Mr. & Mrs Chong Gene Hang 張振興伉儷
Mr. Chong Gene Hang was born in Kwangtung Province. He joined his brother in America in the laundry business. Later he set up his own laundry business in Boston where he worked extremely hard, lived simply and saved every dollar he could. He returned to Hong Kong in 1968, and a year later his wife died. Her last wish, approved and supported by her husband,was that their life's savings should be devoted to education - to the establishment of a school, if possible, where children would be given an education which he himself had not been privileged to receive.
He contacted Mr. Albert C. C. Lam, J.P., City District Officer, Mongkok, who referred the matter to the Education Department. Mr. W. McGregor, J.P., Assistant Director of Education, proposed St. Joseph's College, as the Christian Brothers were then planning the building of a school in a poor area that was very much what Mr. and Mrs. Chong had in mind and because work on the site was due to begin. After hearing Mr. Chong's story and after assuring ourselves through our lawyers that Mr. Chong was amply provided for and that his daughter and son-in-law agreed with his wishes, it was decided to draw up an agreement which stated that Mr. Chong Gene Hang would contribute the sum of $500,000 towards the establishment of a secondary school in Chaiwan, to be named Chong Gene Hang College.
Extract from the address of Mr. Chong Gene Hang:
"Forty- four years ago, with only two years of schooling behind me, I set out from my native village of Hoi Ping (Kwangtung) to take a job in the laundry business in the United States. Starting life in a foreign country is generally not easy. But for me it was particularly difficult, as I had very little education in China and I did not know a single word of English.
I worked and studied day and night, rain, or shine, with only two goals in my mind: first , to educate myself; and second, to save some money to help in the cause of education for the benefit of future generations of children.
For forty years my beloved wife shared my determination and was for me a never-failing source of inspiration and encouragement. Indeed, it is in fulfillment (fulfillment) of a wish that we have mutually shared that I have saved during a life-time of hard work for the building of this school, which I dedicate in her honour.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I will say no more except to tell you that this is the happiest moment of my life. May God bless you all."
