Sen. Hiram Fong's Village: Wong Leong Doo/Doumen

[kwongsitkong1]

Aloha. I am looking for ways to locate the village of Siu How Chung, which I'm told is in Doumen (formerly Chung Shan county), in what used to be Wong Leong Doo. My uncle, Sen. Hiram Fong (Kwong Yau Leong), visited there many times when he was alive, but I do not have specific information. I'd like to visit there in a few weeks and need to know what city to fly in to, and some village contacts who can help to show us around. We'd like to leave something for the village as well.

If you have any leads, it would be very helpful. Mahalo,

Dr. Randie K. Fong

[Doug 周]

For the forum members who specialized in maps and locations, Senator Fong published an essay about his genealogy in 1986 with his ancestral village in Chinese characters at www.senatorfong.com/genealogy.pdf

[twoupman]

Randie,

Here are the co-ordinates of your ancestral village: 22.225886,113.17437. Just insert them into Google Maps and you will see the location of Siu How Chung (小濠沖村)/Xiaohhaochongcun and Doumen town/Doumenzhen (斗門鎮) is just NE of it.


houseofchinn.com

[chansomvia]

Randie,

You wrote " Id like to visit there in a few weeks and need to know what city to fly in to, and some village contacts who can help to show us around''

Your village seems to be well documented and you can save a lot of time, and learn a lot more by employing Henry's nephew Tan Shi Cheng who has helped me and a lot of other overseas Chinese going to the Taisan area. He has an email and phone which you can get from Henry, he lives in Taicheng which has regular buses to Doumen where he can arrange to meet you.

International travellers can fly to Hong Kong or Guangzhou as the first stop to Doumen, both are convenient as the land and sea transport connections in China are cheap and very well developed though confusing if you do not read and speak Mandarin (Cantonese is unfortunately being marginalised by the influx of people from the North and West).
Joe

[douglaslam]

Randie,

Let me welcome you to our forum.

I remember reading the same article by the good Senator from Hawaii two or three years ago posted by member mugenpower168. Thanks to Doug for bringing it up.

Let me assure you, Doumen is not an obscure one-horse county /township tuck away in some backwater. I am sure I have passed your ancestral village ( as the signposts suggest) many times in my travels. For my November trip, I'll make it my business to stop and visit Siu Ho Chung, taking pictures and posting them on line for all to see. It is all part of my passion for visiting the home towns and villages of overseas Chinese originated from the Pearl River Delta. Doumen is also famous for the bridal-welcoming party to travel on the waterways in an article I read. I hope I'd be lucky enough to see one taking place on my visit.

According to the late senator's own genealogy record, his mother was from On Tong. I am a On Tong boy, I guess in the distant past, the good lady was related to us.

Getting to Doumen is easy. You can do a flying visit from Guangzhou by hiring a car and driver, your hotel concierge can arrange that for you. A day trip is quite feasible. Else, go to Shiqi or Shekki 石岐 by bus or monorail / light rail from Guangzhou, and check into one of the international hotels at the bus terminus, then explore Shekki township, Doumen and Siu Ho Chung leisurely. It should not be daunting to do so. I think there is also a direct bus service from HKG. Tyuti1668, can you expand on that?

I am sure after the initial jet lag and adjustment, you'll make the connection and look forward to more visits just as your uncle had done many times.

Enjoy.

Douglas

[tyuti1668]

There's 2 routes to Shekki , ZS from HK. EACH route had 3 operators (ie. TOTAL= 6!!!)
"快巴": The one "douglaslam" often taken. The Shekki drop off point is at 富華Hotel, From HK airport directly = Ask E&E (永東) counter
"快綫": The Shekki drop off point is at 交通大廈 (opposite 國際Hotel). This route service HK Island quite well which i take a lot. From HK airport directly = Ask CTS (中旅) counter
NO BUS from HK to DM. "Direct" boat to DM by CKSP www.cksp.com.hk ONLY. Macau> Zhuhai>DM is also another alternative choice.

[chansomvia]

May I suggest an alternative to travel to Zhuhai from HKIA which I did, this involved landing in Hong Kong International airport and without leaving the airport or going through HK Immigration buy a ticket to use the fast modern ferry using the SkyPier facility to sail to Zhuhai.

You do not need to clear your luggage as the counter staff will take your luggage tags and put the luggage on board for you.

See www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_US/atairport/hkiasuperhub. Another more detailed site is the Chukong ferry site www.cksp.com.hk/eng/skypier/timetable/main.html
who are the operators of this and other ferries.

There were four conveniently timed daily sailings but could be more now, it takes less than an hour. The reason I took this route were:
The immigration in Zhuhai has a special lane for foreigners which was quick since there were so few of us;
Comfortable and hassle free transit;
Zhuhai port is modern and you can check in for International flights at the port which has airlines check in counters;
Zhuhai is a less busy city with a very efficient long distance bus terminal;
Cheaper accommodation than Hong Kong;
Good shopping;
Can walk to Macau.

Joe

[Henry]

Hi Randie,

Welcome to our Forum.

If you would like a guide & translator, my Taishan nephew is available - just contact me at "[e-mail]"

I met Hiram Fong in 1964 when he visited my father-in-law in New York City Chinatown.

Henry

[helen]

Oct 3, 2012 1:31:17 GMT -5 douglaslam said:

Randie,

According to the late senator's own genealogy record, his mother was from On Tong. I am a On Tong boy, I guess in the distant past, the good lady was related to us.

Douglas

Hi Douglas - Just picked up that you are from On Tong. Do you have your jupu?

I think I know someone who has a copy.

[douglaslam]

Helen, I do have a jupu which I bought when I entered my, and my cousins' details to it several years ago.

[helen]

It's great you have it Douglas.