China 1986

Escape from the DEC Traditional Product Group

I starting working for DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) in July of 1973. I worked as a computer technician in Westminster, MA until the plant closure in 1985.

I liked the work, people and location and was sorry to see it end.  I wanted to stay at DEC so I needed to find another group with the corporation. At that time DEC was the largest land owner in Massachusetts so there were plenty of choices, but fewer for technicians which were becoming obsolete.

I  settled for a job in the Traditional Product Group in Nashua, NH. The Group refurbished used equipment for resale. It was a business model that was doomed to fail, but it was a job. If my career was a body the Traditional Product Group was the anus. 

One morning the management announced that the company was looking for volunteers to install DEC computer systems in China. Much to my surprise I was the only one that showed any interest. I explained that I knew  bit about Hong Kong from the few days of liberty in the Navy. I also liked Chinese food and Bruce Lee movies so I knew I was their guy.

My Wife’s Sacrifice

I boarded a flight to Hong Kong leaving my wife to care for our 10 year old son and 6 year old twins. I was gone for just over a month and she confessed to me later that it got pretty rough near the end.  They missed me and I missed them but the sacrifice was worth it. I was finished with refurbishing systems. I returned to a job in quality control and eventually software engineering.

I met up with the folks in the DEC Hong Kong office after spending a few days trying to acclimate to the 12 hour time shift. They were a sociable crew, taking me out for lunch and showing me around. I’m sure they found me entertaining as evidenced by their reaction to watching me fumble with chopsticks. The ultimate Dim sum faux pas was mixing dessert beans with the white rice.

The fellow in the green jacket was my traveling companion and guide for the entire stint. Sadly I forgot his name which may have been Stewart. He was very knowledgeable about Chinese history and culture. He also dressed down a guy who tried to rip us off in China.

Hong Kong 1986 vs 1970

Hong Kong is divided into three territories: Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. When I was here in 1970, the only way to travel from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island  was via the Star Ferry fleet. In 1972 an underwater subway was constructed. However in my opinion the ferries are the only way to travel.

The Kowloon side remains the more interesting place to visit. The airport precludes having skyscrapers. In the 1970s I only visited Hong Kong Island to view the harbor from the peak. 

I didn’t have to do very much while I was there. I went on maintenance calls with the other employees but they pretty much had it under control. I had a lot of time to look around and see the sights.  For example on the weekend I visited Sung Dynasty Village a  recreation of a Chinese village as it was in the Sung Dynasty (960 – 1279 A.D.). They had dancers, a monkey show, wedding parade, noodle making, acrobats and more. It was my only chance to be a true tourist.

I was in Kowloon  in some lunar cycle where people were burning spirit houses and spirit money for their deceased ancestors. I also witnessed a funeral procession with everyone wearing white as they set off firecrackers, played horns  and banged on gongs. Fascinating place. However it was to get a whole lot stranger.

Next Stop Shanghai

Hong Kong was just a warm up for my ultimate destination, a computer installation for the Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtze river in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

In 1986 Hong Kong was still under lease to Britain, an agreement that was coming to an end in 1997. This was a constant topic of conversation with people I spoke with in Hong Kong.  They were hoping that nothing would change and of course in hindsight, they were wrong.

I would traveling to Shanghai which would be my first foray into a communist country. It was quite an experience and fodder for another blog posting. Thanks for reading.