158

dollars and some pork and cakes when daughter married. When weather bad stays at home-five families in flat, ten adults, five children. When a seamstress made about the same as hawking peanuts-fifteen cents a day. Came to Hong Kong as could not make a living in country; when worked in fields did not get enough to eat. Better off in Hong Kong, seldom sick; life in Hong Kong is wonderful in comparison with the country. No expenses beyond food and rent.

(3) CHENG KWAI YING, female, spinster, age 22, outworker, Fung Keong Rubber Factory, Shaukiwan, Hong Kong; lives with brother and sister-in-law at 5 Tai Cheung Street, Sai Wan Ho, rent over four dollars a month. There are four cubicles on the floor, and over twenty persons on the floor. Family occupies one cubicle. Brother has daughter, age three, brother skilled worker in Taikoo Dock- yard.

Occupation: stitching uppers together; owns sewing machine for which she paid eighty dollars second-hand. Has made ten dollars deposit with Fung Keong Company; receives sixty to seventy pairs of uppers a day; sister-in-law assists her to certain extent in work; paid according to size and kind. Earns 70 cents to $1.00 a day; ten pairs require from two and a half to three hours. She herself stitches about fifty pairs a day, works every day.

Four years in Hong Kong, came from Canton where she worked in silk factory but market was poor and it was difficult to get work. Earns more here than in Canton. Brother earns over a dollar a day. Family income in all over fifty dollars a month. Family sends $10 Cantonese ($5 Hong Kong) per month to parents in country and elder brother. They are farmers in Shun Tak. Can read a little but cannot write, never been to school. Goes to pictures sometimes, cannot read newspaper. Not member of any union or guild.

(4) PANG SO FONG, female, spinster, age 24, employed at Fung Keong Rubber Factory, Shaukiwan, Hong Kong.

Work Gumming soles and uppers together.

Lives 35 Kam Wah Street, 3rd floor, Shaukiwan, with brother and sister-in- law; brother employed in office at Fung Keong at $150 a month. In Hong Kong since childhood, parents in country. Brought up by brother; was back in country for two years.

Can read a little and write very little. Was two years at charity school.

Hours: 7 a.m.-12 noon, 1 p.m.-6 p.m., 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Been employed for five years, day's work-forty to fifty pairs at three cents a pair, average earnings. over $1.20 a day; takes a day off after seven or ten days.

Brother's family occupy a whole floor, rent unknown; sometimes gives brother six dollars towards it, sometimes nothing. Younger brother and sister and cousin and brother's daughter, age four, and two servants, cook and amah, also reside there. Brother sends money home to parents in country. Spends ten dollars per month on herself-amusements and cosmetics; goes to pictures once or twice a week. Not engaged to be married but saves a little against marriage. Has been trained. as first-aid nurse in factory by St. John Ambulance; when she acts as such, receives one dollar a day.

(5) WONG TAI, female, married woman, aged 36, (found carrying sand in Cheung Sha Wan Road, Shamshuipo, Kowloon), husband mason; they occupy half a cockloft, ground floor of Tai Nan Street, Shamshuipo, number unknown, rent. $2.20 per month, no children; two children dead.

Carries sand daily for building contractor at forty cents a day, paid twice а

month.

1

Hours: 7 a.m.-12 noon, 1 p.m.-5.30 p.m.; husband employed on odd jobs 70-80 cents a day when working. She eats on the street while at work, sometimes sends $2-$3 home to brother in country. In Hong Kong eight to nine years; came from Wai Chau, Kwangtung Province, as could not find work in country. Not member of any guild or union.

Share This Page