1930’s-1940’s The Early Years

I was born in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China on December 17th 1934, to a family of two boys and two girls. Older brother Thomas born on April 8th 1933. Two younger sisters Ceiline and Annie. During birth my mother was critically ill with excessive bleeding and my aunt Cheng (oldest sister of my father) took care of me for quite a while. My father is the oldest son of 7 boys by the first wife of T.K.Chang. The oldest is a girl and then 7 boys in a row then ended with another girl (9 total by first wife). 2nd wife Jessie had 2 boys and 3 girls. We lived in a massive house with 5 stories and 18 bathrooms. The house occupied a total of two city blocks and was enclosed by concrete walls with guarded security gate house with 8 German shepherds guard dogs. The ground floor served as my father's office with a large kitchen for my uncle Charles and uncle Morris and their families. There was a fully functioning factory with living quarters for all the workers and and artificial mountain that served as a as bomb shelter. My siblings and I were forced to flee China when the Japanese invaded Shantou in 1937 (I was 2.5 yr. old). We escaped to Kowloon, Hong Kong with my aunt and stayed with my Aunt Cheng in and apartment in Kowloon. During that time I went to the Diocesan Girl's School (Kindergarden) in 1939. When the Japanese invasion spread to Hong Kong in 1941 returned to Shantou. It had been a full 4 years since I had seen my parents and when I met my father in Shantou could not recognize him. Remembered that I ran over and jumped on him. Our family remained together in Shantou under Japanese occupation. At that time our family was trading with the US the US Consulate painted an US flag on our roof so that the Chinese and US planes will not drop bombs on our house. In 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor the Japanese soldiers came to my house to arrest everyone. We had just left to go to school and were able to escape and hide at my Aunt Barbara's house. My parents however were put in concentration camp. My mother was released after 6 months but my father stayed much longer. During that time I can remember constant bombing raids by the Allied forces and many of my friends killed. Though our house was targeted the planes missed and instead struck at least 10 blocks of neighboring buildings. Hundreds died, their bodies were all over the sidewalks, we have to walk over their corpses on the way to school. During Japanese occupation we remembered constant killings & public executions. After Japan surrendered many of the Japanese officers refused to leave and many commited Hari-Kiri at the Shinto gate. We have to bowl when we walked by there. Between the time the Japanese soldiers left and before the Allied forces arrived our area experienced a period of lawlessness. There were many people running through the street looking for revenge. Many of the Chinese police officers who collaborated with the Japanese were killed by the people. It was quite a sight when the Allied Force finally arrived during the night. I remember running outside screaming seeing truck load of Allied soldiers with a Chinese flag mounted on the hood of the trucks. It was a day to remember.

when war ended / killing of police / 1st truck came to town at night with Chinese flag in front of the truck light / made pack with friends to dig each other out / bomb missed house / Very rich family. Many servants. Guards and German Sheperd dogs. Parties / Admirations / military escorts / huge burial ground with Gate for king / large tomb for grand ma / Story of walking deads / hanging alley / ghost stories / movies during class time / grand father large complex / uncle Collin swimming story-Lim brother tragidies / grand father Lim / mother- very clean / church offering used for candies / learned from friends to buy with credits - big trouble when father found out / Did not get to see father much except at formal dinner every evening - All have to be quite - If father want to see us - we must have done something bad / house is so big, afraid to go to bedroom by myself from the dinning room / we were taken care of mostly by the servants /

After the war my family tried to pick up the pieces and resumed trading with the US. My father made his fortune in textiles. We had many servents / soldier escort / high security / etc ). After the war it took some time before the School System to recover so my parents send us to Kowloon Hong Kong for education. It is there that my brother and I attended Diocisan Boys' School in 1947.
The Diocesan Schools were renown for their strictness under a prefecture system. My parents eventually moved to Hong Kong and built a large house.

1950 Australia

After graduating in 1950, I went to Sydney, Australia and attended Knox College in Killara. Knox College was a Military-Style School and we wore uniforms and straw hats. We started out as cadets and the senior officers ordered cadets to shine shoes, etc. When it was time for dinner. a whistle was blown and you had to stand at attention. If you were not in the line you were punished. After standing to attention we were marched to dining hall with each table having an senior officer. You could only eat the food that the officer eats. If he does not eat the food, no one could eat.
It was a typical British style school system and every morning we had to hit the whowers with cold water, whether it was Summer or Winter. I was the only Asian at the school and in order to protect myself I chose to act unpredictably (I would sit up to sleep at night, etc.) so that the other students could not figure me out leading them to be cautious about how they treat me. There was one American in the school, the son of the American Consulate General. The other students would pick on him, and I did my best to protect him because he is a small thin fellow. The Australian students are cautious in confronting me as I presented an outward appearance of fearlessness (though I was shaking inside) any sign of weakness was unacceptable. I had a big knife in my locker. You will hear whisper out there that be careful not to pick on me because he may have the big knife with him. I also knew how to fly a plane which was rare among students in Australia gaining their envy. One weekend I did a fly over the school football field surprising my fellow students. During the weekends some of the students would invite me to their house because their parents had never seen a Chinese before. This made me feel uncomfortable. I went to a Chinese church in downtown Sydney, and one day while leaving the service an Australian yelled: “ Hey !! This is not China “ Later another Asian came to the school from Bankok, a Thai kick boxer. Everyone is afraid of him, and he stuck with me because he could not speak English. He became somewhat of a body guard. I remember a time when this studend refused to take a cold shower in the morning. He turned on the hot water and the officer came and order him to use only cold water (only senior officers can have hot water). He shouted back at the officer “ You Cold, I cold. You hot, I hot”. They don't know what to do with him. One of the large Australian officer challenge him to have a round of boxing. He said that they should have one round of Australian boxing and a round of Thai Boxing. The Australian agreed. The Head of the school talked to me about the challenge and he want to know what is Thai Boxing. I did not know at the time that the challenge is on. I described to the Head that Thai boxing uses everything to fight, their fists, elbows, knees, and legs to kick. I also said that often someone will get killed. The Head was startled of the Thai style of boxing and he did not want the Australian officer to fight especially I told him that the Thai person is a good Thai kick boxer in Bankok. They don't know what to do and I helped them out to cancel the bout. Story of my hunting trip on horseback. Farm food store incident.
I applied to go to the US to take up advance flight training in Miami. Received my visa and left Sydney without finishing my study at Knox College.

1952 Coming to America

I left Australia in 1952 planning to receive advance flight training in the US. When my plane landed in SFO, I took some spare time to visit the University of California at Berkeley. This institution captured my heart and I was able to talked myself into admission by the university without submitting a high school diploma. During college yearsI had my own twin engined private plane (Cessana T-50) and i joined Airforce ROTC 1953. During my service I flew a T-33 Lightning in Texas Lackland Field, and a B-25 Bomber at the Good Fellows Air force Base (Williams Air Base) in Arizona. As I began my studies I chose to major in Math and physics. After taking an aptitude test I was swayed towards Art. I switched to Architecture which was the a profession closest to Art. I minored in Aeronautical Engineering and received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1961.
I met Constance Poon at Berkeley (she lived across the parking lot at the Woodminster House) and we were married on June 12th 1960 during the last year of our college days. During that time I lived at the Woodminster Hall at $25/month including breakfast. College tuition in 1960 was $65 per semester for non-residents. A Hamburger cost 12 cents and I worked for 35 cents/hour doing illustration. Upon graduating my first full-time job was working for the Novelli engineering Firm in 1960. I then worked for Hugh O'Neil Structural Engineer from 1962-1970. Finally I was able to started my own firm: Henry Chang Jr. and Associates with my first project in West Oakland (Oak Center Housing Project with the General & Specialties Contractors Association (Ray Dones group- Frank Pool/McKee/Taylor/Brazil/etc.). Henry Chang and Associates was responsible for buiding the first new commercial building in Chinatown- Silver Dragon Restaurant on 9th and Webster.
Among my other projects was the first Condo mix-use building on 8th Street and the first Buddhist Temple at Alice and 7th Street.

I have been a resident of the East Bay for nearly 55 years, with 46 of those in Oakland. I designed my own house in the Oakland Hill (Piedmont Pines area) in 1965. In 1967 we lost our home to a fire that started in our dryer while we were in SF and in the following year as we rebuilt the home, we lived in motels and temporary housing in the Rockridge area.

I) Went to US for schooling

Came to the United States in 1952 from Australia for advanced Flight Training in Miami.
Trip from Sydney to SF. Boeing Strata-cruiser. landed in Honolulu with not money ($25 US exchange in Sydney) - hotel not paid for - looking for long lost uncle - $2 in pocket - taxi cost $2. Story of admission to UC Berkeley.
Attended the University of California, Berkeley, and received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1961

J) Life in Berkeley

Life in Berkeley - Want to work because everyone is working - dressed up in suite and tie all the time - good dancer - took girls via own plane to dinning out - do not have steady girl friends because like to spend all free time at the airport working on the plane - has a lot of money - stayed at UC for nearly 10 years / took aptitude test- ministry - artist - joined airforce ROTC - assistant social dancing class - do magic show - Emergency medicine UC: hospital assist - how I met Connie and story -
Received the Honorary Doctor of Law from the Armstrong University in 2002.

K) Life after graduation

Resident of the East Bay for nearly 53 years, with 43 of those in Oakland
Drummer - RC Plane - Ventriliquist - painting (hon.mention) - Show Biz - Travel Stories - Saudi Arabia / Iran / Amsterdam / London / Chinese plane hit bird / Connie found father alive in China / -
House Fire - Sept 1968 /

Owner of an Architecture & Urban Design/Real Estate Development Co. since 1971.
He is also the owner of Galaxy Travel Agency in Oakland / Igloo Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop /
Candyland / .

L) Start of Community Involvement

Taking leadership roles in the community since 1967 (36 years)
1967 - 1969 Founding member with the General & Specialties Contractors Association
A first minority contractors association in Oakland
1970 - 1975 Funding board member of the Oakland Chinese Businessmen Association
Served as president for two terms
1970 - 1973 Board & founding member of the Friends of the Parks
1976 - 1978 Oakland Cultural Art Committee - As Secretary & Treasurer
1980 - 1987 Board member of the Lincoln Square Advisory Council
Served as president for two terms
1981 - 1984 Board member of the Montclair Tennis Association
Served as president
1981 - 1996 Founding board member of the Oakland/Dalian Society
Served as president until 1996
1986 - 1990 Bd member & president of the Northern Calif. UC Chinese Alumni Assoc.
1983 - 1985 Original Team-10 member of the State Crime Commission
1983 - 1984 Member of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Anti-Crime Committee -
Chair of the youth division
1986 - 1989 Original & board member of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
Board member of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Henry is also very active with the Lions Clubs International Organization and served as:
Deputy District Governor of the Lions International District 4C3
President of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club for many terms

1974 He was appointed to the Oakland City Planning Commission & served for 5 years
1980 He was appointed to the Oakland Community Development Commission for10 years
1990 He was appointed to the Oakland Board of Port Commission
He was appointed to the S.F. Bay Conservation & Development Commission by the
governor to represent the state.
He was the State appointee to the 3 member Oakland State Building Authority

M) Start of political elected career

Henry is an Oakland City Councilmember At-Large since 1994. His present term ends in December 2008.
He has served as Vice Mayor for two terms

At Present beside being a Councilmember he is also a member of the:
Alameda County Transportation Authority
Oakland Base Reuse Authority
Alameda Base Reuse and Redevelopment Authority
Association of Bay Area Governments
East Bay Base Re-use Commission
Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention JPA

Henry has received many awards including:
“Americanism Awards” presented by the Daughters of American Revolution.
“Immigrant of the Year” presented by the International Institute
USTA Awards 2008
Frank Mar Award 2009
Doctor of Law - by the Armstrong University 5/6/2001

Henry & his wife Connie have
4 grown children
Harrison / Elizabeth / Evelyn / Maria
6 grand children
Matthew / Lauren / Alexandria / Julia / Samuel & Geo

Life in Australia

A

Coming to the US via Boeing Strato Cruiser. What happen in Honolulu with no cash.

Checked into the hotel, was told that I have to pay the bill when I check out. Nobody told me that the hotel room is not paid for. I only have US$20 in my pocket when I left Sydney. By now I only have $2 left. I checked my address book and found an old address of a uncle that lives in Honolulu. No phone number. I talked to a taxi driver at the hotel and he said that the cost will be less than $2. I have no choice but to get on the taxi and to look for my uncle. I tried hard to remember all the streets so that in case I have to walk back I will know how. When the taxi arrived the address I went to the door. Some one came to the door. A young lady. I told her who I am looking for and that was her father. She recognized my name and was vey surprise to see me. Wow !! What a load off my shoulder. Went inside and have a meal. Have not eaten for a day (no money). Uncle Chang took me to the hotel and checked me out and brought me to stay with them. Lucky me that I found my long lost uncle.

Arriving in SF. Met by my old school friend from Hong Kong. I have a 6 hours stop over before I continue to fly to the east coast on my way to Miami to check in at the Aviation Training Center. My friend gave me a quick tour of the Bay area. Went to UC Berkeley. I was totally impressed by the size of the university (like a small city). I told myself that I want to go there. I remembered that I went to the Admission office and met a grey hair lady and I told her that want to study here. She asked me if I have a high school diploma (I left Sydney before I complete the high school). I told her that I really want to study here and she can change my life if she give me a chance to prove that I can do it or else in 3 hours my plane will leave SFO and I will be a pilot the rest of my life. She took a chance on me and accepted me in the University without any paper. (Chancellor Tien loved to tell this story). This was in 1952 and I live here in the Bay Area since.

Love the military, went to the ROTC office and talked to an Airforce officer that I want to join the ROTC. Was told that I have to be a citizn to join. I told him that I am a pilot and will promise to get my citizenship ASAP. He took me in. Did well in ROTC because of my military academy training before in Australia and also my flight training.

Have my own plane while going to school. A good dancer. Has a lot of money. Became very popular because I took the girl in my plane and fly up to Reno to have dinner at nice places. Plenty of opportunity to date girls but airplane is still my first love. Spent most of my free time at the airport working on the plane.

Magic: My father liked magic and had a lot of magic equipment at home.
Picked up magic and ventriquilize
Entertained at birthday party and in the train
Visit children hospital, etc.

Introduction to the US police system. Hit and run. Law suit. Etc.
First car has no reverse shift. $100. Sold for $150.

During the Summer everyone is working. I want to be like everyone and tried hard to get a job. Not for the money but to be like everyone. Tried to work for the canery but unable because they want to hire only union workers. Finally got a job to do scientific instrument illustration for $0.35/hr.

Story of working late on an architecture project and the girls next door played a trick on me. Turkey leg in my bed under the blanket. Wow!! Hundreds of ants.

Taught social dancing with the UC instructor at the Student Union.

Prince Toro - Approached by a British actress in front of the paramount theater. They are looking for a tall Asian to play the part of Prince Toro in a play “Madam Sen”. I was invited to meet the producer (the fat boy of our gang) at their reception after the ballet. They gave me the lead part of the play as Prince Toro (a little bit like Madam Butterfly).

How I met Connie and difficulty with the mother in law.
She is sweeping the floor at Westminster House. I went over and asked her to go to a dance with me (I lived across the parking lot at the Westminster Hall for $25/month including breakfast). Tuition for the UC for a semester is $65 for non-residence. Only $35 for California residence. Of course a hamburger only cost 13 cents and I only worked for 35 cents an hour. A Ford Mustang costs $1700. A house at Walnut Creek costs $15,000. Concord is too far away to attract anyone.

Dress with suit and tie going to school.
Good in math and hard to study courses that require reading (typical difficulty for overseas student). Took math and physics, doing well. Need some easy classes to make up the units. Advice by friends to take Econ 1A, it's supposed to be very easy. It's like hell studying economics, needs a lot of reading. Falling asleep during lecture. Sat in front row to prevent my falling asleep. Kept pinching myself to keep awake. Finally decided not to attend class. When exams come I just bought phi-bet notes and study the questions. Being an engineer and hate to write, did not do well in test that needs one to write a long story instead of just a few precise words of answers. Later I found that studying nuclear physic is not good for foreign student because I would not be alble to get a job in nuclear field in the US (National Security). I decided to change to another major, I love to draw and good in painting. I won an Honoray Mention ribbon at the Berkeley Street Art contest, Took a long aptitude test in UC. The results came out that I should be a minister. I asked real quick, what is the second choice ? They told me: Artist. Being an artist at that time is not a good profession. Can hardly make a living. Your painting only worth more money after you are dead. Took up Architecture because it's the closest thing to being an artist. Being good in math I also took up aeronautical engineering (like airplanes). Stayed in Cal from 1952 to 1961. Enjoyed my stay at Cal, did not want to leave to go out to face the cruel world.
Got marry one year before graduated from Cal. First child (boy) was born November 1961. Very bad case of eczema (allergy). We were very creative to find ways to check on him to prevent excessive scratching. Went to Hong Kong because it's very stressed out taking care of Harrison. Bought a lot (split lot with Gene Lam) in Piedmont Pines for $2000. Very steep lot and full of poison Oak. Build a large home for $29,000 and borrowed $30,000 from Home Savings at 6% interest. In 1962 very few homes built up in the steep hill area. Eichler Home in Walnut Creek is selling for only $15,000 at that time. No one want to live that far from the Bay (At that time no freeway to Walnut Creek).

Worked for Hugh O'Neil after Cal. A good bunch of engineers and architects. Hugh cared a lot of all his workers. Wanted us to go to the gym to work out every morning before coming to work. He actually handed out our pay checks at the gym. He is the first one to equip our cars with seat belts before it's the law.

WHAT WE BELIEVE IN CHINA
**Old banana trees walk at night
**Pregnant cat jumps over dead person will raise the dead. He will only stop moving forward until he grabs something. We should throw a broom to him to grab.
**Ghosts walk next to walls
**Touching butterfly will blind you
**Undertaker comes to village to walk the deads to town. Cannot watch the match or you will be blind.
**Do not give clock as gift because you are telling them that their time is up.

GIANT PANDA STORY (12 YEARS OF SWEAT)
Started when visiting Sichuan Province in 1995 near the Tibet mountain to evaluate the river for future hydroelectric power plant. We were told that the proposed damped area would include the giant panda habitat. Since the river is very steep and we should be able to channel the river in a by-pass to the electric turbines without requiring a damp structure which will take away the giant panda habitat. While in Chengdu we visited the Chengdu Giant Pandas Research Center. One close look at the giant pandas and you are hooked for life. After returning to the US I have decided to work on the preservation of the giant pandas. Working with the Oakland Zoo and UC Davis Vet School to carry out our mission. Every zoo in the world would like to have a pair of giant pandas. How can we get a pair with all the competition especially the US already has 4 pairs and California (San Diego) already has a pair. Knowing that relationship is vital in the world of foreign affairs. We started to establish many Friendship cities with China (17 total- more than any country in the world). We have many exchanges with our friendship cities. We donated money to the China giant panda research program. We worked with the Chengdu scientists to design the Giant Panda Night Housing at the Oakland Zoo. We obtained supports from high level US elected officials including former president Bill Clinton, US Congressperson Barbara Lee, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Former governor Davis and Governor Arnold S. We have a signed agreement with the China Zoological Garden (oversee all the captured giant pandas in China under the Ministry of Construction). We are now waiting for the highest level in the China Central government to give the final OK. The last step is always the hardest to achieve. Rep. Barbara Lee is my greatest supporter for the giant panda project.

GUN CONTROL & PUBLIC SAFETY
Prohibit Sales of Junk Guns
Trigger Locks requirement on all guns sold
Prohibit Sales of Small size guns
Gross Receipt Tax that closed all the Gun stores in Oakland
Require Reporting of Lost Guns
Gun Tracing program
Equipe all Police cars with video cameras
Implementation of Community Policing (difficult culture change for the police department)
Anti-Litter program

ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION
Design projects that can be built (clients interests first)
Friendship and trust that ended with very few written agreements.
Again, good relationship with clients is still the key to all success

IN POLITICS (Comments from the Montclairian)
A public servant instead of a politician
Trust again is the key here
Treat everyone with respect even those that disagreed with you.
Those that most people hated became your best friends because of your acceptance of them,

LOVE OF FLYING
Always hang around the airport to watch the planes taking off and landing
Always pretending that I am flying a plane at home
Read books about plane and how to fly a plane
Sneak out to fly when I was only 15 at the Kai Tek Airport.
Youngest to received an International flying license
Nearly caused a collision with a commercial airline (removed all green glass from tower).
Started the first Hong Kong Air Scout Troop
Flight experience in Australia - Meet - etc.
US experience in private and military aircrafts
With Twin - approached by ** to fly to Mexico for illegal activities (a no, no)
** Bush flying in Alaska (too risky)
** Military mersionary job in Vietnam ($200,000 offer)
Stop flying after I have a few kids, They cried when flying in my plane. No fun.
Switched to build and fly radio control planes.
MAGIC
Fun thing to do, great to entertain kids and friends
Love it.

MUSIC
Play the drum, guitar, organ, piano, violin and love to sing and dance.

TENNIS
High School Tennis Team player at Diocesan Boys' School
High School Tennis Team ib Knox College, Australia
Played tennis at UC Berkeley (recreation tennis)
President of the Montclair Tennis Assoc. in Oakland
Started the Laney College Tennis Group
Captained many teams and competed in the USTA leagues for many years

SKINNY
Charles Atlas - kicking sand in Comics books
Mother always worry (Chinese likes fatter people - Fat Bhuda - Happy face)
Mother insisted that I take weekly shoots to get fat when I was a teen
Eat everything especially junk food
Do not go swimming - need to be muscular
Although very healthy but treated as if I have problem (last 30 years thin started to be popular)
Slight bigger waist line after 75

enry is an Oakland City Councilmember At-Large since 1994. His present term ends in
December 2008.

He has served as Vice Mayor for 4 terms

Henry always has been active in the Oakland community. He has served in many Local & Regional

Commissions starting in 1973 :

1973 He was appointed to the Oakland City Planning Commission & served for 5 years

1980 He was appointed to the Oakland Community Development Commission for10 years
1990 He was appointed to the Oakland Board of Port Commission

He was appointed to the S.F. Bay Conservation & Development Commission by the

governor to represent the state.

He was the State appointee to the 3 member Oakland State Building Authority

At Present beside being an At-Large Councilmember he is also a member of the:
Alameda County Transportation Authority (Chair)
Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (Chair)

Oakland Base Reuse Authority
Alameda Base Reuse and Redevelopment Authority

Association of Bay Area Governments
East Bay Base Re-use Commission
Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention JPA
Chair of the Land Hazard JPA
Chair of the Port Laison Committee

Taking leadership roles in the community since 1967 (over 40 years)
1967 - 969 Founding member with the General & Specialties Contractors Association
A first minority contractors association in Oakland
1970 - 1975 Funding board member of the Oakland Chinese Businessmen Association
Served as president for two terms
1970 - 1973 Board & founding member of the Friends of the Parks
1976 - 1978 Oakland Cultural Art Committee - As Secretary & Treasurer
1980 - 1987 Board member of the Lincoln Square Advisory Council
Served as president for two terms
1981 - 1984 Board member of the Montclair Tennis Association
Served as president
1981 - 1996 Founding board member of the Oakland/Dalian Society
Served as president until 1996
1986 - 1990 Bd member & president of the Northern Calif. UC Chinese Alumni Assoc.
1983 - 1985 Original Team-10 member of the State Crime Commission
1983 - 1984 Member of the Mayor's Blue Ribbon Anti-Crime Committee -
Chair of the youth division
1986 - 1989 Original & board member of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce

Board member of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Henry is also very active with the Lions Clubs International Organization and served as:

Deputy District Governor of the Lions International District 4C3
President of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club
Started the Miss Oakland Chinatown Pageants

Henry has received many awards including:

“Americanism Awards” presented by the Daughters of American Revolution.
“Immigrant of the Year” presented by the International Institute

Henry & his wife Connie have four grown children and 5 grand children.

HENRY CHANG JR. (Also to look at www.changinfo88.com)

Born in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China on December 17th 1934
Family of two boys and two girls. Older brother Thomas born on April 8th 1933.
Two younger sisters Annie and Celine.

Different Periods of my life:
A) Birth to Japanese Invasion
B) Escape to Hong Kong
C) Return to Shantou before Japanese Invasion of HK
D) Life during Japanese Occupation
E) 2nd World War after Pearl Harbor
F) War End
G) Went to HK for schooling
H) Went to Sydney for schooling
I) Went to US for schooling
J) Life in Berkeley
K) Life after graduation
L) Start of Community Involvement
M) Start of political elected career
N) Retirement and others

Education & Degrees:
Kindergarden - Diecesan Girls' School, Kowloon, Hong Kong 1939
Elementary School - Shantou, Guandong Province, China 1941-1945
Elementary & High School - Diocesan Boys' School in Kowloon, Hong Kong 1945-50
Military Academy - Knox College, Killara, Sydney, Australia 1950-52
Mathematic & Physics - University of California 1952-54
Aeronautical Engineering - University of California 1954-56
Bachelor of Architecture - University of California 1956-61
Doctor of Law - Armstrong University 2001

A) Birth to Japanese Invasion

During birth my mother was critically ill with excessive bleeding.
My aunt Cheng (oldest sister of my father) took care of me for quite a while.

B) Escape to Hong Kong

Left China when the Japanese invaded Shantou in 1937 (I was 2.5 yr. old)
Escaped to Kowloon, Hong Kong with my aunt (separated from parents)
Parents both were in Beijing during the invasion.
Stayed with Aunt Cheng apartment in Kowloon.
Went to Diocesan Girls School Kindergarden in Kowloon.

C) Return to Shantou before Japanese Invasion of HK

Just becore the Japanese invassion of Hong Kong we went back to Shantou
I remember meeting my parents first time in many years. Could not recognize them and afraid to go near them. My aunt Barbara told us "he is your father" and I always remember that I ran to him and jumped into his arms.

D) Life during Japanese Occupation

R

E) 2nd World War after Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor- arrested parents / tough time under occupation- dream of catching bombs in the large interior court /Morris spy story /

F) War End