In her statutory declaration as to why she gave me up for adoption, my mother gave her address as an unmarked hut, in Melon Garden, Kam Shan Village, Tai Po.
The wonderful Winnie managed to get us to the village,which is amazingly still there, on the edge of Tai Po, when most of Tai Po has been totally redeveloped.
We were able to look around and see that a few huts still remain. Winnie is sure that the right to inhabit will have been passed down through generations, and looking at the price it costs to rent a dire two bed apartment – £1.2k per month, only moments from these huts, I can see why. Still cannot get my head around the idea that I may have walked and stood exactly where my Mother once was. We are going to go back again with posters and letters to see if we can find people who were there in the 1960s. I posted on a facebook page, Hong Kong in the 1960s, and so many people have sent good wishes, shared it with other relevant social media sites.
This isn’t the most eloquent of posts but I promised myself I would blog daily…. Still getting to grips with this crazy crazy place. One minute I‘m walking the streets, nearly mown down by Prada, Hermes, Gucci, LV, Chanel, D&G, designer frenzied shoppers, the next I’m staring at a hut where my Mother could have lived. It leaves me speechless and a little confused.
6 replies on “Following in her footsteps”
I am with you Ms Tan, It must be very moving, puts things into perspective, how lucky we all are.
I feel a great sense of my Mother in London where she grew up. It must be earth shattering for you. I wish you all the luck in Hong Kong to try and find her.
I recently found that my Uncle (Mums Brother) was killed on the River Kwai in Thailand in WW2, we were planning to go there If I can fly early 2020, he is buried 150k NW of Bankok.
With some things nothing else matters
Lots of love Tony x
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Welll I hope the replies match up to the people, it’s hard to do this all with a small iphone and a portable blue tooth keyboard Mr G. No laptops or tablets for me. Talk about making it hard for yourself.
So will you drive, can you??, to Thailand, or does it mean getting on a plane? Why did you stop your blog, saw your trees today and made me miss England. Though I went to Kowloon Park to escape the crazy designer shop madness that this place is. But Chinese trees are NOT the same. Want to hear your reconnecting story in full when I get home. X
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My heart goes out for you all trying to make connections. mine never happened till to
Late , but have recently been in touch with a step sister
Xxx
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Greetings from this crazy but wonderful other side of the world.
As I find out my own story I’m hearing so many others. And now I want to hear more of yours Jane. Wish I plop myself into the pool right now and talk to you. But when I return……Sending some Asian love and good wishes Laura x
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If youve not visted Tai Pō prior, even on Kam Shan side of the river, (less developed than other sode of river), is vastly different than 40-50years ago. Tolo Hwy construction of 1980s changed so much of surrounding area. Have you walked back behind Greenwich Garden Block(s) in attempt to find per chance resident(s) in situ since 60s-70s??
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Hello India. Thank you so much. I’m going to be heading back again for sure in January. I’ll take up this piece of advice. I have some help, and a map now. Thank you for trying to help. I really appreciate it.
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