family tree HUI lok

[alfond]

My gggrandfather Hui lok bune left china as a young lad to work on cargo ships. He eventually married and settled in South Africa in 1904 where he worked as a chef for man years. He left South Africa in 1931 to visit his family in China and left China for South Africa in 1934. According to documents he came from Hoi am in Canton. I am unable to establish if Hoi am is a name of a village that existed in the 1800's. Is there someone who can help?

[helen]

Did you get any further with your query?

[alfond]

With the help of Henry i have been able to come to the conclusion that my ggrandfather is from Sai Gai.
There is one important question that still needs to be answered. Where did my ggrandfather stay in China between August 1931 and July 1934. I believe the answer will lead me to the village.

[geoff]

Alfond,

"There is one important question that still needs to be answered. Where did my ggrandfather stay in China between August 1931 and July 1934".

Did you arrive at this question based on the fact that he was issued with an Australian Cert of Exempting from Dictation Test (CEDT) & he departed in 1931 & returned to Aust in 1934? If he was issued with the CEDT, then you need to find the application. On the application it had a question re reason for applying....eg. business, to marry or visiting relatives in China. Don't be surprised if you can't find the application as I don't have every application to match the CEDT issued.

Also, CEDTs were issued for 2 or 3 years. Your gf was away for nearly 3 years.

If you found that he was away from Aust bet 1931 to 1934 from shipping records then you need to search & view CEDT & application for reason for trip to China.

CEDTs are archived at National Archives of Australia, view naa.gov.au

Hope this help.

[helen]

why do you think he is from Sun Gai, Zengcheng? Did he speak Cantonese, of Toshan-wah?