Interview with Ray Wong

Interview with Ray Wong (Raymond Wong Tong), born in Wellington in 1911. Talks about his father Wong Tong Fat who had been a gold digger in Otago, gone back to China, returned to New Zealand, and set up a fruit and vegetable shop in Cuba Street. Mentions Wellington Free Kindergarten, Mt Cook Boys School, the Chinese church in Frederick Street and Sunday School. Refers to the poll tax. Comments that his eldest sister had remained in China and he did not meet her until he was taken there. Talks about the whole family moving to China when his father retired, and that he stayed there after he left school, working as a wireless operator on coastal ships. Refers to meeting his New Zealand-born wife Betty in China, marrying her in 1935, then returning to New Zealand. Discusses his father having returned earlier and set up another fruit and vegetable shop in Cuba Street (Wong Tong and Sons) which he joined when he came back. Comments on the long hours worked, splitting up the business and moving to Nelson in 1954 to join another family firm.

Recalls that he did not go to Haining Street much as a boy but went there more often after he returned from China, and refers to it as looking like a shanty town. Mentions Chinese businesses in the area, pakapoo and fantan dens, opium, police raids, and Lionel Terry. Recalls delivering meals from Chinese restaurants, on his shoulders until the got a bike. Reflects that Chinese could not get work with Europeans even if they were well qualified.

Interviewer(s) - Lynette Shum

Accompanying material - Photocopied map of the Haining Street area with annotations; feature obituary for Ray Wong (Dominion Post Sat 8 Aug 2009, p. B7)

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-018735 - OHC-018737

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.15 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2458.

B&W photograph of Ray Wong (1996; photographer Lynette Shum)

Search dates: 1911 - 1996

Alternative form available: A digital copy of the recording is available in the Library's Reading Room.