CHONG CLAN ODYSSEY ON GOLD MOUNTAIN - #6
MOI CHUNG (4th Generation Pioneer) – The Chop Suey House Manager
Moi Chung, son of Hoy Lung Chung, went to San Francisco in 1912. He entered America, at Angel Island Immigration Station, under a student visa, sponsored by his father. He worked at Chong Sing Company in San Francisco Chinatown, a seller of Chinese dry goods and food products (1912-1917).
He owned Imperial Restaurant, a Chop Suey House, in Cambridge Central Square (1923-1936). The Imperial Restaurant was a high-class fancy restaurant with white cloth tablecloths served by waiters on the second floor of the Holmes Block, Chop Suey was an American variation of Cantonese cuisine. It was widely popular across America at cities and towns for its savory dishes.
He returned only once to China, in 1921. He married Cun Chuen Wong, from Toishan, on December 1, 1921. He left again for America. But Chinese Exclusion Act only permitted the Chinese wives and children of "merchants" or native-born citizens to join their husbands in America. State miscegenation laws prohibited American citizens of the Chinese race to marry women of other races.
He would not see his wife over the next 43 years, until she joined him there on February 14, 1966 at Los Angeles International Airport. Moi Chung bitterly experienced a separate life with a broken dream on Gold Mountain.
Thank you for sharing the powerful story of your family. So many struggled and made lives for their families, in spite of the racism, discrimination and hate. I say we come from good stock - to carry on honorably, w/ strong work ethics and humanity. We can hold our heads up high, as your family demonstrated.