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90 Years Of Living In Ipoh - Part 2
Lim Han Kang was 14 years old during the Japanese Occupation, he learnt a little Japanese during the dreaded period but picked it up much later in the 70s. He was under the tutelage of a Japanese teacher, Mr. Yaki Teichi and Mr. Ho, a retired school teacher from St. Michael's Institution a little later.
He was given a Japanese name or social name by his teacher as they called it which was translated from his Chinese name. His name was Hayashi Nakamura. Han Kang was also part of the auxiliary police during the Emergency (1948-1960) where he spoke of patrolling the streets at night on a weekly basis but didn't encounter much trouble when they were patrolling.
Post WWII and The Emergency, he started working with Harper Gilfillan and then Guthrie, both companies as a stock clerk, went on to work with Public Insurance and last but not least as a cashier at Sime Darby til his retirement in 1985. He married his wife, Lee Boon Kui from Penang in 1952.
It can be said that he has seen how much Ipoh has developed over the years as he stayed in the different parts of the town at the time. He stayed along Cowan Street, Osbourne Street (also known as Durian street to the locals), Jalan Ali Pitchay, Clare Street (where the Oriental Hotel & Cold Storage was located) and last but not least, his present home in Cherry Park.
His father Leng Hong was working with Yee Seng as a rubber agent when they stayed at Clare Street where he also talked about them riding in the company's Austin 7 as it was provided to his father. His mother was a stay-at-home mum as how most women were back in the 50s. The family also hired a black and white amah to help out with the housework, hiring an amah back then would cost about 5 dollars a month and since most of them came from Guangdong, China, a few associations were set up (most of which were along Hume Street) to look into their well-being as they looked for jobs with families. The associations would provide them with food and lodging but they would have to re-pay the associations on a monthly basis once they start working with a particular family.
*The photographs above are:
1) Lim Han Kang's eldest son and nephew at the Birch clock tower with the bust of J. W. W Birch
2) Lim Han Kang with the Auxiliary Police
3) Lim Han Kang at the Kinta Swimming Club.