In Search of Chineseness The Ho Sisters Choice

In Search of Chineseness The Ho Sisters’ Choice Louella Cheng & Victor Zheng Centre of Asian Studies Hong Kong Institute of Humanities and Social Science The University of Hong Kong

Why Irene Cheng and Florence Yeo? 1. 2. Definitions of Chineseness Conventions of Womanhood

Eurasian-Chinese Compradorial Family 1. Three Parents 1. 1 1. 2 1. 3 Father: Sir Robert Ho Tung Mother: Margaret Mclean Mamma: Clara Cheung 1862 -1957 1864 -1944 1875 -1938 2. Bi-cultural Environment

Education for the Ho daughters engineered by Clara Ho Tung 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Principles of education Classical Chinese training Standard English Education Higher Education World-wide Travel

Irene’s Life Path 1904 - 2007 1. Loyal to her “Chineseness” 2. Highly Educated 3. Late Marriage & Long Widowhood 4. Distinguished Educator 5. Left Hong Kong in 1967

Florence’s Life Path 1915 - 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Ambivalent Chinese Identity Girl who wants to have fun Quit University for Marriage Husband: Dr. KC Yeo (CBE) Left Hong Kong in 1957 ½ Century of Life in England

Florence and Irene: A Comparison 1. 2. 3. 4. Eurasian versus “Pure” Chinese Housewife versus Career Woman Departure Year (1956 vs 1967) Diaspora and Family ties

Questions of Identity 1. “Chineseness” and its discontents 2. Woman for the Modern Era

Future Issues 1. The Eurasian family as a source of personal freedom 2. Personality shapes life paths more than wars or revolutions 3. “Nature” thus more powerful than nurture 4. Going beyond the formulaic

Thank You

Irene and Tai Shing School 1903 To plan new education system in China 1904 Irene born 1906 Promotion of “National Spirit” in education 1911 The Fall of the Qing Dynasty 1925 Nationalism as politics in education 1928 -49 Loyalty to the State/Party in KMT and CCP political strategy 1949+ Patriotic Education in the Mainland Taiwan 1963 Tai Shing School established

Irene-Florence Comparison 1904 1911 1915 1922 -5 1949 1956 1957 1966 -7 1967 Irene born The fall of the Qing Dynasty Florence born The Canton Seaman’s Strike in Hong Kong Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong People Republic of China Anti-communist Riot in Hong Kong Florence and KC Yeo left Hong Kong Anti-colonial Riots in Hong Kong Irene left Hong Kong

Two Versions of Chineseness and beyond… 1. 2. 3. Chinese as a cultural element Against State Violence/Dominance Rejection of Sino-centrism

Femininity as a Critical Approach “Ordinary-ness” says NO to: 1. One “Chineseness” representative of all others 2. One “modern woman image” above all others.

Sir Robert in 1915 Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Sir Robert in 1934 Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Robert, Robert Junior and Son Source: Next Magazine, 14 th Dec 2006, p. 109

Lady Clara Ho Tung Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Lady Clara Ho Tung Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

The Ho children in 1910 Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Ho Children in 1907 Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“The Falls” Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

“The Falls” Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Pai Lou at “The Falls” Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Pagoda in “The Falls” Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The Moon Gate at “The Falls” Source: Cheng, Irene. 1976. Clara Ho Tung, a Hong Kong lady: her family and her times. Shatin: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Presented to Queen Mary in 1932 Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Irene on her graduation in 1936 Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Irene, H H Cheng and their daughter Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East. West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University. Source:

“Chinese Utopia” chosen by Irene Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Irene and her successor at Tai Shi School in mid 1960 s Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist

Farewell to Tai Shing School in 1967 Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Florence in 1931 aged 16 Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images.

Florence and her amah in 1956 Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Florence’s three children Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Florence and KC Yeo 1950 s Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Florence and husband in 1967 Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Family gathering in 1937 Source: Cheng, Irene (Ho Tung). 1997. Intercultural reminiscences. Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University.

Irene, Florence and their families in 1955 Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Jean (Ho. Tung) Gittins visiting Florence in 1980 s Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

General Ho Shai Lai visiting Florence in 1984 Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images

Irene visiting Florence in 1982 Source: Yeo, Florence. 1994. My memories. Speldhurst, Kent: Words & Images