Hakka Forum

[sllee <sllee@asiawind.com>]

Dear Professor Kowalska,

Mr. Chung forwarded your email to me. I have been administering the world's
first website on Hakka Chinese since 1994 and the forum is an integral part of
it since 1996. The website and the forum are meant to promote diversity and
retention of traditional Chinese culture. Hakka Chinese, being one of the most
conservative in retaining ancient Chinese culture, is a source for preserving
our heritage. The forum and the website are 95% in English, because we want to
have the "lost" Hakkas of the world to remember our origin. Some cannot speak or
even understand Hakka or Chinese, but they are proud to be a Hakka Chinese.  As
for the goal of this website, I have composed a couplet and displayed on the
frontpage that speaks my wish:

"With our hearts toward the old motherland, we remember our ancient origin,
Hand in hand with new friends, we carry down the heritage for time to come."

The contributors to the forum are from all over the world. It is free and open
for discussion on any relevant topic on Hakka Chinese culture: history,
anthropology, customs, language, community news.... Mr. Chung has been a kind
and frequent contributor on the story of different clan surnames and history of
Hakka in the southeast Asia. While the origin of Hakka remains a very
contraversial topic, we encourage different ideas and debates. 

I learned that Dr. Han Suyin's eyesight is deteriorating.  That is why she does
not watch TV or get on the net. I don't know how close you are with her, but
just a few words from her will greatly encourage us. Say, can she send us a
handwritten note to encourage the particpants of this website and forum? I will
scan and post it. (My address follows the signature)

I notice you address is at Institut of Chemistry in Poland. I was a professor of
chemistry at Texas A&M University some years ago. In fact I have received some
reprint requests from your institute. I have since been in industry and turn
myself into an entrepreneur. 

It is nice to know you. I hope you will join us in the forum for discussion.
All you need to do is write to the following address:
fhakka@asiawind.com  (to post to the forum)
hakka@mini.brooklaw.edu (to join the maillist)

We all look forward to your contribution to the forum and maillist.

Best regards,

Siu-Leung Lee, PhD
President, InTechTra, Inc.
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 00:14:02 +0800 (WST)
From: CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au>
To: sllee <sllee@asiawind.com>
Subject: Re Professor Teresa Kowalska


Hello SL Lee,

I have been corresponding with Professor Kowalska for sometime
on Dr Han Suyin and I have mentioned to her about our Hakka Forum.
Now she wants to know the objects of our Forum which I find it hard to
explain to her.
Could you please help me to answer her.

Yoon-Ngan. 

Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 13:56:26 +0100
From: Teresa Kowalska <kowalska@usctoux1.cto.us.edu.pl>
To: chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au
Subject: Dr. Han Suyin revisited

Dear  Mr. CHUNG Yoon-Ngan,
It's me once again with the subject of Dr. Han Suyin revisited. In the
turmoil of my normal activities, I have also tried to find out something
more about my favourit novelist and I made certain (although a very modest)
progress.
Well, Dr. Han Suyin (which is only her literary pseudonym; her real name is
Dr. Elisabeth Comber, which most surely you also know) presently lives in
Lausanne, Switzerland. I doubt, if she has any e-mail address (from what I
found out on the different websites, she doesn't even watch TV, so that
forget the Internet). 
Now I have several questions for you to ask. What really the Hakka Forum is
meant for? I remember that I found your address on the Internet, in
connection with the name of Dr. Han Suyin, but I doubt if promoting Dr. Han
Suyin's excellent writings is your ultimate and only goal. Maybe I would
like to learn something more about the Hakka nation; how could I gain some
more information on the subject? Haven't you got any information leaflettes
(brochures), which you might present me with? I would then be very much
indebted.
And in what capacity do you act on the forum of this Hakka website? I
remember you invited me to write some words about Dr. Han Suyin for the
Hakka Forum, but I don't quite understand your involvement in the activity
of this Forum. I doubt, if I can write anything sensible, which might be of
any interest for you, but ... I'm just interested what sort of essay from
my part might interest you, people.
Best regards,
sincerely,
Teresa Kowalska

Prof. Dr. Teresa Kowalska
Institute of Chemistry
Silesian University
9, Szkolna Street
40-006 Katowice, POLAND
E-mail: kowalska@us.edu.pl
Phone/fax (office): (+48-32) 599-978
Phobe (home): (+48-32) 24-12-162