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Mr
Kum Ming Yeung was born in New Territories, Hong Kong in 1949.
It
was very common in those days to have two or more wives. His father
had two and Ming had six sisters and three brothers.
In
the fifties, life was very difficult and children from low income
families did not have a chance to go to school.
Girls
were not supposed to receive any education in those days. They had
to help by working in the fields and doing all the housework. In
fact all of the children worked in the fields.
 In the fifties, life was very difficult
and children from low income families did not have a chance
to go to school.  |
| Our
Untold Stories |
Ming
did not start primary school until the age of ten and did not attend
secondary school because his parents could not afford the fees.
Free
education in Hong Kong was not made available until 1989.
In
the late fifties, the Shanghanese invested heavily in the textile
industry and built a lot of factories in the cities. This created
job opportunities for the people in New Territiories to leave the
farming industry which was in decline.
Ming
never liked farming and when he was 16, he decided to go to the
city of Kowloon. He got a job in a café where the working hours
were very long and he only got half a day off every month. However
as the accommodation and meals were provided by the employer, Ming
was able to save some money.
He
worked in the café for five years and in 1970, when he was 21, he
came to England to join his brother in Weston-Super-Mare. His
brother had come in 1963 and owned a restaurant.
Life
is tough
Ming
worked for him six days a week, which was a "luxury" compared to
the café job in Hong Kong.
His
mum came to Weston in 1972 to join them. Ming spoke and read little
English, so he enrolled himself to college to learn English as soon
as he arrived. He found it hard to concentrate in class because
he was very tired after work.
A year
after arriving here he got his driving licence. After he had worked
for his brother for four years, Ming went back to Hong Kong and
married Wai Song, a lady he knew before he left.
They
came back to Weston and worked for his brother for another four
years, when the couple decided to set up their own catering business
and moved to London Road in Gloucester.
The
family lived in the accommodation above the shop for many years.
They had four daughters - Jenny and Karen were born in Weston, followed
by Anna, and Amy who were born in Gloucester.
Wanting a son they kept trying until the birth of Simon, also in
Gloucester.
The
children were looked after by Ming's mum because Wai Song had to
help in the business.
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| A
Chinese Community Association was established to educate on
Chinese culture |
When
they first came to Gloucester in 1978 there were only about 150-200
Chinese, compared to about 3,000 in Gloucestershire nowadays.
Every
Monday to Thursday about 20 to 30 Chinese would meet in BHS restaurant
for a social gathering. Then in 1988, Mr Raq from the Race Equality
Council, was very keen to know more about the Chinese culture.
Meetings
were held between him and a couple of Chinese volunteers. It was
suggested that it would be beneficial to establish a Chinese Community
Association to provide help and support for the group. A
year later, the Association was set up and based at Seymour Road.
In
1994, it was moved to Hatherley Road Day Centre. Ming was a founder
and has been the chairman of the Association where he shows a strong
compassion for the elderly and the young.
Currently
he is teaching lion dancing to the youngsters on Sundays, as he
very much hopes this tradition will pass on to the next generation.
Education
and potential
Ming
and Wai Song like the educational system in England because it allows
the children to develop their full potential.
The
couple have worked hard for the past years to support their children's
education. Although they seldom spend time on their children's education,
the children are doing very well.
Jenny,
the eldest daughter, achieved first class honours at university.
Recently she has received a scholarship to read PhD in leukaemia
at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Ming
feels that the learning environment in schools is good and believes
that the wealth of knowledge that the children have acquired will
undoubtedly benefit them in the future.
| Ming and Wai Song have now been living
in England for almost 30 years and have got used to living here.
Although he comments that racial discrimination does exist,
he recognises that English people are now more used to foreigners
compared to how it was when he first arrived in the 1960s.
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| Our
Untold Stories |
He
feels there is no discrimination in the educational system. Pupils
are offered places in Oxford and Cambridge Universities mainly by
their examination grades. However, he feels that there is obviously
discrimination when it comes to job interviews.
If
a Chinese applicant has the same qualification as their white counterpart,
the job will be offered to the latter. This is why the Chinese children
have to achieve far better than their white counterparts. Moreover,
it is quite difficult for a Chinese employee to get promotion at
work.
Ming
and Wai Song have now been living in England for almost 30 years
and have got used to living here. Although he comments that racial
discrimination does exist, he recognises that English people are
now more used to foreigners compared to how it was when he first
arrived in the 1960s.
However,
whenever there is a dispute or argument, the Chinese will generally
take the blame.
Ming
and Wai Song plan to buy a smaller house when they retire. They
do not expect the children to live with them. The children have
their own lives and they have got theirs.
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