Sister recalls Wong Fu-wing's life story

Wong arrived at Yushu on April 8. On April 14, the earthquake occurred and the orphanage building collapsed. Wong, who had escaped the disaster, called his family and told them that he was alright. However, when he learned that three children and three teachers were buried in the ruins, he immediately went back to help save them. Unfortunately, the aftershocks took his life.

"Given the choice again, I know he would still do it," said Wong Yuet-sau. She was not surprised with her younger brother's choice. She said, "My brother was always like this. He will help anyone in need without taking himself into consideration. I think that everyone will do this when they encounter that situation." Wong had done volunteer work on the Chinese mainland for many years. His giving up his share in a transport company in Hong Kong and becoming a driver was also related with his volunteer work. Wong Yuet-sau recalled that several years ago, just by chance, Wong had read the book written by Sui Jiguo, a soldier who suffered from leukemia and was very moved by the book. Therefore, he tried every means to join Sui's charity journey on foot from Beijing to Shenzhen when the journey was almost over. In 2002, he spent seven months walking from Hong Kong to Beijing to collect money for the Chinese Marrow Donor Program (CMDP). Wong had been pinching and scraping and was stingy on making a long distance call from Chinese mainland to Hong Kong, but he donated all his savings to save the lives of the leukemia patients.

When the Wenchuan earthquake occurred in 2008, Wong felt uneasy and he said that he should not just shed tears before the TV every day. Therefore, despite his sickness, he insisted on coming to Sichuan to do volunteer work for two months. He first came to Chengdu and then went to Shifang, one of the worst-hit areas, to help move goods and materials and remove the debris. He said in an interview, "In Hong Kong, many people have donated money and goods to the disaster area. I'm a truck driver and I do not have much money so I came here to contribute my strength to my compatriots on the Chinese mainland."

Wong also learned much from his family's actions of kindness. Wong Yuet-sau said that their father was a person who always felt it was a pleasure to help others and was a model among the family's friends and neighbors. Today, 10 years after their father died, there still are many relatives and friends who remember his good deeds. Their father's example, as well as his verbal instruction, influenced them deeply. Wong and his third elder sister travelled numerous times in the 1980s and 1990s, which also aroused Wong's deep affection for the diligent and honest people in remote and backward regions of the Chinese mainland.

His family was a strong backup for Wong. Wong Yuet-sau said, "We all understand and support his good deeds." Before Wong went to Qinghai to visit the orphanage, his family helped him prepare aid materials: Wong Yuet-sau was in charge of collecting the schoolbags, stationery and old clothes; their eldest sister helped to make up clothing and she especially made 40 schoolbags for the children in the orphanage. Some store in Hong Kong heard of their story and provided the materials for them free of charge; the Tai Chi Club, which Wong joined before his death also helped him to collect the money.

"His charitable acts have influenced many people. We will fulfill his wishes and continue to help the poor children in Chinese mainland," Wong Yuet-sau said, "I hope that my younger brother's story can encourage people to do more good deeds and help more people in need."