Happy little Mainland visitors
Last year, the Police Chinese Wushu Club arranged for about 20 children from Mainland martial arts schools to visit Hong Kong and to stay with voluntary host families while here. This cultural exchange meant a lot to the host families and the resulting feedback from both visitors and hosts was most favourable.
Based on the success of the programme last year, the Wushu Club has decided to make similar arrangements for children to come and stay with Force members and their families over the summer holidays and the Christmas break.
Commercial Crime Bureau Detective Senior Inspector Simon Ho Kin-wah, who hosted two young visitors at his home last year, would like to share this experience with you.
"Last Christmas was especially meaningful and memorable for both my family and I as we had accepted the responsibility of being a host family to a young girl from Fujian," said Mr Ho.
"It was cold and windy the evening my family and I arrived at the designated pick-up point at the Police Sports and Recreation Club to collect our little visitor. We were so excited about her impending arrival that we were actually half an hour early."
"We patiently watched the arrival of a group of 20 children. They were all dressed in school uniforms and looked so cute and innocent that we wanted to take them all home. At first, a 10-year-old girl, Ah Xia, was the only child assigned to us, however, when we were about to leave for home she started crying, saying that she was going to miss her best friend Guihong and her other classmates. Her friend Guihong was also crying. Eventually though, the tears subsided and there was a happy ending as both Ah Xia and Guihong were allowed to stay with us for the duration of their visit. With this problem resolved, the girls transformed into happy, smiling little individuals."
"As hosts to the girls during their six-day, five-night visit, we were also assigned the task of teaching the girls something new, apart from just showing them around Hong Kong and taking good care of them. We chose to teach them some English and how to play the piano. Both were quick learners and especially talented at music. When we instructed them, they were attentive and committed to learning as much as possible. In fact, the whole learning experience went one step further, resulting in a mutual learning exchange among us. We taught them English, they taught us Putonghua. Each time we recited what they had taught us, they listened patiently, interpreting what we had said and making necessary corrections to our substandard Putonghua!"
"While they were here we rode on the Peak tram and the MTR, ate at McDonald's, saw a circus performance and admired the Christmas trees and colourful lights that decorated Hong Kong during the Festive season. It was all new, wondrous and exciting to the girls. Even the shower and bathtub at home were new to them. They were curious as to why people in Hong Kong shower every day, as they usually only take a bath once every two to three days during winter. They were even curious as to why people give one another gifts at Christmas time. They showed appreciation and concern for every little thing given to them and everything happening around them."
"Besides visiting various tourist attractions in Hong Kong, all the host families were invited to attend two Shoulin martial arts displays performed by our temporary 'sons and daughters'. We were all amazed and impressed. Their performance was of a very high standard. We couldn't believe our eyes!"
"I later learned from Ah Xia's coach that she had won a number of martial arts competitions on the Mainland and would, in fact, receive further training in the hope of competing in the Asian Games."
"It was a warm, sunny morning the day they were scheduled to leave, but our hearts were filled with sadness. We woke up early and took the two girls to the designated assembly point, ready for their departure from Hong Kong. We were just like all the other host families who had enjoyed having the children staying with them so much that it was heart-wrenching to see them go. Before the two girls boarded the coach we promised we would visit them in their hometown in the near future. They would then be our hosts, and we their guests."
"This summer we visited Fujian for five days and my family and our two young former guests were delighted to see one another again. We were also able to visit their homes and to meet with their parents. We discovered while there that Guihong and her family were virtually destitute. Her father was unemployed and as a result her family could no longer afford her school and training fees. It occurred to us that under these circumstances Gui-hong would probably be forced to leave school altogether very soon. So, we decided to subsidise her education and training fees until she graduated from high school so that she could concentrate on both her studies and martial arts training. Upon hearing this, Guihong appeared on the verge of tears as she loves going to school so much."
"We promised the two girls that we would see one another at least once a year. They promised to work hard with a view to one day achieving international standards in their martial arts."
If you are intersted in hosting a week-long holiday in Hong Kong for Mainland children, please contact Mr Shum Kam-tim at 9202-0013.
Guihong(left) and Ah Xia in Repulse Bay