tahiti

[Roger Chen <ri.chen@sympatico.ca>]

Just wanted to add a few comments to Dixie's message re the Chinese in
Tahiti. I revisited Tahiti this summer to visit my Taique again on his
87th bithday. My Taique, Chen Chung Chong, is a reservoir of knowledge
on the Chinese in Tahiti, a respected historian, and an active member of
the "Jung Fah Fui Gunn" [Zhong Hua Hui Guan.]

"Although the Chinese in Tahiti still celebrate
traditional festivals such as the Chinese New Year
with lion dances and firecrackers, Qing Ming with
visits to the cemeteries, and the Mid-Autumn Festival
with mooncakes, Mr Wan notes that there are no
Chinese-language schools or newspapers on the island."

The Chinese community [Jung Fah Fui Gunn] did hire a Hakka teacher from
China and conducts Chinese classes at the Association hall.

My Taique wrote a lengthy letter to me giving the plight of the Chinese
in Tahiti and whenever I get the chance to have it interpeted, I'll post
it on the forum. He gave me the history of why there are two "Gou Ming
Tong" and his reasons for supporting the Jung Fah Fui Gunn.

"Two evening schools were set up recently in Tahiti to
teach Chinese to children, but more should be done, Mr
Wan says.

""If someone wants to start a Chinese-language school,
I will certainly give support,'' he notes.
>>>
Two Kuomintang party branches, Kuomintang 1 and
Kuomintang 2 which were formed early last century,
still exist in Tahiti.

A rival group, called the Zhong Hua Hui Guan or the
Chinese Benevolent Society, was founded in 1921 by a
prominent Chinese banker, Chen Shichong, and friends
who disagreed with Dr Sun Yat-sen's supporters in
Tahiti. "

roger