THE STORY OF HENRY LANG AND THE LEGACY OF THE CHINESE CANADIAN COMMUNITY
CHINESE IMMIGRATION IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The first wave of Chinese Immigration to Canada began with the Gold Rush of 1858, followed by a second wave of labourers in the 1880s that constructed the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). By 1885, these two waves of immigration had caused the Chinese population in Canada to rise to 13,000 people. Once the Gold Rush and construction of the CPR finished, a White-Nationalist sentiment began to grow throughout Canada, leading to the introduction of numerous laws created to discourage further Chinese immigration. Chinese labourers who were admitted to Canada to meet railroad labour demands were seen as undesirable for citizenship. Many Canadians lobbied the government to bar Chinese immigrants altogether. Those who were able to immigrate were denied citizenship, voting rights, and social mobility. It was during this era that Chong Wing Dung, also known as Henry Lang, immigrated to Canada. He would go on to own the Royal Café in Shelburne, Dufferin County.
HISTORY OF CHINESE EXCLUSION
Once the Canadian Pacific Railway was complete, the government immediately began passing laws to halt Chinese immigration. The first law, the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885, placed an expensive mandatory tax on all immigrants of Chinese descent. Exemptions from the “head tax” were given to diplomats, merchants, scientists, tourists, and briefly to students. After raising the tax twice to no effect, all Chinese immigration was banned on July 1st, 1923, under the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923. Chinese immigrants were the only people denied entry based on race, leading the community to refer to “Dominion Day” as “Humiliation Day.” Following the enactment of this law, all ethnically Chinese people in Canada were required to register for an identity card regardless of Canadian citizenship or place of birth. If they failed to register with the Department of Immigration within twelve months of the law passing, they were imprisoned or fined up to $500.
In the twenty-three years that the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 was enforced, Canada admitted less than fifty Chinese people. Between the head tax and discriminatory legislation, immigrating was nearly impossible for Chinese women and girls. Almost all Chinese communities in Canada were men. In 1946 the law was repealed for children and spouses of Chinese Canadian citizens. The head tax and exclusion acts intentionally separated families to stunt the Chinese community in Canada. This community turned inward for both financial and emotional support in the absence of their immediate families.
HENRY LANG’S ARRIVAL AND LIFE IN CANADA
Chong Wing Dung arrived in Vancouver aboard the Empress of Japan on October 3, 1920. Although he was only fourteen, he travelled alone with his eleven-year-old brother, Chong Yip Cheung. The two boys were detained for five weeks. As sons of a merchant, they were likely detained while their head tax exemption was confirmed. The boys were headed for Toronto to meet their father, Chong Yung, who had immigrated to Canada in 1908 as a Grocer. Despite this occupation falling under an exemption class, Chong Yung was forced to pay five hundred (CAD) in head tax. The penalties and detention the Chong family faced (despite qualifying for exemptions) demonstrates the severe discrimination and Sinophobia (a fear or hatred of Chinese people and culture) of the time. Even when they followed the strict laws imposed by the Canadian government, Chinese immigrants faced harsh treatment and racism. Chong Yung was fortunate to be among the rare few Chinese immigrants that were able to bring their children to Canada before 1946.
The boys joined their father in Toronto and were living together in the city when the Immigration Act of 1923 passed. On September 25, 1923, Chong Wing Dung, Chong Yip Cheung and Chong Yung reported to the Department of Immigration together and registered for identification cards. Chong Wing Dung was seventeen and had already started working, while his brother was still a student.
By 1931 Chong Wing Dung had moved out and begun working as a laundryman. He was twenty-four by then and was married. It seems that he returned to China to marry, as the 1931 census does not list his wife as a member of his household. Instead, the census lists him and five other married men as lodgers in an apartment without women. This was extremely common due to Canada’s ban on Chinese immigration. A “married bachelor” community grew out of husbands who were separated from their families by this ban. They often lived together to lower their rent costs. This way they had more money to send home and had a household to lean on for support in the absence of their own. Based on census reports, both Chong Wing Dung and his brother were among the married bachelor community.
By 1932 Chong Wing Dung had moved to Kitchener-Waterloo and was working as the manager of the Waterloo Café. There are very few records of this café, like most Chinese businesses, since Chinese owners were often barred from registering with city governments. During his time at the Waterloo Café, Chong Wing Dung slowly transitioned into using an English name: Henry Lang. He is listed in directories as Chong Lang for most of the 1930s, then Henry Lang and C.W. Lang in the 1940s. The Waterloo Café closed in 1945, at which time it seems Henry moved to Shelburne.
The Royal Café was a small restaurant in Shelburne that had been in operation since the early 1920s; it was originally owned by Louis Lee, another Chinese immigrant who had settled in Shelburne in the 1910s. The Royal Café was mentioned multiple times in Shelburne newspapers in wedding reception articles and was a well-known and respected restaurant in Shelburne. They were known for home-cooking and their selection of tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes. Henry Lang became the owner around 1946, but The Royal Café was closed in 1951 following his death. Like many Chinese immigrants, Henry’s death was not reported by local newspapers in any of the cities he had lived. Despite having settled in Canada and successfully established a life for himself, Henry faced challenges throughout his life due to racial prejudices.
THE LEGACY OF THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT
In letters to his father and in business with Chinese political associations, Chong Wing Dung used a different name: Zhang Bing Liang. Since these names are not phonetically related, it appears that Chong Wing Dung was not his given name. It is possible that Chong Wing Dung emigrated as a paper son; Chinese men who immigrated to Canada using false documents. The relentless discrimination and oppression of Chinese people in Canada made it nearly impossible for them to immigrate otherwise. Using false papers would not have made their lives easier; instead, they would have lived in constant fear of deportation.
This theory on Chong Wing Dung cannot be proven using the documents at the MoD archives and available public resources. However, it is important to acknowledge that the severity of Sinophobia and Chinese oppression prevented nearly all Chinese immigrants from settling in Canada. The population of Chinese people in Canada dropped by 25 per cent between 1921 and 1951. Those who chose to return to their families in China sold their documents to those desperate to immigrate. There were also those who bought forged documents that stated they were children of Chinese Canadian citizens. Immigrating to another country was not a choice that was made lightly. For many, it was the only way to support their families. If Chong Wing Dung and Chong Yip Cheung did emigrate as paper sons, their situation would have been dire. This was a high risk means of immigrating, but it was even more dangerous for unaccompanied minors who had to advocate for themselves should they be detained or deported.
CONCLUSION
Henry Lang’s life in Canada was framed by the Head Tax law and the Chinese Exclusion Act. It is uncertain whether he was ever able to move his wife to Canada or if he had any children. It is possible that he spent his entire marriage separated from his wife until his death in 1950. This was a heartbreaking and unavoidable reality for the Chinese community during the era of Canada’s anti-Chinese immigration policy.
In the past 20 years efforts have been made by provincial and federal governments to acknowledge the injustice of Chinese Exclusion. A formal apology for head tax and the exclusionary period was given by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on June 22, 2002. Reparations were made to the surviving Chinese Canadians and the spouses of deceased immigrants who were forced to pay head tax. To increase awareness and education on the history of Chinese immigration, legacy and community funds were established. July 1, 2023, marked one hundred years since the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and in acknowledgement of this anniversary the Canadian government officially recognized Chinese exclusion from 1923-1947 as a period of historical significance.
By: Maia Bell
Maia is on a contract as the Collections and Curatorial Intern at the Museum of Dufferin. She is an emerging museum professional with an BA in History from Abilene Christian University and has three years of experience working in museum collections.
This article and research on Henry Lang would not have been possible without the translation work completed by Ooi Chee Khoon and Daniel Ooi. Their expertise on phonetic translations among the Chinese North American community, and their insight on Chinese emigration were invaluable to uncovering the story of Henry Lang.
Questions about Collecting the Community can be directed to Caitlin Hudson-Dubsky (Curator) by email at chudsondubsky@dufferinmuseum.com