115 Waterloo Road

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:44

Deborah Jiang writes that before WW2 this was the home of # (13) Kwan King-Sun (關景燊) (a.k.a "Chee Woh") (關子和), Nancy Kwan's grandfather, but that during the Japanese occupation it was used as the Kempeitai HQ in Kowloon.

Mother told me that when he went into Grandauntie # 10's room something happened to him. Grandauntie # 10 had been reading her Bible; she looked up at him and smiled. He wrote on the pad, "My grandmother-She a Christian." He bowed, and backed politely out of the room.

The Japanese were taking over our house and the Kowloon Tong Club next door for their Headquarters.

After that transaction, things changed: The Japanese left our house, and occupied only the Club; yellow banners (signed by the commando) went up around our property-no soldiers could trespass; King King and Mungie could have the yard for a garden (they planted much needed vegetables). The commando was once again showing his humanity. I believe, that he was touched by Grandauntie # 10's spirit and, that he was thankful to be able to buy mother's diamonds. The whole family thought, that life might have been much different, if it wasn't for this particular commando.

Sources :
# Kwan Family Reunion - Family History
1: Kowloon True Light School (https://www.ktls.edu.hk/about/history/)
2: Many Layered Skirt: Dan Gao Qun by Marlene F. Cheng
3. Google Maps (2009)

Date picture taken
1940s