Born and grew up in Cuba Street, Wellington where his Chinese immigrant father had set up a fruit and vegetable shop. Met his New Zealand-born wife Betty in China during a period living there and married and returned to New Zealand in 1935. Rejoined the family firm Wong Tong and Sons and remained with it until his father sold the business in 1953. Moved to Nelson where he and his wife joined another family fruit and vegetable shop, selling it in 1966. Later returned to Wellington and worked in an office until finally retiring.
Wong, Raymond Ling Yui, 1911-2009
Wong Tong, Ray, 1911-2009, Wong, Ray Ling Yui, 1911-2009
There are 2 related items to this topic
Audio
Interview with Raymond Wong
Date: 5 April 2003 - 05 Apr 2003
From: Tung Jung oral history project
By: Wong, Raymond Ling Yui, 1911-2009
Reference: OHInt-0747-10
Description: Interview with Raymond Wong, born in Wellington in 1911. Talks about family life in New Zealand and being sent to China for further education at the age of 14. Refers to his training and employment as a radio officer on coastal ships for a British company in Hong Kong. Mentions 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 and working for the family business (Wong Tong and Sons) which he joined when he came back. Comments about working in the green grocers markets and moving to Nelson in 1954 where he joined another family firm. Talks about his father's choice to immigrate to New Zealand, family experiences as Chinese immigrants and reflects on his cultural identity as a Chinese New Zealander. Interviewer(s) - Kitty Chang Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014101 Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 30 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5057. Colour ink jet print image of Raymond Wong and his wife (no date). Search dates: 1911 - 2003
Audio
Interview with Ray Wong
Date: 20 Apr 1996
From: Haining Street Oral History Project
By: Wong, Raymond Ling Yui, 1911-2009
Reference: OHInt-0455-22
Description: 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