For many people, the number “9” means forever and ever. The average life expectancy of Hong Kong people ranks amongst the top in the world. Yet, nobody can foresee how long himself / herself can live. After all, what do people still need when they are in their nineties?
MAK Wai-sheung (Grandpa MAK) had just turned 90 in October 2018. Born in a rural village, Grandpa MAK spent his childhood there. He had received primary education only. After that, he had experienced the anti-Japanese war and the liberation of China, and then arrived in Guangzhou. Until he was in his twenties, Grandpa MAK came to Hong Kong on his own to seek a livelihood. He had worked as a casual worker in construction sites, waiter in a Chinese style tea restaurant, hawker, etc. It took him a lot of efforts to finally have a stable life, and then he got married in Guangzhou. Soon after that, he even applied to send his wife and his eldest son to Hong Kong for reunion.
Grandpa MAK has worked as a hawker at Tung Choi Street for decades. He had been working hard for his children’s schooling, and to provide his family with a stable home. He retired before 60 and followed his children and grandchildren to migrate to New Zealand. However, he chose to return to Hong Kong for living as he could not adapt to the life in the foreign country. The second half of Grandpa MAK’s life is far longer than lots of people. It seems that he does not have much planning, but instead has his own thoughts. He believes that one should go with the flow in life. When the environment changes, one has to change too.
YEUNG Sau-wan (Grandma Sau-wan), who is also 90 years old, came to Hong Kong at 7 with her relatives from her hometown to reunite with her father. She had started following his father to work and helped replace gas lamps when she was not even 10.
The early-married Grandma Sau-wan gave birth to seven children after tying the knot, and has since then devoted herself to taking care of her family. With primary
