2014.036.016 Oral History Interview with Wing Ma November 7, 2003

 

Wing Ma (Ma Wing Guo) was born in China to a poor farming family who moved to Hong Kong as refugees when he was age two. Wing talks about his life growing up in Hong Kong with his mother working in the garment industry and his father working as a chef in Manila. He studied until post-secondary school before moving to the United States to train and work as an engineer. Wing would eventually join the garment industry as a factory owner, and describes the industry decline over time due to overseas competition. This would also lead to his own factory closure. He details workers pay, union benefits such as healthcare, and his involvement with union negotiations as a member and president of the Garment Manufacturers Association. Wing also talks about his involvement with other community organizations following his transition into the liquor industry, such as the Asian American Advisory Council under Peter Vallone and Community Board Three. He shares his experiences acting as a liaison between the government and the local community and shares some of the positive changes this brought to Chinatown. During the September 11th, 2001 attacks, he recalls being shocked and upset that he was unable to reach friends and loved ones. He talks about the effects of the attacks on Chinatown through his personal experiences as a building landlord. He recalls the mass exodus of tenants from the area and the difficulty in obtaining support from relief funds for the Chinatown community. He discusses the need for the government to subsidize and support businesses returning to the area to improve the local economy. He also encourages the Chinatown community to become more active and participate in local government or social work. He concludes with a discussion of his thoughts on the future of the garment industry and alternative job prospects for Chinatown residents.

0:00 - Having two children, children learning about 9/11 through school, being patriotic, everyone is immigrants besides Native Americans, growing real estate

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0:14 - Introduction

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0:38 - Childhood, first and last name, meaning of name, birthplace, China, poor family, grandparents were farmers, moving to Hong Kong, growing up in Hong Kong, moving to America at 18, owner of garment factory, Chinatown, New York City, closing business due to economy

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2:08 - Two years old when moving to Hong Kong, not being accepted in Hong Kong, refugees, mother’s decision, Philippines, Manila, father working as a cook, liking Hong Kong, liking New York better than Hong Kong

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4:13 - Having a house in Hong Kong, limited amount of land in Hong Kong, high rises, small apartment, mother is head of household, mother making good decisions

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5:21 - Mother taking care of two sisters and Wing Ma, mother doing needlework, Hong Kong catholic school, primary and secondary school, liking school, 3.5 GPA in college, master’s degree in engineering, 3.8 GPA in graduate school

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6:36 - Not being religious, respecting all religions

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6:50 - Daily life in Hong Kong, no video games or television, hanging with school friends, playing games with friends, friends from other countries, learning English, social life, being a teenager, needing permission from parents, going to the movies, playing basketball and other sports, Western and Chinese movies

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8:45 - Coming to the U.S., two universities in Hong Kong, 100,000 students in Hong Kong, not seeing father when he was eight, Hong Kong county airport, sending money back to China, knowing father will come back in a year

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11:48 - Preparing for a harder life in the United States, starting all over, new environment, strict family

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13:03 - Kids having more freedom, Chinese way of educating kids, punishing kids, teaching kids to pay respect to the elderly, education system, grandparents, not learning morals in Western education

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16:02 - Deciding to go to college, strong will to go to college in United States, loving education, being a teenager, needing freedom, being self-disciplined, promising to do something

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18:08 - First impressions of America, advanced countries, not meeting expectations, not a good first impression, sister being in America, living with sister, moving to New Jersey, studying in New Jersey, not too many Chinese people in America

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21:05 - College experience, working and studying at the same time, difficult time during college, finishing college in 3.5 years, parents’ thoughts of son going to America, parents giving permission, staying in touch with family, writing letters, calling on Chinese New Years, working as a mechanical engineer, starting own business

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22:55 - No spare time, enjoying college life, learning subjects before in Hong Kong, spending a lot of time studying, business, government not supporting industry

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24:50 - Married, meeting wife in Hong Kong, brother in law’s niece, wife is strong, pretty, nice, hardworking, New Jersey, company, opening business after five years of being an engineer, being laid off, driving limousine for nine months to make a living, garment manufacturing business, factory in Chinatown, hired more than 100 people, capital from brother in law, garment business

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29:41 - Making women’s clothing, sportswear, skirts, pants, JC Penney, Kmart, chain stores, women working in garment factory

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31:41 - Physical work, paperwork, union, nonunion, managing business, stable work supply for employees, paying employees well, rates, paying by the piece

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34:57 - Not being able to compete with importers, quick response system, offshore businesses, fundraising, negotiating contract every three years, best benefits to association members and workers, union workers

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40:10 - Factory located on Mott Street, very old building, closing down business, workers changing careers, CPC

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43:29 - Looking for other businesses after closing down business, business closing down in 1999, bad economy, staying at home without a job for two years, Asian-American councilman, next generation, Chinese heritage, Museum of Chinese in America

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48:16 - 9/11, driving to work, being at home on 9/11, sister calling, plane hitting World Trade Center, great impact, watching TV for two days, very upset

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49:32 - Calling many friends in Chinatown on 9/11, friends with businesses in Chinatown, phone not working, cell phone not working, end of the world, very frustrating, friends unable to get home, staying in Manhattan for a day, country

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55:06 - Rental, 9/11, tenants moving out, vacant building, paperwork

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58:36 - Friends in Chinatown, stories of people trying to get aid in Chinatown, interest, south of Canal street, Department of Building, renovations

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62:00 - Tenants before 9/11, Pearl Paint, garment factory, restaurant, lowering rent tremendously, six months free rent, Tribeca, 52 Walker Street

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65:12 - Government could have done better, non-profits, money to help people who have suffered from 9/11, money has not been allocated correctly, grant, money coming into New York for reconstruction

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69:32 - Organizations, everyone needing to participate, leading and organizing, redevelopment, group effort, CCPA, American Fujianese Association, wanting to get involved in organizing, only working in the community

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73:21 - Not being as involved and active in politics, being frustrated, needs of Chinatown, city council, Staten Island, senators, congressmen

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78:10 - Future in garment industry, labor price in America vs. other countries, bring more jobs, immigration, public sentiment

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83:15 - Running for public office, not being qualified, supporting a few campaigns, MTA

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87:34 - What the government can do to support the garment industry, conservative Chinese people

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93:40 - United States and Canada, transporting goods, Mexico

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