A Good Man - Lau Pang Hung

Elsewhere I have written about Lau Kah Tii who arrived in Sibu in 1901 with the first batch of Foochow settlers. He later became the Foochow Kang Chu after Wong Nai Siong left. He lived in Ensurai or Wong Shu Lai and acquired a large fortune. He eventually built the largest mansion ever built by a Foochow in his time : three storey tall and equivalent to about 10 modern shophosues in width.

　　Lau Pang Hung is the youngest son of Lau Kah Tii, and that makes the former one of my uncles as he is my mother's first cousin.

It is very interesting to know that a second generation immigrant can be so softspoken, kind and generous like Lau Pang Hung. Every one who knows him would regard him as an admirable person as he spent many years as a teacher in Sarikei and has been a good Church leader all his life.

Uncle Pang Hung is very appreciated by many as an examplary husband too. Recently he celebrated his 80th birthday together with his lovely wife, Ting Ching Yu, a very pleasant, quiet and humble Foochow lady. She is one of the happiest and quietest women I have ever met. And deep down in my heart, I understand that it has been the loving relationship between she and my uncle that has contributed to her inner beauty and exceptional character.

As a father, my uncle has been very examplary too. We the younger generation have to learn from the two of them how they have been able to bring up a good Christian family, how they have kept their own faith and their children's faith strong.

My mother Lau Hung Chuo and her siblings have always regarded him and his wife as very close relatives. The couple have always been patient, kind and caring through the hard times and the good times. They have never been the bullies that some people have known to become. My mother has always said that this cousin of hers is always respectful of all the older relatives. He is generous and magninamous to the younger ones especially the less well to do.

Perhaps it is because of his innate nature and his wisdom that this good Christian uncle has been able to teach well. His large number of students from Sarikei will vouch that he is one of the best men they have ever met.

In a way, the Foochow community is very blessed by such a good man - hor nen. And as an immigrant, my uncle has definitely contributed a great deal to the state of Sarawak in his quiet ways - as a person, as a teacher, as a social leader and as a father.

(Note: There are not many second generation of the Foochows early immigrants left as they are all in their seventies and eighties now. And the third and fourth generations have probably moved away to other parts of Malaysia and even overseas like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The history of this immigrant group would be harder to write in my opinion.)

(Note : you can also read a Chinese account, which is accompanied by photographs in http://mengleiwong.blogspot.com)