Gee Ching Dong (who became known as Herbert) was born in 1891 in the village of Gee-wong-tong in the Guangzhou Province, China. Several members of his family emigrated to New Zealand in the late nineteenth century and established businesses trading in vegetables, fruit, silk and other Chinese goods. Gee Ching Dong arrived in 1908 and worked in family businesses.
During a visit to China in 1917, Gee Ching Dong married New Zealand-born Wong Yuk Lan (known as Lily). Their son Norman was born in 1920. They returned to Guangzhou around 1930 where Gee Ching Dong started a bicycle assembly and retail business. He held the South China agency for Raleigh and the Canadian Cycle Company and the company prospered.
Following the Japanese invasion, the family fled to Hong Kong and eventually returned to New Zealand in 1938. They settled in Masterton, establishing Gee Dong & Sons fruit shop which remained in business until 1976. Gee Ching Dong died in 1983, aged 91. Lily died in 1965. They are buried together at Karori Cemetery. Norman died in 1989.
Plot: *Public/C/421
The photo is part of the Berry & Co. collection held by Te Papa.
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