WONG Shee Ying @ Leslie Wong Sze Ying 黄仕英
Performing Arts in Singapore (Theatre/Drama),
Accession Number 003573
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 17
Total Reels
- Teo Kian Giap
Interviewer
- 15:58:49
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 17
Metadata
- 1 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:57:58
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Borne 1940 in Singapore. Interviewee talked about his childhood at Waterloo Street, where his grandmother opened a sundry shop. He studied at Saint Joseph Institutions (SJI) where he had good teachers and the focus was more on moral education. He was a science stream student and was introduced to Shakespeare. He switched to arts stream after Form 5 as he wanted to study Chinese. When he was young, interviewee had Chinese tuition at home. Later he attended night classes at a private school at Short Street. Interviewee explained why his parents sent him to SJI. Interviewee came from a middle class family, where his father started out doing trading. Later his parents opened a shirt manufacturing factory at their home, where the brand was called “Friendly Shirt”. The brand was well known in Borneo and Sarawak. Interviewee spoke more about the business. Interviewee talked about the Waterloo Street area.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 17
Metadata
- 1 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:57:27
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee had an ordinary childhood. Recalled playing chess with his brother and improved his skills by reading chess books and from newspapers. He and his brother learnt Chinese by reading the Chinese almanac 通书。 Interviewee loved to listen to Li Da Sha 李大傻 on the Rediffusion. Entered University in 1960, where at time the government was embarking on Malayanisation where a lot of civil service posts need to be filled. Students were able to enroll into Honours programme direct. Interviewee studied Chinese, Economics and Philosophy at the Arts and Social Science Faculty. Talked about the Chinese Department and the course, where it had a small student enrolment. Interviewee stayed in hostel at Dunearn Road so that he could study at night. Helped out at parents’ shirt business and gave tuition to his sister during the evening. As a result, he was not active in hostel activities. Interviewee convinced his father to retire as there was stiff competition from other countries. Interviewee’s family moved to Patterson Road later. His father’s company was called Liang Yew Company 良友有限公司.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 17
Metadata
- 2 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:08
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee graduated in 1963 from University of Singapore. Responded to job advertisement from the government as it was considered “iron rice bowl”. Even though he had a Second Class Upper Honours degree, he was offered a Div 2 job at Customs and Excise Department as at that time, graduates from Chinese Department were considered one grade lower than other faculties. Interviewee spent few months at the Harbour Division and moved to Customs Special Branch, Central Narcotics Intelligence Bureau. It was at this Division that he proved his capability due to his mastery of Chinese and English. Besides passing the government examinations, he had to learn Teochew for the job. Talked about his job, including dealing with smugglers and illegal rice wine vendors. Interviewee applied to Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1965 but was posted to Singapore Police Force (SPF) instead as Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police. He was the only trainee at the Police Training School. Talked about his training there.Posted to G Division (Joo Chiat) upon graduation. Talked about his duties and the cases he encountered.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 17
Metadata
- 2 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:54:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee spent a year G Division and was transferred to Reports Section of the Traffic Police. Talked about having to deal with private taxi drivers. Talked about the “Anti Pollution Campaign”, his duties and the need to study Malay. In 1969, based on recommendation from a foreign expert, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) set up the Publicity Division. Interviewee was appointed as Police Public Relation Officer. Desecibed his job scope, how he attempted to improve the public image of SPF and his relationship with the Chinese media. Talked about the Crime Prevention Campaign. He had an assistant later. Talked about personnel issues at SPF. Talked more about the private taxi drivers.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 17
Metadata
- 6 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:33
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
There were no graduates in the Police Force until 1961 where Mr Goh Yong Hong, a law graduate, joined the vocation. Interviewee joined in 1965. The employment of graduates generated jealousy amongst the non-graduates and they did not cooperate fully with the interviewee. Interviewee highlighted an incident whereby the Singapore Police Force (SPF) chose a non-graduate to attend a diploma course on traffic police administration at the Traffic Institute of Northwestern University in Chicago (USA) in preference over him, but he eventually ended up going. Spoke about the course. He subsequently became the traffic expert in Singapore. Talked about the exposure and experienced gained from the course. Posted to Traffic Police Department later took on the appointment of Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, recommended by Chairman of Public Service Commission Dr Phang Seng Whatt. He was asked to concentrate on Traffic Police matters. In 1973, he was tasked to head the “Keep Singapore Accident Free” campaign to be launched in 1974. How he obtained approval to purchase new police motorcycles. He mentioned the 3E (enforcement, engineering and education) approach to the campaign. How he tackled jaywalking. He introduced demerit point system for drivers and traffic ticket system. The SPF Force was the first to introduce computers in work. Spoke about the Opening Ceremony of the Keep Singapore Accident Free Campaign in 1974.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 17
Metadata
- 6 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:42:50
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
The highlight of the Keep Singapore Accident Free campaign was the exhibition held at Singapore Conference Hall. To reduce the number of traffic accidents, the Police adopted a selective enforcement approach whereby they concentrated on serious moving violation. It also implemented the demerit point system. A year after the campaign, number of traffic accidents fell. Interviewee got to know Members of Parliament (MPs) such as Mr Ong Teng Cheong while working on the campaign. Interviewee said that then President Ong visited him at Chinese Theatre Circle (CTC) tea house and he also connected CTC with sponsors. At work, interviewee felt that he had offended someone during the campaign period. He was thinking of leaving the service.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 17
Metadata
- 7 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:56:39
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Besides his work at the Police Force, interviewee and his wife Joanna Wong were involved in community work. Dr Goh Keng Swee approached him to be the honourary secretary of the Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre Management Committee. Interviewee spoke about the theatre. He and Mr Lee Wai Kok, Head of People’s Association (PA), organized events at the theatre. Chor Foong Meng Cantonese Opera Troup performed 77 shows in 66 days. After the Keep Singapore Accident Free campaign, CPIB initiated corruption charges against him. He spoke about the incident. Later, he discovered who was behind it. After he was cleared of the charges, he resigned from the service. Interviewee explained why he decided to leave and mentioned what happened after he had left. He was requested to go back to the Police Force but he declined. He gave an account on the fulfillments from his service in the Customs and Excise Department and in the Singapore Police Force (SPF). He listed his major achievements and the awards that he had been given (Commendation Certification, Efficiency Medal). He looked back his career in government service with pride.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 17
Metadata
- 7 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:57:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee said that honesty and diligence are two important attributes for a civil servant. He did not have mentors as he was employed to fill vacancies. He however learnt from the rank and file. His jobs at Customs and at the Police Force were dangerous on some occasions. He gave his impression of Dr Goh Keng Swee. Impression stated how he happened to join Chua Chuan Leong Group of Companies, where the boss was Mr Chua Kim Cheng. He was the Group General Manager and he talked about his job scope and the company (stevedoring activity at Jurong Port). Interviewee spent time at the subsidiary Goldbell Engineering where his key task was to introduce Mitsibishi trucks to the Singapore market. Government was providing interest free loans to enable companies to replace old heavy duty trucks so as to cut down smoke emissions. Goldbell Engineering managed to break into the government and commercial (Island Concrete, Green and White Cement Pte Ltd) sector. Interviewee mentioned how he handled the job. He talked more on Goldbell Engineering, including forming a mobile service team.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 17
Metadata
- 10 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:49:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Interviewee proposed a peaceful co-existence policy where the company informed all transport companies that Goldbell Engineering would not compete with them. Interviewee arranged a meeting between his boss Mr Chua Kim Cheng and key competitor Poh Tiong Choon Organisation Chairman Mr Poh Choon Aun. His rationale of having the meeting. Talked about Mr Chua Kim Cheng, the workers at the company and Mr Poh Choon Aun. Interviewee compared working in the government and in the private sectors. Retired after 20 years in the company, shortly his boss passed away. Talked about his achievements with the company. Stayed with the company for many years because his boss treated him well and supported his activities at Chinese Theatre Circle.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 17
Metadata
- 10 Dec 2010
Recording Date
- 00:57:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
When interviewee was young, he accompanied his grandmother to Cantonese Opera performances at New World, where HK stars appeared on stage. How the theatre looked like, vendors selling tidbits in the theatre and audience behavior. Developed a passion for Cantonese Opera. Studied the Cantonese Opera song books and started to write songs during secondary school. His first composition was “Poetry as a matchmaker”, which would be sung by Joanna Wong and recorded by Radio Malaya later. Interviewee started to learn the Chinese flute in 1960. Also took lessons on Yangqin from Mr Li Xue Ling 李雪岭 at Thau Yong Amateur Musical Association 陶融儒乐社. Spoke about Mr Li and why he chose to learn the 2 instruments. Interviewee also learnt to play the piano and violin only recently as he wanted to enrich the sound of Cantonese Opera. Interviewee said that he is not a good singer. Talked about the Cantonese Opera movie Di Nv Hua 帝女花written by Tang Di Sheng 唐涤生. Talked more about the HK composer.
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