華聯會前任會長Sid Lim的發言

華聯會前任會長Sid Lim的發言


Speech for the 40th Celebratory meeting of diplomatic relations between China and NZ

Deputy Consul Li, Consul Long, Consul Chen, Deputy Mayor Chesterman, MP’s David, Tim and Sue, distinguished guests and Ladies and gentlemen

As immediate past president of the Waikato Chinese Association, my name is Sid Lim and I am indeed honoured to be able to say a few words at such an auspicious occasion. Before I start I would just like to pass on sincerest greetings to you all from our President Mr Paul Chin who has been unfortunately called away at the last moment and he passes on his humblest apologies for not being able to attend.

The Waikato Chinese Association has been established for many years in the Waikato and will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary next year. It is in fact along with its parent organisation , the New Zealand Chinese Association, the oldest established local Chinese organisation in New Zealand.

With this long history in NZ, we are proud to have been part of the development of the official diplomatic relationship with China that was established formally 40 years ago, however the Chinese have been part of NZ’s heritage for more than 120 years before that time.

In fact it was on May 26 1842 that a young 9 year old boy deserted ship at the Port of Nelson NZ. His reason for the desertion….. was that the captain of the boat refused to give him any soap for washing his clothes. His name, was Wong Ah Poh Hoc Ting or otherwise known as in locally as Appo Hockton. Appo stayed in Nelson, becoming known as the first Chinese immigrant in New Zealand. In 1843 he began working and later built up a solid business married and owned various plots of property and becoming a respected businessman. His age at the time of his death, on September 26, 1920, ranged from 98 to 103, depending on which family story you listened to. New Zealand’s first Chinese immigrant and first naturalised Chinese New Zealander has over 1600 living descendents throughout this country. Appo’s story is but one of the success stories of the early Chinese settlers, however there are many more that are stories of sadness, depression, hardship, cultural shock and early deaths and tell us of the sacrifice that many of our ancestors have endured to enable the Chinese to settle here in New Zealand as successful citizens of this country

So it is at such a wonderful occasion such as this we should look back on those early Chinese settlers over the past century and a half and pay tribute to their many years of sacrifice, hard work and dedication and the legacy that they have left to enable us to enjoy the economic and cultural relationship between a great nation such as China and New Zealand. Without their contribution it is possible this may not have happened as progressively.

With that in mind on behalf of the New Zealand Chinese Association Waikato Branch I would like you all to charge your glasses and drink to the health of those early Chinese settlers that have gone before us, their sacrifice and dedication that has enabled us to enjoy this wonderful occasion today.

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