Chinese Hostess At The Fair

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 2

Chinese Hostess At The Fair

Although she looks exotic, the Chinese hostess working on a stahd at the Industries Fair is, like the electric stoves she demonstrates, all-New Zealand.

Miss Veronica Wong, who was born in Dunedin, was invited to be a hostess at the fair. Wearing her elaborate 1 y embroidered cheong-sam, she is most attractive, as she explains the intricacies of the stoves. Miss Wong, who works in a Dunedin bank, was on a banking stand at the Dunedin Winter Show, promoting the theme of saving money for a trip to Hong Kong.

Round the corner on an electrical stand a person from

Christchurch was demonstra ting Chinese cookery. When she discovered Miss Wong was nearby she asked her to come round when her meal was pre pared and show the public how to use chop sticks.

“We both thought it was a bit of a joke that a New Zealand girl did the Chinese cooking when I was so close,' said Miss Wong who claims she is not really an expert cook.

But. Miss Wong used the chop sticks with such success she was asked to join the electrical stand as a hostess at the Industries Fair in Christchurch.

If there was an opportunity she might also demonstrate Chinese cookery, she said. At home her parents and her two brothers, aged nine and 18, are all fond of Chinese food, but there is so much preparation involved (though cooking time is very short) they usually find it is easier to cook European meals. “We have Chinese food about three times a week. 1 have not had any since 1 came up here a week ago and I find myself craving for it,” she said. ENGLISH, TOO

Miss Wong’s mother was born in Feilding and hei father came out from Canton as a very small child. The family all speak Cantonese but often find it simpler to converse in English. Miss Wong likes traditional Chinese clothes although she finds not many of them are suitable for everyday wear. three cheong-sams, one pink, one blue and one white.

"Cheong-sams are becoming very popular with the young Chinese community in Dunedin, especially for formal wear,” she said.