, although sometimes he might have offended others unintentionally. It was just a pity that he made no money, and hence affected his next generation.
Title Urged on by his godfather, Leung Shek Lun helped out in Ng Clan’s functions despite having another family name Date 22/08/2012 Subject Social Life Duration 2m54s 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-LSL-HLT-006 Due to his fond feelings for the village, Leung Shek Lun was happy to help prepare for events lik...In the past, rich people had stoves in their houses, and so several households went to their homes to cook fried rice crackers, Chinese New Year cakes and fried sesame seed ball. In Leung’s childhood, he went to the homes of Ng Chi Wing’s grandmother and other elders with other children in the village to join in the fun. Children watching the making of the Chinese New Year cakes yelled, ‘Puffing! Puffing!’ They were scolded for talking carelessly. Besides, he had grown up in the village, where his emotional linkage and sense of community were fostered. There he voluntarily helped in the Jiao Festival which was held once a decade was a big event in village. He thought it was an interesting occasion, in which villagers gathered in excitement. SL Leung was recommended in a meeting, so was invited to be a volunteer for miscellaneous duties.
Title Due to his fond feelings for the village, Leung Shek Lun was happy to help prepare for events like the Jiao Festival Date 22/08/2012 Subject Community Duration 2m55s 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-LSL-HLT-007 As Leung Shek Lun was familiar with the communities, preparation for the Jiao Festival ran very s...SL Leung was familiar with community member and it was conducive to running village affairs. He was the organizer of Nga Tsin Wai the 28th (1966) Jiao festival in that year. Besides, at that Jiao Festival, there was a shortage of manpower and the neighbourhood from Tung Tau Estate came to help. Those from Kwai Tung House and Hing Tung House helped cook the vegetarian meals, while others prepared the midnight snacks in the Jiao Shed. With the fund-raising for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals underway at the same time, the whole neighbourhood was very busy. Besides, a triad member had earlier threatened to burn the Jiao Shed. Thanks to the many strategies he had learned from years of hawking experience, SL Leung applied the ‘dark force for dark force’ strategy as a solution. He gave lucky money to a ‘dark force’, invited them to guard the Jiao Shed at night, offered them with midnight snacks and even had their brothers dine at the banquets.
Title As Leung Shek Lun was familiar with the communities, preparation for the Jiao Festival ran very smoothly Date 22/08/2012 Subject Community Duration 2m16s 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-LSL-HLT-008