Arranged marriage reaches milestone

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 9

Arranged marriage reaches milestone

PA Wellington \ Mr Hung Baw Yee sailed to China 60 years ago to marry a woman he had never met. The son of a Mount Victoria laundry owner, Mr Yee was going back to China for a marriage arranged by his mother. The match was more successful than many pre-sent-day marriages. Last week-end Mr Yee, aged 81, and his wife, Jick Yuen, aged 78, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. Arranged marriages were the accepted practice for young Chinese couples then, Mr Yee said at his Miramar home. In those days it was a young person’s duty to get

married and have children. He realised it was different these days but neither he nor his wife can understand why people get separated or divorced. Mr Yee came to New Zealand in 1923 to work in his father’s Majoribanks Street laundry. His mother, who was still living in China, sent out photos of Jick Yuen and made arrangements for the wedding. Afterwards Mr Yee spent two periods of three years in China and three of their children were born there. Mrs Yee came out to join ' her husband in in New Zealand in 1939. That, she said, was the

highlight of her married life. The couple explained that in those days the husband usually came out to New Zealand first to earn enough money to bring his family over. They have no regrets about leaving China. They like the peace and stability of life in New Zealand. The family got out of the laundry business 24 years ago and have branched out into fruit, food and photographic retailing. The couple celebrated their wedding anniversary with a family party yesterday which included their five children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.