Pioneering Days of Sibu : Further Studies

When schools were started in the Foochow villages in the Rajang, the pioneering families were very hopeful and forward looking. By 1931 there were at least 40 primary schools run by the Methodist Church, together with the village communities which were mainly Methodists.

Those born in Sibu in the 1910's and 1920's were college age and Lau Kah Tii, together with Rev James Hoover helped bright students to further their education in Singapore, Fuzhou City, Shanghai and even Beijing, through their connections with the missionaries in China.

Lau Pang Kwong, the eldest son of Lau Kah Tii for example was educated in Shanghai. My aunt Lau Hung Hee was trained as a midwife in a Fuzhou hospital and she also furthered her studies in Shanghai. She later founded a maternity clinic with her husband Dr. Hsiung at Padungan Road, Kuching.

Aunt Hung Hee was a very generous, kind and warm personality. She was full of understanding, and a real angel who tended to the pains of women who were giving birth and to all her young relatives who sought her advice. A great counsellor indeed.

My tall mother  with lots of grey hair, 4th from left, Aunt Hung Yung in the middle ad Aunt Hung Hee on her left. Lovely family photo in Kuching.

Chang Chung Ching, in later life a Penghulu of Sibu, was educated by missionaries in China before the war. He met and  married my mother's third sister and migrated to Sarawak where he forged an excellent career in education. He was one of the earliest Foochow educators to be sent to England on scholarship after the war.

The first two graduates (males of course) were Chang Ta Kang, my father and Wong Cheng Ang who both graduated from Yenching University in 1937. Others had already graduated with diplomas from Fuzhou City, Hong Kong and Singapore. While some had English as their minor , most were Chinese educated by colleges of their choice.

My second uncle, Lau Pang Kui, also went to Fuzhou to study during the same time. 

My second uncle was less fortunate as he was stranded in Fuzhou together with his third sister (my third aunt) who was newly married to Chang Chung Ching. My grandmother (ngie mah) was with them and several other younger boys who were studying in Fuzhou

Before 1940, many of the teachers engaged by the schools were either local junior school graduates or China born graduates who had degrees from various Chinese universities and were interested in teaching in Nanyang. However not all were Methodist related.

One of the most highly educated Fujian born teacher (also Headmaster) was Tang Yew Tung, who had a Law Degree from Fuzhou University. He taught in Sibu and was engaged by Chung Hua Krokop Primary School in Miri as Head Master after the War.