Rochor’s final farewell: Neighbourhood masterchef

Posted On 31 Oct 2016
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Photos and text by Ang Hwee Min and Cara Wong

With the iconic Rochor Centre soon to be demolished for redevelopment, a group of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information photojournalism students visited the colourful estate over the past two months to document the memories of its residents.

A former chef at Cantonese restaurant Lai Wah, Mr Leong Fatt Poh, 79, cooks at least thrice a week for his children who come back for dinner with their families. Despite his age, Mr Leong does everything on his own — even insisting on going to the market alone to pick out fresh ingredients for the day’s dishes. “They (her siblings) come back for his cooking,” said his daughter Ms Adeline Leong, 46, with a laugh.

A former chef at Cantonese restaurant Lai Wah, Mr Leong Fatt Poh, 79, cooks at least thrice a week for his children who come back for dinner with their families. Despite his age, Mr Leong does everything on his own — even insisting on going to the market alone to pick out fresh ingredients for the day’s dishes.
“They (her siblings) come back for his cooking,” said his daughter Ms Adeline Leong, 46, with a laugh.

The home of Mr Leong and Mdm Tham Yoke Seow, 71, is plastered with family pictures. The couple have four children and five grandchildren. Every year, they take at least 2 family photos — one during Chinese New Year, and another during the birthday celebration for both Mr Leong and Mdm Tham, whose birthdays are only a day apart.

The home of Mr Leong and Mdm Tham Yoke Seow, 71, is plastered with family pictures. The couple have four children and five grandchildren. Every year, they take at least 2 family photos — one during Chinese New Year, and another during the birthday celebration for both Mr Leong and Mdm Tham, whose birthdays are only a day apart.

“He doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s cooking. Even when we had a maid, the maid had to learn only by looking at him cook,” said Ms Leong, 46.

“He doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s cooking. Even when we had a maid, the maid had to learn only by looking at him cook,” said Ms Leong, 46.

Lucas, 10, also grew up in his grandparents’ apartment, staying with Mr Leong and Mdm Tham until he was six. Like his father Mr Ken Leong, 44, Lucas graduated from the PAP kindergarten downstairs. Although Lucas had the luxury of playing at the fourth floor playground, his father recalled with fondness other forms of entertainment. “We used to play hide and seek from the fourth floor to the 16th floor. We even went all the way to the rubbish storage area downstairs. In the end, everyone would just come home because we couldn’t find each other,” said the younger Mr Leong.

Lucas, 10, also grew up in his grandparents’ apartment, staying with Mr Leong and Mdm Tham until he was six. Like his father Mr Ken Leong, 44, Lucas graduated from the PAP kindergarten downstairs.
Although Lucas had the luxury of playing at the fourth floor playground, his father recalled with fondness other forms of entertainment.
“We used to play hide and seek from the fourth floor to the 16th floor. We even went all the way to the rubbish storage area downstairs. In the end, everyone would just come home because we couldn’t find each other,” said the younger Mr Leong.

When everyone is back home, the family’s pastime is to watch TV, usually long-running TV serials from Hong Kong. Sometimes, they even eat their dinners together in front of the TV screens. “It’s a three-room flat, but there used to be four TVs — the one in the kitchen is now decommissioned already,” said Mr Ken Leong.

When everyone is back home, the family’s pastime is to watch TV, usually long-running TV serials from Hong Kong. Sometimes, they even eat their dinners together in front of the TV screens.
“It’s a three-room flat, but there used to be four TVs — the one in the kitchen is now decommissioned already,” said Mr Ken Leong.

 

 

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