The First Chinese Refugees
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The first arrived in New Zealand between 1938 to 1941. This was the period where many women and children arrived to join their men folk here. Life was difficult for the women, who had to learn another language, and live a life far different from home.
Shipping Lists show many families arriving in both the port of Wellington and Auckland.
The Chinese who came were mainly from the Canton area - and were Cantonese speakers. Many were from Jung Seng. The government allowed the families to come here, with the intention of them returning to China in 2 years. And children born here were also to return to China.
A photo of a group of women and children was in the New Zealand Herald on the 11 October 1939. The people in the photo were the Chan family from the Hargee Village, Jung Seng, China.They joined their men folk who were in Auckland. This group came with the assistance of profesional men associated with Wah Jang in Queen Street, Auckland. Andrew Chong was one of the men who approached the government for permission.
The accompanying article in the Herald 11 October 1939:
"Large Party's Arrival. The second group of Chinese Refugees brought to Auckland by relatives in New Zealand, has arrived here. The party, comprising 30 Chinese, is one of the largest to have land at Auckland in recent years and is composed of 10 families. Twenty of the group are women, 13 of whom are married.
On arrival the families were greeted by the secretary of the Auckland Chinese Association, Mr Andrew Chong, who has been a leading figure in the move to allow his fellow-countrymen to bring their wives and young children from war zones in China into New Zealand. All the refugees were from the Canton area in South China. The members of the party appeared cheerful and showed no signs of the privation which attended their departure from China shortly before the fall of Canton.
The refugees have been admitted for two years, subject to the signing of a 500 pound bond and the payment of a deposit of 200 pound, to be forfeited if conditions laid down are broken."
Chan Kum Show was one of the men folk who travelled back to China to assist the women and children to make the voyage to New Zealand, via Sydney. Interviews with members of the Chan family showed that the families left the Hargee Village, and walked the railway line route to Hong Kong. They weren't the only ones to follow that route, travelling at night and hiding during the days. The familes travelled with young children and they were given shelter and food from villages that they passed on the way to Hong Kong.Guides had been employed from Kwong Yee Loong in Hong Kong.
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Sunday 30 August
Documentary -Stories Our Mothers Told Us.
- Before the start of the Second World War only Chinese men had worked and lived in New Zealand. They sent their earnings home and only very occasionally returned to visit their wives. With the Japanese invasion of South China, that was to change. The arrival in New Zealand of several hundred refugee women and children established the Chinese as part of the fabric of New Zealand life. This programme is the story of three refugee mothers through the eyes of their daughters. Kim Webby reports
Check out our YouTube site www.youtube.com/asiadownunde
Tags: Asia Downunder, Refugees
nzbc
said NZ Refugees
http://tvnz.co.nz/asia-downunder/s2009-e27-video-2951375.
A fantastic docimentary that we can all relate to. The number of women and children were few, and we locals may be direct descendants of these courageous women. Please take the opportunity to write the story of your Mother's life, and lodge with the Library, or on this site. Our descendants will be grateful for the time you took to add your story. There are so many stories out there, and your Mother deserves her story to be told.
Tags: Chinese Women, children, stories
N.Z. CHINESE TO RETURN HOME
(A.AP.-Reuters)
AUCKLAND,. Friday.
Forty-one Chinese have chartered a Skymaster to fly to Sydney onThursday on the first stage of their return to China, probably by sea, from Australia
Seven families are represented but there are 16 members in one
family.
The Canberra Times Saturday 2 October 1948
Tags: Sydney
http://sclf.cri.cn/1/2008/07/13/2@344.htm
"Nothing is more shocked than the stories of the refugees though we keep hearing these kind of stories nowadays time and time again… In any war, refugees suffer even more than those who died. They are forced to leave their homes and lands passed on by generations, wondered and were simply thrown into a stranger land and even into another war. Therefore, the only way to comfort them is to stop the war and let them return homes, reconstruct and rebuild the neighbourhoodship, so that they would have their courage to live on with their goal. In comparison with other countries, China has more refugees, for the war in China has lasted for nearly 4 years. Like what happened in the Chinese history, many people have become homeless and destitute.
Tags: Refugees
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefAuxArt.aspx?refid=461501118
Tags: 1939: China
Offensives in South China.
A struggle for control of the West River south of Canton began early in April, and turned in favor of the Japanese forces, who captured the city of Kongmoon after it had been twice taken by the two Chinese divisions fighting in this area. On April 3, in fighting between Canton and Macao the Chinese seemed to have broken the spearhead of the Japanese thrust, but a few days later, the Japanese troops received reinforcements and threw back the Chinese, with heavy losses on both sides. The Chinese retreated southward towards the city of Sunwei, but continued fighting as they went. Sporadic fighting continued in this area during the summer and early fall, but on Oct. 8 the Japanese occupied the important city of Shekki in the Canton River delta, and completed conquest of this historic Chungshan district in Kwantung Province, birthplace of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, father of the Chinese Republic, Shekki had withstood repeated attacks for months, and before the end of the fighting was reduced to ruins due to continued bombing. There was further fighting in the Province in November, when China rushed some of her best troops from Kwangsi, in order to stop the westward drive of the Japanese toward Indo-China and China's vital highways in the Southwest.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefAuxArt.aspx?refid=461501118
Tags: 1939 - Japanese in China
ESCAPE FROM CHINA VIA HIMALAYAS AUCKLAND ( N.Z Sunday)
Two Chinese girls who left New Zealand with their families 15 vears ago for China have returned after an adventurous escape, over the Himalayas by plane.
They, were studying in Hong Kong when the Japs attacked the city,and escaped in refugee boats which were rushed by many people.
They experienced heavy Jap bombing in Kukone, finally reaching Calcutta, thence New Zealand.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2671128
Tags: Refugees
CHINESE REFUGEES. WOMEN AND CHILDREN. HAVEN MAT BE GIVEN.
Women and children left destitute by the destruction of their homes and loss of property in the fall of Canton will be brought to Auckland if their relatives here can obtain the necessary permission from the Government.
Most of the Chinese in Auckland come from the war zone, and many of them have dependents anion? the refugees. Keeking to bring wives and children out ,of danger and give them a temporary refuge hero, some have already applied for permission to the .Minister of Customs. According to Mr. Andrew Chong. secretary of the Auckland Chinese Association, a favourable reply has been received.
One applicant has been notified that untler certain conditions his requeet to be allowed to bring his wife into New Zealand for a period of two yeare will be considered. The conditions include the signing of a £.1OO bond, and if permission is allowed, the payment £200 deposit to be forfeit in the event of the conditions being broken One of the conditions is that any children born to his wife while she is 5n New Zealand will be taken out of the country on the expiry of the two years allowed. Sorry Plight. "Refugees from Canton are in a sorry plight," eaid Mr. Chong, "even the more fortunate ones who have been able to reach safety in Hongkong. Some of
the Chinese living in Auckland who had dependants in Canton have had no news of wives or children since the fall of the city last year, and a few have gone home to China to search for them." Mr. Chong said that the exchange control under the import licensing scheme had not. so far, prevented Auckland Chinese from sending money to assist refugees, where they could be located. Licenses were allowed for the first six months of the year to obtain drufts, the amount varying according to the number of dependants. With the tightening of control by the banks in the past few weeks, however, drafts had been refused in some cases, even although licenses were held. Applicants have been informed that the funds were not available.
According to Mr. Chong, the Chinese community is well satisfied with the consideration shown by the Government in their difficult time. Only a few have returned to China this year, and they have been nllowed to take out of the country a sum of money not exceeding Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 127, 1 June 1939, Page 13
Tags: Chinese Refugees 1939
James Ng
nzbc
said Asia Downinder
Sundays at 11:30am | TV ONE
11.30am on Sunday 30 Aug: This week Asia Downunder features a Documentary -Stories Our Mothers Told Us - a story of three refugee mothers through the eyes of their daughters.
http://tvnz.co.nz/asia-downunder
Tags: Asia Downunder, Refugees