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Light a Candle
*Dedicated herself to her family* SEPARATIONS This is an extraordinary story about a Chinese lady who was born in a big family living in Hong Kong island under the British rule in the year 1935. When she was a little girl amid the invasion of Hong Kong by Japan, the food supply became very scarce.To feed every people was impossible, so she was brought to an adoption family in the New Territories, northern part of Hong Kong. Just in a few days, she desperately missed her family members. One day when the the night fell she escaped, ran and ran in the darkness. Finally she went home, but the reunion did not end up in a happy ending. There was nothing more important than survival during the war. The second separation brought her further to the mainland China, where she did lots of farming and she remembered there had no tap water supply there. Her turmoil ended until Japan was defeated. BACK TO MOTHER TOWN It was heartbreaking when she knew from her only eldest half-brother that other family members were gone. Being a teenager it was very difficult to find a job in Hong Kong at that time. But to survive you have to be very hard working.There she started working as a domestic helper in a wealthy family and as a baby sitter in her half-brother home.There were lots of dreams at her age, she said it would be so romantic to play the piano. GARMENT WORKERS Textiles and electronic manufacturing were blooming, a skilful worker could earn more. Learn to be a garment worker made her financially independent and expanded her social circle. It also made her get more chances to know more friends and boys. She remembered one of her colleagues got marry with their boss. BOY AND GIRL In her 20, one of her friend introduced her to a young man who worked in a cake shop. The guy was 4 year older, he worked as a baker, a diligent guy. Both of them were skilful workers and both of them were orphans. With this similarity in their background, it was nothing better for them to build a family. In 4 years, they started saving little by little together. They seldom went to cinema and they spent their money very consciously. HUSBAND AND WIFE After 4 years of dating, they decided to get marry. At that time you didn't have to register to get marry. Some relatives and friends were invited to the wedding banquet in a Chinese restaurant in Central, the moment was warm and sweet. They chose Macau as their honeymoon travel destination, it was a place ruled by Portugal where gambling business was very popular. BREAD AND BUTTER To move on as a couple, they got to have their new home. All they could is to rent a room of about 70 square feet and they had to share the kitchen and toilet with other people. Sooner they were asked to move out because they were going to have their first baby because the landlord didn't like any kids. The first baby was a lovely girl then a year later she gave birth to their second child, a baby boy. Her husband was a chef with a business mind and he decided to invest in a cake shop by holding some shares. She sold all her gold jewellery to support his business. But after two years, the major shop owner held most of the shares decided to liquidate the business so her husband had to find a new job. The biggest problem for this family of four is housing. The government did not provide any public housing, they could only apply for resettlement apartment only if they had registered as a squatter dweller. LAM TIN Before they were relocated to public housing in Lam Tin, their third child, a boy was born. The flat was around 200 square feet in size, so it was difficult to accommodate five people. But the family size even got bigger. After five years, their fourth child, a baby girl came to joint this big family and made a band of four kids. Lam Tin is located at the eastern part of Kowloon peninsula. Where the town planning is intended for basic human needs only, neighbours on the same floor had to share the main fresh water supply. Knew your neighbours well was the key to live safely because there were many bad guys. Front doors of all flats opened to one long corridor, it was accessible to anyone no matter you live there or not. Hawkers and salesperson would take any chance to sale their products by knocking at the door. Although the living space was so constrained, new home appliance was installed one by one like television and washing machine One day a promoter came to their door and introduced her a washing powder at a bargain price. On the second day after the purchase she found out the packs were filled with sand at the bottom. Luckily neighbours were good guys, at the time when she gave birth to her fourth child in the hospital, all other children were taken care safely by the neighbours. Being a skilful worker mean she had a chance to earn extra money, the home became a garment production line and there was no shortage of manpower. As their children grew older, she would find a summer job in factories. She understood she could not offer any help to her children school work because she could not read and write but she promised a plentiful supply of food and water for her children at the best she could. A CAFE OWNER When her youngest child was going to enter the secondary school, her husband started a partnership business in food and drinks. It was a medium size cafe with three partners. This cafe business almost occupied all his time. The outcome was rewarding, they saved more and got extra money to enjoy leisure trips like going to Taiwan and Southeast Asia. A HOME WITH ROOMS In the late 70's Government rolled out the Home Ownership Scheme, public housing residents were eligible to buy an upgraded home at a subsidy price. The living conditions in Lam Tin didn't quite fit for four big boys and girls. They joint the scheme and moved to a Shatin flat of 500 square feet with two rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen and a living room. To her this was a dream house. EMPTY NEST As children got marry and emigrated, they moved out one after another. Basically it could be a sweet home only with two persons. At middle age, health was a big concern, she had her first operation of the goitre and a few years later she got her gallbladder removed surgically. Sometimes her mood condition made her too sick to enjoy anything. At one time, she decided to find a place to live alone but finally they withdrew the application for a Government senior living home. SHE LOVES PURPLE She did not like social gathering and did not like making new friends. Once in a week, she would travel around by rail by her own, she must dress up nicely and made her hair look gorgeous. Sometimes she would show off her new handbags to her daughter in law and granddaughter. Her most favourite one is deep purple in colour, a really nice looking handbag. ELDERLY HOME OR NOT Life is enjoyable only if you has health. After celebration of her 80th birthday, the knee condition progressively got worse, up to a point that she could not travel around by rail. She decided not to operate but with her husband's help, she still managed to take care of herself. She said she was not willing to receive any institutional care. END OF LIFE One morning the weather was bad because of a typhoon, she was found unconscious in bed. Doctor in hospital confirmed that she had sudden massive stroke which made her could not speak and swallow. After two months of medical and nursing care, she rest in peace on the date 1st November 2022 in Shatin Hospital.
