Person

Eng, Joe Hong

• Ng, Joe Hong

1914-2000

Joe Hong Eng was born in Vancouver in 1914, the son of millhand worker ENG Jack Heen.

Joe had little formal education and worked in a number of industries at a number of jobs. But he was best known for his activism in obtaining union rights for Chinese workers.

Joe was one of the leaders in a long and nasty, 11-month strike in 1938/39 involving the International Woodworkers of America against the Pacific Lime Company in Blubber Bay, on Texada Island, B.C. For his activities, he was charged and sentenced four months in jail.

In the end, Joe helped his fellow Chinese workers achieve wage parity with their white counterparts.

Joe lived many years in Blubber Bay. He spent his spare time salmon fishing and hunting duck and deer.

When Joe retired, he returned to Vancouver and lived at the Yin Ping Benevolent Society in Chinatown.

He never married, but he loved to spoil the daughters of his younger brother, George Hong Eng. At Christmas, Joe would attach $10 bills to the Christmas tree, one for each of his nieces. And he was known for dropping by on Saturday mornings and announcing his presence by yelling “Hot stuff”. It meant Joe had brought with him boxes of tasty dim sum treats.

Eng, Jack Heen (1862-1955)

Eng, George Hong (1919-1980)

Description supplied by collector/curator