New Hebrides Merchant
p. 60 · Read in the full issue
FUNG KWAN CHEE is probably the wealthiest and certainly the most popular Chinese in the New Hebrides. He was born in Hongkong on May 17, 1901, and went to Vila in 1928.
After working in a store he became the storekeeper for "Tibby" Hagen at Epi before starting his own business. He revisited Hong kong in 1934 and brought back a wife, Wu Lee Young, who has provided him with 13 children (seven boys and six girls) as well as helping him in the business.
Fung opened a store at Santo in 1950, and has since opened a second and larger store as his headquarters, while his wife manages the Vila branch.
The children all go to Hongkong for a Chinese education, and the boys are to get an English education as well. The eldest, George, is now at Knox Grammar School, Sydney, where each will be sent in turn, so that Fung will have plenty of potential branch managers for the family business in the years to come.—BRETT HILDER.