The late Sir Henry Chow, founder of the iconic Lae Biscuit Company, passed away on January 21, 2017, aged 83, leaving behind a business legacy that will continue for generations to come.
In April 2010 the magnificent new K65 million Lae Biscuit Company factory at Kamkumung in Lae was opened.
Together with Sir Henry was his good friend and then Governor-General, the late Sir Paulias Matane, who passed away on December 12, 2021, aged 90.
Hundreds of invited guests from Papua New Guinea and overseas converged on Kamkumung for the day.
The guest list read like a who’s who of PNG business, government and politics who were there to witness the opening of PNG’s largest single factory and the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the southern hemisphere.
It was a special day for company founder and chairman, Sir Henry Chow, then aged 76, a member of a Chinese family that has been in the country for 115 years – spanning six generations – since its grandfather arrived at Kokopo as a coolie labourer under the German administration in 1895.
“The family has done very well over the 115 years from our coolie grandfather labourer to come to this stage,” an emotional Sir Henry said in his magnificent new boardroom.
“It has not been easy.
“The family has been through two world wars.
“With a coolie labourer background, we have been discriminated against.
“Our parents have sacrificed and educated all their children in Australia, who have returned to PNG to run little boats, little trade stores and little plantations.”
Sir Henry, a trained boat builder, bought off a small biscuit-making company called Lae Biscuit Company at Voco Point in Lae in 1974.
“It was a very small factory, making a quarter tonne of biscuits a day,” he recalled.
“In 36 years, Lae Biscuit has grown and expanded to 150 tonnes.”
Asked what his secret was, Sir Henry revealed: “Determination and will because I want to make good.
“My grandparents on both sides instilled in me that they were discriminated against and we have to work hard to become a success.
“That has been ringing in my head all these years.”
Sir Paulias paid tribute to Sir Henry Chow and his family on their long and faithful contribution to PNG over the years.
The Governor General, in his speech, concentrated on Sir Henry and the Chow family’s contribution to PNG since its grandfather arrived at Kokopo as a coolie laborer under the German administration in 1895.
“The forefathers of the Chow family were peasant sharecrop farmers from Kaiping County, Guandong province, Southern China,” Sir Paulias said.
“One male member was recruited by the New Guinea German colonial government as a personal servant for one of its administration officers at Rabaul in 1895.
“Two younger brothers followed and settled in Rabaul.
“The Chow family now has six generations in Papua New Guinea.
“The family became part and parcel of the history and development of East New Britain and New Ireland provinces.
“Members of each generation have been active in community affairs and contributed much to the development and advancement of the two provinces.”
Sir Henry said that to have achieved and completed the brand-new facility, the biggest stand-alone biscuit-making factory in the Southern Hemisphere, needed the support of many people and friends.
“To have come this far, it had taken us 52 years of sweat, toil and hard work, and on the way we had experienced failures, discouragement and many hurdles,” he said.
“It had not been a fair sailing all the way, and with determination and willpower, especially with the help of my good wife Lady Colette, we managed to come this far.
“So they say that a successful man, there is always a woman behind him, so my friends, Lady Colette is really claiming the credit today.
“She did produce seven childen for me, five boys and two daughters.
“On their return to Papua New Guinea after their education in Australia, all our five sons had worked for Lae Biscuit Company, and they had contributed to the growth, expansion and success of the company today.
“They brought with them fresh ideas and innovation on how to manage and operate the company, even though they were not totally agreeable with me.”
An emotional Sir Henry passed the rein on to his fourth son, Ian Andrew Chow, to be the new managing-director of Lae Biscuit Company.
I was SO glad to come across this and the memories it brought back. Both H and C were so very kind, gracious and generous – both in Lae and Port Moresby.
I knew I was always welcome in their homes, whether they were there or not!
I mean, SOMEONE had to keep that poor tank-trapped fish company!😇💐
Thank you Steven.