Gim Wong

EIGHTY-TWO YEAR OLD LEADS MOTORCYCLE RIDE FOR REDRESS:
CALLS FOR JUSTICE NOW WHILE THERE ARE STILL HEAD TAXPAYERS ALIVE

Eighty-two year-old Gim Wong, a World War II Air Force veteran and Canadian-born son of two Chinese head taxpayers, will set off on a cross-Canada motorcycle ride on July 1, 2004.
Mr. Wong is riding his motorcycle across Canada to call upon the federal government to redress the Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act, sixty-two years of legislated racism endured by the Chinese in Canada from 1885 to 1947. "The Canadian government has unjustly taken money from my parents and from the Chinese who paid the head tax to enter Canada," Mr. Wong said. "I want this money refunded to the surviving head tax payers and their families."

Canada Day marks a significant anniversary for Chinese Canadians. It was on July 1, 1923 that the Canadian Government enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act and until it was repealed in 1947, the Lo Wah Kiu (old overseas Chinese) referred to it as 'Humiliation Day.' Joining Mr. Wong on the first leg of his journey across Canada will be former BC Chief Human Rights Commissioner Ms. Mary-Woo Sims, also a motorcyclist enthusiast. "Gim and I are both proud Canadians but we are also sad and angry Canadians. We're sad and angered because successive Canadian governments have failed to honourably and justly redress this racist part of Canadian history," Ms. Sims said. "All we are seeking is a just and honourable resolution and we hope this ride will bring attention to this longstanding issue".

Also joining Gim Wong's Ride for Redress will be Jack Munro, Order of Canada recipient and former President of the IWA (International Woodworkers of America) "Chinese workers were exploited because existing railway workers were working on other railways for more money and the CPR wouldn't pay higher wages." Mr. Munro said. "The CPR imported Chinese workers who died helping to build Canada and we repaid them with the Chinese Head Tax and the Chinese Exclusion Act. I want to help bring attention to this great injustice and hope that our newly elected politicians and Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, herself a woman of Chinese-Canadian heritage, will work harder to bring about redress."

Gim Wong's Ride For Redress departs on July 1, 2004 at 10 am from the Vancouver Chinatown Memorial to Chinese Canadian War Veterans and Railway Workers (Keefer & Columbia Streets). On July 2, 2004, Mr. Wong will make a stop in Craigallachie, BC, where the last spike was driven in to complete the trans-Canada railway. Mr. Wong will have in his possession the Last Spike donated by noted Canadian author Pierre Berton to the Chinese Canadian
National Council (CCNC) to help draw attention to the injustices endured by Chinese railway workers and successive generations of Chinese immigrants and their families. "CCNC is grateful to Mr. Gim Wong and the participants of the Ride for Redress," Ms. Winxie Tse of the CCNC Redress Committee Chair said. "We remind Prime Minister Paul Martin that those who ignore the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. We remind him and all of the Party leaders of their pledges to do the right thing. Its time for action to restore dignity to the families and the community."

The Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNC) is a national non-profit organization working to promote social justice, equality and civic participation for all Canadians. CCNC was formed in 1980 and has 27 chapters across Canada.

For more information, please contact:
Mary-Woo Sims (604) 464-5668
Sid Tan, President, Vancouver Association of Chinese Canadians (604) 433-6169
Victor Wong, Executive Director, Chinese Canadian National Council (416) 977-9871