Peter Ng

Peter Ng: I thought that they needed someone just… it was kinship. This was where you were from, and you are supposed to belong and help each other. When they asked me, I was working, but they ask my dad. They said, “Hey, how about asking Peter to join the association to help out?” And my dad said, “Yeah, maybe I will ask him.” I figured that I had to do the same to help, so I said yes.

Susie Ling: Is this the Ng or the…?

Peter Ng: The Ng.

Susie Ling: You started with the Ng. 

Peter Ng: When I first started was just the Ng, nothing else. 

Susie Ling: When was that? About… 

Peter Ng: 1976. Six years after I landed.

Susie Ling: You were a young man! 

Peter Ng: I was 23 years old, and I was a young father too. 

Susie Ling: Your father put you up for this position? 

Peter Ng: In those days, it was the thing we did. I think it applied to everyone here in Chinatown. Everybody belonged to an association and tried to give back, especially for the first generation. The second generation maybe already had their feet settled, and they had other things that they could do. But for first-generation Chinese, I think there was an attachment. We tried to find places where we could contribute, or when we needed help we could help each other. 

Susie Ling: So the Ng family association was like a village community for you. Like an extended family?

Peter Ng: It was. My uncle, Eddie Poy, was one of the founders. He was the first president of the Ng Association. Before the association was established, we called it a communication hub. They would gather in his house, along with other the other founders. There were seven of them. They would take turns and hold meetings just to get everyone together. Finally, we gained enough people and we had an association in San Francisco. They were the first to establish beyond the New York one. Then, they approached us and we started the association and had an actual place in Chinatown.

Timestamp: [00:15:31]

Peter Ng:  Just like in our Ng association… we have a new generation. The old ones are harder to get to come in and they do not speak the English language. With the new generation, it will be much easier to adapt and also to get your association to match the current condition. 

Susie Ling: When you have meetings, what language do you use? 

Peter Ng: Our association is bilingual now, both Hong Kong Cantonese and English. 

Timestamp: [00:27:53]

Susie Ling:  I work with 18 year olds a lot. What would you like to tell an 18-year-old who’s worried about cell phones and his future? And as a Chinese-American, what advice might you give? 

Peter Ng: Well, I would say to all the Chinese American, to be proud of being an Asian, of being a Chinese. And you’re very fortunate to be in a great country of America. So you should take the opportunity to express yourself but never forget about the heritage and be respectful to both cultures of heritage. 

Timestamp: [00:44:57]