Chow family praised for contributions to PNG

Lae News, Normal
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By MALUM NALU

Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane has paid tribute to Lae Biscuit Company founder Sir Henry Chow and his family on their long and faithful contribution to Papua New Guinea over the years.
Sir Paulias made the tribute when opening the new K65 million Lae Biscuit Company plant at Kamkumung in Lae in front of hundreds of people from both PNG and overseas on Saturday.
The Governor-General congratulated Sir Henry and the Chow family’s contribution to PNG since his grandfather arrived at Kokopo as a coolie under the German administration in 1895.
“The forefathers of the Chow family were peasant sharecrop farmers from Kaiping county, Guandong province, Southern China,” Sir Paulias said.
“One male member was recruited by the New Guinea German colonial government as a personal servant for one of its administration officers at Rabaul in 1895.
“Two younger brothers followed and settled in Rabaul.
“The Chow family now has six generations in Papua New Guinea.
“The family became part and parcel of the history and development of East New Britain and New Ireland provinces.
“Members of each generation have been active in community affairs and contributed much to the development and advancement of the two provinces.”
Sir Henry said to complete the brand-new facility, the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the southern hemisphere, needed the support of many people and friends.
“To have come this far, it had taken us 52 years of sweat, toil and hard work, and on the way we had experienced failures, discouragement and many hurdles,” he said.
An emotional Sir Henry passed the rein on to his fourth son, Ian Andrew Chow, to be the new managing director of Lae Biscuit Company.