I am currently working on a research project about an Italian Catholic priest, Father Enea Tapella (達碑立神父) from the (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, PIME), who spent his good years in Hong Kong between 1957 and 1977, and was renowned with his unselfish contribution to mentally handicapped children in Hong Kong. In those years not only support for this group of people, and their parents, were very limited, they were also subject to unfair discrimination by other people. Father Tapella initiated volunteer groups in several parishes he served in Hong Kong to help and serve mentally disabled persons, and his works contribute to a strong foundation and birth of Fu Hong Society (扶康會), started in 1977 and right after his unfortunate death in a traffic accident at Repulse Bay.
There are a few things about his life in Hong Kong I would want get help from anyone who might have the following information:
- Were there any documentaries, shot in 1950s to 1970s (or after), that talked about the generally poor condition and public's discrimination against disabled persons in HK in those years? I was told that there's a RTHK programme documenting their poor condition, with one episode showing a kid got chained onto his bed, while his parents were out, inside their home in the resettlement area (徙置區).
- One of the most interesting things about Father Tapella was that he would organize summer camps for disabled persons, at Tai Long Sai Wan (大浪西灣) and other remote beaches, with the help of the British Army. The latter would carry volunteers and disabled children using landing crafts from their camps in Kai Tak / Choi Hung all the way to Sai Kung. They could do these due to a community outreach programme supported by the Army HQ. Would anyone know any details about that?
- I was told Father Tapella had support from Elsie To during the 1960s. However I didn't hear any works by Elsie To on disabled persons, apart from her social activities. Are there any details available on this?
- When Father Tapella was searching for a suitable camp site for disabled children, and unfortunately injured from a fatal accident in 1977, I was told that there was an announcement made in either RTHK or CRHK asking people to help donating blood to Father Tapella. I wonder if this audio transcript is still available, or if I want to get one, where can I look for that?
If anyone has any information on the above, or even amazingly do know stories (or had encounters!) with Father Tapella, please do let me know and contact me, either posting information here or send me e-mail at kuievita@gmail.com. I would be much appreciated for any kind replies.
Here are more details about Father Tapella available on the web:
https://archives.catholic.org.hk/In%20Memoriam/Clergy-Brother/E-Tapella…
Comments
Have you looked through the…
Have you looked through the online copies of the SCMP? I wonder if they'd mention the army support, and possibly the appeal for blood?
For point 3, would that be Elsie Tu, not To?
I see you also posted a copy of this to the forum. It would cause problems later if you get replies on both pages, so I've hidden the Forum post.
Good luck with your search. I hadn't heard of Father Tapella before, but he was clearly a remarkable man. If possible, please add a comment with a link to your research when it is finished.
Regards, David
Dear David, Many thanks for…
Dear David,
Many thanks for your reply and help, much appreciated!
For point 3 yes it should be Elsie Tu instead, thanks for the correction!
On SCMP, actually I tried looking through all the past newspapers in the Central Library, between 29th Mar and 5th Apr (the date when Father Tapella had the accident and when he unfortunately passed away), but there's no mention at all regarding the accident and blood donation. There's only a notice on his Requiem Mass on a Chinese newspaper on 7th Apr.
Thanks for your best wishes and I'll definitely share more once my research is complete! If you want to understand more about Father Tapella, you can visit the website of Fu Hong Society, with the link here:
(https://www.fuhong.org/PageInfo.aspx?md=10000&cid=48)
Dedicated Facebook page for Father Tapella
Dear David and all,
I recently created a Facebook page about Father Tapella, and aim to share his remarkable stories, year by year, along with unknown photos and artifacts from his life during his years in Hong Kong between 1957 and 1977. I wish there might be someone who would have know him or get involved in his activities, including those amazing summer camps organised for disabled children with the help of British Army. Any extra information, including stories, photos or even videos, would definitely help us gather more narratives and reconstruct this beautiful story, specifically for Hong Kong. Please like, share, and comment on this page to learn more about this amazing individual. Stay tuned for regular updates! Here's our first post in English:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02KWY5NsekaTcwEQ…
Thank you, David, for…
Thank you, David, for featuring this post in your weekly newsletter. To make it easier for navigation, I have attached links to our weekly posts. Each post focuses on a specific year and shares Father Tapella's stories. In addition to the yearly posts, we also provide updates on the happenings of Hong Kong's Catholic Church and events that may impact the lives of ordinary lay Catholics. These additional updates aim to provide readers with a better contextual understanding of the events that took place.
Father Tapella's traffic accident on March 29, 1977 - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BAxtm737uSv55n…
Year 1977 - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid08jRr7foNAiqTcXr…
Year 1976 - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0LR5URDvvhqqtmxh…
Elsie TU
A very small point but it may be relevant from the point of view of research; Elsie Tu would have been Elsie Elliott at the time she was connected, (if she was connected), with Father Tapella in the 1960’s.
She did (much later) marry Andrew Tu, but her first husband (although I believe she was divorced) was surnamed Elliott.
Dedicated Facebook page for Father Tapella
I have since developed a page for Father Enea Tapella with my friends, and share his life and service in Hong Kong between 1957 and 1977. Here below is the page summary and the Facebook page link.
【The Legacy of Father Enea Tapella in Hong Kong】
Decades ago, in the rich history of Hong Kong, an Italian priest named Father Enea Tapella traveled across the ocean with his brothers and companions, dedicating twenty years of his life to this land despite numerous hardships. He lived through the challenging times of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, always showing deep concern for the disabled, who were often neglected and discriminated against by society. His spirit of care and dedication became deeply rooted in the community.
Tragically, Father Tapella lost his life in a car accident. However, his legacy endures in the hearts of the people of Hong Kong. Not only did many donate blood in an attempt to save him, but after his death, they also founded the Fu Hong Society to continue his mission of caring for the vulnerable and marginalized. This society remains active to this day, perpetuating his commitment to the community.
Through this page, we aim to help more people in Hong Kong understand the life and work of Father Tapella. The stories shared each year during his services in Hong Kong, together with precious artifacts in those years and a rarely seen colour footage of Hong Kong during 1960s, not just encompass religious and faith-based narratives, but also a profound message about the beauty of humanity, love, and hope. By highlighting Father Tapella’s good deeds, we hope to challenge the prejudices against those with mental disabilities and shed light on the struggles faced by caregivers.
Readers will gain insight into the social environment and hardships experienced in Hong Kong during that era, appreciating how Father Tapella, alongside the youth and fellow religious figures of his time, courageously cared for the poor and needy. Reflecting on these narratives not only inspires us to emulate those who faced challenges before us but also encourages us to overcome our obstacles and live life to the fullest.
This is a "Hong Kong Story" filled with love and virtue, and we hope to share the "bitterness and sweetness" of the ordinary lives of the poor and needy from the 1950s to the 1970s. Through this retrospective, we not only honor a remarkable priest but also reaffirm our respect and love for humanity. We welcome everyone to browse through and share this page.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557143155404