Home Away from Home

Joan Chong Leung, wife of Paul R. Lit Fong Chong Leung, Mauritius' ambassador to China, feels very much at home in Beijing. [Women of China English Monthly]

Joan Chong Leung, wife of Paul R. Lit Fong Chong Leung, Mauritius' ambassador to China, feels very much at home in Beijing. As a Mauritian of Chinese descent, who now lives in China, she sees many commonalities, rather than differences, between China and Mauritius. Leung, through her volunteer work as a member of the Group of African Ambassadors' Spouses (GAAS), and through her role as president of the nonprofit Commonwealth Society of Beijing (CBS), participates in many charitable projects. Since 2006, when she arrived in Beijing, she has helped hundreds of Chinese in need.

"I am a Mauritian of Chinese descent. I have been raised, more or less, in a Chinese environment, with its tradition and culture. For me, the greatest challenge in China was language, which I was never taught. I have been educated in English and French," Leung says.

As Leung was new to the role of an ambassador's wife, she had to adapt to fit into the diplomatic environment after she arrived in the Chinese capital.

"Since I do not have a job in China, I devote my time to fundraising, to the benefit of local, underprivileged children, women and the elderly. Every year, in June, we have a fundraising event, Charity Gala Dinner. Last year, we raised about 550,000 yuan (U.S. $90,164), and we donated the money to charities in Beijing, Hebei, Hainan, Gansu and Guangdong," Leung says.

"We also interact, socialize and foster cultural exchanges. The government of the Peoples' Republic of China has been an obliging host to us. We can only reciprocate this friendship, and the generosity, by offering assistance, where we can, to the less fortunate in China. Fundraising, through activities developed by CBS, is time-consuming, and requires patience and much devotion. But the responsibilities have been assumed by me, voluntarily, and with the support and encouragement of my husband and CBS members. This support structure has allowed me to effectively attend to my duties as president of CBS. My husband believes in me, and I thank him for his confidence," Leung says.

In terms of food and culture, Mauritius and China share many similarities, Leung says. For example, both countries have a variety of cuisines and cultures.

"In China, in addition to the main Han (the majority ethnic group) population, there are 55 ethnic minorities, with their own cultures and cuisines. In Mauritius, the situation is similar. We have African, Chinese, European (mainly English and French), Indian and Islamic cultures and cuisines cohabiting," Leung says. "However, this is where the major difference lies. The differences among various ethnic groups are not as distinct as the differences among the people in Mauritius. It must be pointed out that Cantonese cuisine is the most popular Chinese cuisine in Mauritius, and it is enjoyed by every Mauritian."

Contact and communication between China and Mauritius began in the 17th century, after the first Chinese immigrants arrived in Mauritius. Those immigrants were mainly traders, and most of them opened retail shops in various regions of the island, Leung says.

"They played crucial roles in the daily lives of the Mauritian workers, and they were almost exclusively engaged in the sugar industry … The seasonal nature of their work meant a large majority of workers could only earn wages during crop season, from June to December. However, they needed (to earn an income throughout) the rest of the year. There was no social security in those days," Leung adds.

"Despite the difficult conditions, the early Chinese settlers did not cut off their ties with China. Sometimes, other members of their families came to Mauritius, to join them, and they kept abreast of events in the motherland, either through the radio or various publications. In the 1950s, there were more than five daily Chinese newspapers in circulation in Mauritius," Leung says.

Mauritius became independent in 1968, and established diplomatic relations with China in 1972. China assisted Mauritius in its economic development, even during the time when China was closed to much of the outside world. Mauritius adopted several policies that were pro-China, and favorable to Mauritians of Chinese descent.

"Chinese New Year has been a public holiday in Mauritius for more than 30 years. The first Chinese Cultural Center in the world was established in Mauritius, and Chinese tourists and businessmen can visit the island without applying for a visa. Mauritius is the first country to adopt this visa-free policy with China," Leung says.

Mauritian women are represented in the fields of science, agriculture, business and politics, says Leung. There are several women members of Parliament, and there are female cabinet ministers. Also, the country's current vice-president is Monique Ohsan Bellepeau — a woman.

"It is very difficult to point out the similarities between Chinese and Mauritian women. We have the same need for equal rights and opportunities, but I must say that Mauritian women are very beautiful and elegant, in both the way they dress and the way they conduct themselves. They always look so poised," Leung says.

She has lived in China for more than seven years. One of her greatest memories of China is Beijing's hosting of the Olympic Games. "The opening and closing ceremonies were so well organized and grandiose that they will remain forever in my memory," she says.

The Mauritian Embassy has been promoting Mauritius throughout China, by sharing information about investment and business opportunities. Embassy officials have participated in many conferences, seminars, visits and other activities. This has raised Mauritius' profile throughout China. Embassy officials have also been interviewed, both on-line and by Chinese media, and such media attention has helped the island country double in-bound tourism since 2012.

"China has had a positive impact on my life. In China, I have participated in many activities, such as calligraphy, which I am not good at, canvassing people and convincing them to part with their money, to donate to charitable purposes, and organizing receptions for 600 to 700 people," Leung says.

"Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean; a sparkling crystal, in the turquoise waters, that will fascinate you. Mark Twain, an American author, once said 'God created Mauritius first, and then made a copy which he called heaven.' Most people still do not know that they can go to Mauritius and indulge themselves in a little paradise, even though they have yet to depart this life," she says.

(Source: Women of China English Monthly June 2014 Issue)