I was born in Barry, South Wales to both Hong Kong Chinese parents.

My father is one of 8 siblings living in inner city Hong Kong. He was 30 when he immigrated to the U.K after failing the entrance exam for the Hong Kong Police Force, he decided that the UK was his next option. After travelling around the UK he landed a job in my Grandfather’s restaurant in Bristol.

My mother was from a rural village on the outskirts of Hong Kong part of the Hakka Wong clan. They were a self sustaining village, up until the rise in use of concrete for the rapid expansion of Hong Kong. Villagers left for work in the city abandoning the village. My mother’s family decided to head to the UK, where my Grandfather opened a Cantonese restaurant. It was here my parents met each other.

-Jun Chan, London