My Love letters 我的情信

This photo was taken at the wedding dinner of HK branch officer Mr Lau 刘先生.


This photo was taken with the UOB Hong Kong branch manager Mr Bak Su Ha 麦苏夏. Mr Bak was the Senior Manager equivalent to current Executive Director.


Back in 1982 UOB Hong Kong 大华银行香港分行 was operating in a rented premises. To cater for long term overseas business expansion 常期海外投资 , UOB has purchased an old office building in the Hong Kong central business district 中央商业区 at junction 交界 of Queens Road 皇后大道 and 和 De Voeux Road 德富道中. The acquired building had to be renovated to suit the Bank's operation needs. The UOB Hong Kong branch project was estimated to last for 2 months. I was honoured to be given the opportunity to carry out the assignment but not without personal sacrifice 各人栖生. I was 35 years old. My wife was working then. We had one daughter and one son who were 6 and 1 year old respectively. My wife had to get support from my family and the in-laws to look after the kids while I was away. Two colleagues 同事 from the Singapore Property Division office 新加坡产业部 were involved in the project. Tham Tuck Keen 谭德建 was the project Manager and Chan Pak Seng 陈百成 was the M&E project officer. Both of them will fly into Hong Kong occasionly for a 2 days short stay to attend site meetings. I had to stay in Hong kong for 2 months with no break in between. I am a Cantonese and able to speak fluent Cantonese. Integrating to the UOB Hong Kong office was not a problem to me. I was able to communicate and bond well with the Cantonese speaking Hong Kong staff. They had given me good cooperation and support during my course of work. My special thanks to Ms Nancy Chan 陈少莉 who was the sub accountant with UOB Hong Kong Corporate Affairs Department. I worked closely with her on the shifting of the Bank's offices to the new building. Mr Bak Su Ha 麦苏夏 was the Head of UOB Hong Kong branch. He was from Singapore Overseas Branches Division. Later I realised that our Property Division staff Mak Wai Pheng 麦伟平 is the nephew 侄儿 of Bak Su Ha 麦苏夏, what a coincident.
Since my wife and I had not visited Taiwan before, we plan to visit Taiwan after my assignment in Hong Kong. At the same time I can visit my cousin sister and brother-in-law 堂姐和堂姐夫.
I felt lonely 孤独 , 寂寞 initially. The feeling was worst on week ends when all the staff went home. I had no one to talk-to. I think only those who had experienced it before in the same situation will know exactly what I am talking about.
Technology was not so advance back in 1982 as compared to present. There was no hand phone, no skype, no internet service, no pager, no fax machine. Overseas communcation was IDD phone call, telex. Letter writing was the cheapest. It costed HK$1 postage. I chose to write home. I had written one post card and three letters to my wife. I cannot remember what I had written to her. My wife found the letters by chance recently while she was going through her files. I was excited and joyful. I found the contents in the letters interesting and would like to share them with you. I had written one post card and three letters 29 years ago.

1. Post Card 3-4-1982 2.40pm
Dear,
Any problem at home? How are you, Pai Tse佩诗, J-kai捷凯, Pao 布家 and Chow 周家 families? Thank Sunny, Nancy and Mother on my behalf for sending me off early in the morning at the Changi airport 章宜机场. I reached HK at 1.00pm. Time here and Singapore is the same. I am staying at the Mandarin hotel in room 1705 which is one of the most expensive hotel in Hong Kong. I will changed to Holiday Inn or Hyatt after 10-4-82 to save cost. Which hotel to move in will depend on the room availability. Both hotels are at Kowloon 九龙 near the MTR station. I have contacted my uncle 六舅父 by phone and will visit him on 4/4/82 Sunday. Very busy meeting the consultants and contractors every day. HK is a very busy place with lots of people. Tham & Chan left on 3-4-82 afternoon and this is the only time I can write. No time to enquire about the Taiwan trip yet. Will write to you again. Take care.

2. Letter dated 6-4-1982
Dear,
Received my post card? I have confirmed with the Bank today that I will stay in Mandarin hotel till end of April at room 1750. Mandarin is within walking distance to the Bank & the site. Holiday Inn is at Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙咀 which is very busy at night with lots of people & tourist. But to get cheap food, I'll take the MTR to Jordan or Waterloo for road side stalls. For the past two days on my own, I took big mac for lunch & noddles for dinner. Big mac cost HK $5.20 & one bowl noddle cost HK$4.00.
I met uncle on Sunday 4-4-82. He brought me for tim sum 点心 & dinner. I also visited aunt 秀明 . Tell mother that her stroke has improved. She can walk on her own but not stable. She is rather fat. I have visited 西洋菜街 with lots of stall selling clothings at night. I also took the mini bus 小巴 from there to uncle's house. Weather here is cooling and windy. It feels like in Genting Highland. I bought a cheap wind breaker & using it as a jacket & rain coat. It has been raining on & off for the past few days. The jacket from China cost me HK$39.50. I put on my coat every day from 31-3-82 Wednesday till 3-4-82 Satursday to meet Consultants. Wearing coat in HK is common partly due to the cool weather & style. Ladies here are fashionable. Due to the huge population, HK is congested with people. Lots of people moving around in the business district. My work here is progressing well except for some minor problems. The Bank has given me a small office but I rather use the site office which is provided by the contractor making use one of the vacant room on the 3rd floor. You feel lonely or too busy with the 2 little kids? Can J-kai sit? How many teeth have grown? HK TV programme is good. It started early in the morning but I did not watch late because I'm afraid I can't get up the next day for work. Incidentally besides watching the two channels, the hotel also provides video on English film. Think of me? Bye!

3. Letter dated 16-4-1982
Dear,
Since I posted the card and the letter, I have been looking forward to receiving yours. The reason for the delay of my letter could be due to the Public Holidays in HK. 3-5-82 was Cheng Ming 清明 & 7-5-82 was Easter Holiday 复活节. However as for me here, every day is a working day. I even go to the site to check work on Holidays & Sundays. I am happy to receive your letter and know that every body is ok. I wonder whether J-Kai 捷凯 can recognise me when I am back? Having discipline in Singapore, crossing the road here has no problem. Tell mum don't worry. Working here has not much problem for me. The staff here treated me well. They are friendly. The branch Manager Bak Su Ha 麦苏夏 who is from Singapore had brought me out for lunch once at the Overseas Bank Club. Mr Bak also invited me for sea food dinner when my GM Mr Goh Sin Tub 吴信答 & Tham came on 13-4-82. They left on 15-4-82. After dinner 3 of us went for film show which was filmed in China Mongolia. The Bank also invited the contractor & the Architect for dinner that also included me. I have not visited any place of interest because I have no time. As I said, I slept at 10.30pm every night. The only thing I do was watching TV in my hotel room. The weather now is not so cold but still cooler than Singapore. Returning is the VISA credit card acknowledgement. You may bring along the credit card when you come here. I don't need the credit card now for the time being cause I did not buy anything. I have written to Taiwan brother-in-law 堂姐夫 李满昌 and requested him to find out about the Taiwan tour. It is too early now to tell when you should come. However the contract suppose to end by 20-5-82.
Not to worry, I did not get involve with any ladies. I am conscious that I am a family man with a good wife & 2 lovely kids at home. Hear from you soon! P/S Your letter dated 11-4-82 was received on 15-4-82. Do remember to pay nanny fee to our neighbour.

4. Letter dated 3-6-1982
Dear,
Your letter dated 21-4-82 was received on 26-4-82. I was shocked & sad to learn that you, Pai Tse and j-kai were sick. I was about to ask you whether your cough is ok & you told me it is getting worst. Make sure Pai Tse & your cough are ok before you stop visiting the doctor. For your info I was rather unlucky too. I got cough & pile for a few days. I went to the Bank's doctor on 26-4-82 Monday. I visited the doctor again on 28-4-82 Wednesday. My cough was ok but my pile was very bad. It was very painful. The doctor advised me to have a minor surgery to release the pus. Otherwise I'll be in trouble if the pus have no way out & force its way to the rectum (anus). I took his advice and had it operated on 28-4-82. I visited the doctor every day to release the pus discharge. All in I had visited the doctor on 7 occasions. I am perfectly all right now. You don't have to worry. Tell my parents not to worry too. I have visited my uncle at his working place several times. He brought me out for dinner. He insisted coming to my site on one Monday, his off day to buy me lunch. He also persisted to buy me things from his working emporium cause he can buy at staff price. But I refused. The clothings I brought over are sufficient and the laundry is taken care by the hotel. All I need is to fill up the laundry form. I was lucky. I was invited by Mr Lau, UOB Hong Kong branch officer to his wedding dinner on 25-4-82 Sunday. The marjong session started at 4.30pm and ended when the dinner begun at 9.00pm. I bought him a $60 gift voucher (advised by the local staff). I put on coat and tie to attend the dinner. After my sickness, I only put on long sleeve shirt to work without tie. I felt very unconfortable with the tie around my neck. Weather in HK is cronic. The weather was about to turn warm but it started raining everyday. Today the weather is fine. At 6.30pm the sky was still bright. I thought my watch was not working. Brother-in-law from Taiwan advised me to join tour in HK for the Taiwan trip. I have contacted his son-in-law in HK. He will introduce a travel agent to me. From the news paper, 7 days Taiwan trip cost HK$1600 is approx. S$540. I got my pay in HK. The money I have is sufficient for the Taiwan trip. I think you can book you air ticket now from SIA so that we can return together. The contract will expired on 25-5-82. However the work may not be able to complete by then. The Bank has decided to move in on 12-6-82 Saturday and the existing premises has to hand over to the new owner on 17-6-82. It is very difficult to predict the date of completion. However, I have decided to see till the Bank move into the new premises. You may come on 5-6-82 Saturday morning and should reach HK at 1.30pm. We can plan to go Taiwan on 14-6-82. Please reply quick if you think it is ok.
Proposed programme:
1. Singapore to HK 5-6-82 Saturday
2. HK 5-6-82 Saturday to 13-6-82 Sunday
3. HK to Taiwan 14-6-82 Monday to 20-6-82 Sunday
4. Extra 2 DAYS IN Taiwan 21-6-82 Monday to 22-6-82 Tuesday
5. Taiwan to HK 23-6-82 Wednesday
6. HK to Singapore 24-6-82 Thursday