Hong Kong

Overview

Hong Kong served multiple roles in Jesse Chan’s life story: childhood home after his father’s death, refuge for family members fleeing mainland China, and later a place he visited regularly to see his mother (Amma) and siblings. As a British colony and major port city, Hong Kong was a common destination for Chinese diaspora families.

Significance to Family

Jesse’s Early Childhood (Age 3-?)

Father’s Death:

• Jesse’s father died when Jesse was 3 years old
• Father had import/export business between Philippines, China, Hong Kong, and America
• Uncle (father’s brother) took control of all family money

Mother’s Decision:

• Jesse’s mother (Cantonese-speaking, from Hong Kong originally) moved family from Philippines to Hong Kong
• This was Jesse’s first major displacement
• From Hong Kong, family later fled to Jiaji Village in Fujian when Japanese attacked

Jesse’s Experience:

• Left Philippines at age 3, later had to relearn Tagalog as adult
• Too young to remember much of early Hong Kong years
• Cantonese became his first language (from mother)

Wartime Displacement (1940s)

Japanese Attack:

• When Japanese attacked Hong Kong, Jesse’s family fled to ancestral village in Fujian
• Spent 3 years in Jiaji Village, Yongchun County during Japanese occupation
• Jesse befriended Japanese colonel during this period
• Family lived in ancestral village in mountains

Colonel’s Control:

• Japanese colonel took over Hong Kong after brief battle
• British soldiers surrendered in “only a few hours”
• Colonel later offered to take Jesse to Philippines or Japan
• Jesse’s mother prevented him from going (worried he’d be taken to Japan permanently)

Post-War Years

Family Movements:

• After Japanese surrender, family moved to Shanghai, China
• Family kept moving during this period - Shanghai, other places, back to Shanghai
• Eventually settled in ancestral village for stability

Mother’s Later Years (1959 onwards)

Amma Moves to Hong Kong (1959):

• Jesse’s mother left Shanghai around 1959
• This was after Jesse married Betty (1957)
• Moved to Hong Kong permanently
• Jesse would visit her regularly from Taiwan and later USA

Siblings in Hong Kong:

• Older sister eventually moved to Hong Kong, went blind
• Family visited her in Hong Kong
• Brother #2 went to college, then moved to Hong Kong and worked there
• Brother #4 worked for someone in Hong Kong

Jesse’s First Wife’s Mother:

• Jesse’s father’s first wife had “nervous breakdown”
• Couldn’t bear a son, would throw things at people in street in Hong Kong
• Family eventually moved her back to ancestral village in Fujian for care

Jesse’s Adult Visits

Regular Visits:

• Jesse visited Hong Kong regularly to see mother (Amma) and siblings
• Visited from Taiwan (1968-1990)
• Likely continued visiting from Los Angeles

Memorable Incidents in Hong Kong:

CJ Robbery Incident:

• Jesse told CJ to deposit money in bank
• “Don’t bring it to the house” - just deposit it
• CJ didn’t listen
• Two boys with knives attacked CJ on street
• Stole the money from CJ
• Money was supposed to be deposit for house purchase (cash instead of check)

Jesse’s Bus Thief Incident:

• Jesse was on Hong Kong bus
• Saw thief steal money/purse from a lady passenger
• Thief ran off bus when it stopped
• Jesse shouted to the lady: “Your money is gone! It’s there!”
• Jesse told bus to stop, shouted for police
• Jesse jumped off bus, ran, jumped onto another bus
• Got the thief and retrieved the money
• Returned money to the lady
• Jesse: “I’m really tough. I see those things, I don’t like it.”
• Betty: “You’re brave, not bad.”

Historical Context

British Hong Kong

Colonial Period:

• British colony from 1842 (Treaty of Nanking) until 1997
• Free port and trading hub
• Refuge for mainland Chinese fleeing conflict
• Multiple waves of migration from China

WWII:

• Japanese occupied Hong Kong 1941-1945
• Brief battle - British surrendered quickly (“only a few hours”)
• Harsh occupation period
• Many fled to mainland China (reverse migration)

Post-War Recovery:

• Massive influx from mainland China after Communist victory (1949)
• Industrial and economic boom
• Manufacturing hub
• Gateway between China and West

Jesse’s Family Context:

• Mother originally from Hong Kong (Cantonese-speaking)
• Natural destination when fleeing Philippines after father’s death
• Later refuge when fleeing mainland China (1959)
• Maintained connections across multiple countries

Chinese Civil War Impact

Hong Kong became refuge for those fleeing Communist China:

• Jesse’s mother moved there 1959 (after Communist takeover)
• Many family members scattered: some stayed China, some Hong Kong, Jesse to Philippines/Taiwan
• Hong Kong offered British protection and economic opportunity
• Jesse’s family pattern typical of Chinese diaspora

Family Connections

Who Lived in Hong Kong

Permanent Residents:

• Jesse’s mother (Amma) from 1959 onwards
• Jesse’s older sister (went blind)
• Jesse’s brother #2 (worked there)
• Jesse’s brother #4 (worked there)

Temporary Residence:

• Jesse as child (age 3 to sometime before/during WWII)
• Jesse’s father’s first wife (before moving back to Fujian)

Visitors:

• Jesse (regular visits from Taiwan and USA)
• Family members visiting Amma and siblings

Connection to Other Family Locations

Hong Kong served as hub connecting:

• Philippines (Jesse’s birthplace, father’s business)
• Jiaji Village (ancestral village in Fujian)
• Shanghai, China (post-war residence)
• Manila, Philippines (Jesse’s adult return)
• Taipei, Taiwan (Jesse’s business years)
• Los Angeles, California (Jesse’s final home)

Jesse’s Character Traits Demonstrated

The Hong Kong incidents reveal Jesse’s personality:

Bravery:

• Chased thief across buses
• Confronted injustice even at personal risk
• “Over brave” according to Betty

Sense of Justice:

• “I see those things, I don’t like it”
• Couldn’t ignore theft happening to stranger
• Returned money to victim rather than keeping it

Quick Action:

• Jumped off bus, ran, jumped on another bus
• Physical confrontation with thief
• No hesitation

These traits also shown in:

• Confronting armed worker at Eastern Textile Factory in Manila
• Saving granddaughter Kaitlyn from drowning
• Befriending Japanese colonel during WWII for family survival

Migration Pattern

Hong Kong fits into Jesse’s larger displacement story:

Jesse’s Journey: Philippines (0-3) → Hong Kong (3-?) → Fujian (WWII refuge, 3 years) → Shanghai (post-war) → Manila (1950s-1968) → Taipei (1968-1990) → Los Angeles (1990-2022)

Mother’s Journey: Hong Kong (origin) → Philippines (married Jesse’s father) → Hong Kong (after husband died) → Fujian (WWII) → Shanghai (post-war) → Hong Kong (1959-death)

Hong Kong bookended both their lives - beginning and ending point.

Legacy

Hong Kong represents:

• Refuge - where mother took family after father’s death
• Origin - mother’s hometown, Cantonese roots
• Family hub - where mother and siblings lived
• Connection point - maintained ties across diaspora
• Formative location - Jesse’s Cantonese language and early childhood

The Hong Kong connection shows the scattered nature of Chinese diaspora families, with members across multiple countries maintaining ties through regular visits and family bonds.

Research Questions

• When exactly did Jesse’s family move from Philippines to Hong Kong? (only know Jesse was 3)
• How long did Jesse live in Hong Kong before fleeing to Fujian?
• Where in Hong Kong did they live?
• When did Amma (mother) die?
• Where is Amma buried?
• What happened to siblings who stayed in Hong Kong?
• How often did Jesse visit Hong Kong from Taiwan?
• Did Jesse visit Hong Kong from Los Angeles?
• Details about older sister who went blind - when, why, what happened to her?
• Which brother #2 and #4 - what were their names?
• What work did brothers do in Hong Kong?
• When did CJ robbery incident happen?
• When did bus thief incident happen?