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Eddie Lee

The fragrance of steamed rice rolls fills a snack shop in an old neighbourhood of Tai Po, Hong Kong.
“They are freshly made to order,” Wong Lee-lee, who runs the joint, said of her signature dishes.
“Business has been so-so, as summer nears,” the housewife-turned-shopkeeper said, as a small queue of patrons waited outside her eatery on a sweltering afternoon for rice roll specialities and other steaming hot delicacies, such as congee.
Yet the rice roll master, who works six days a week, said she was satisfied the business has provided her with the means to support her family and help people in need.

Apart from offering concessions to older people, Wong has set aside some money to subsidise an underprivileged child’s hobby classes.
“Children need hobbies for their personality development,” the shop owner said, adding she could only support one beneficiary for the moment but hoped to help more children when she earned extra cash.
Her entrepreneurial venture began in 2016, when the mother of two young sons wanted to make a living by her own hand.
“My husband died suddenly of a heart disease in 2013,” Wong said.
“My eldest son was still in kindergarten and his younger sibling was a baby at the time.”

Without any support, the bereaved wife and her two sons once had to rely on government allowances under Hong Kong’s Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme.
However, the mother said she would rather work than live on welfare.
“I want to set a good example to my sons as they grow older. I don’t want them to feel inferior,” Wong said.
She eventually followed in her late husband’s footsteps and entered the food business, with the help of her uncles on her mother’s side.
The then housewife set up a shop in Tai Po, where she has been living for years, and sold a variety of common local food, before creating a popular rice roll menu.
As her business became profitable, the working mother, who never allowed difficult circumstances to hold her back, said she wanted to spend more quality time with her sons.
“I also want to give back to the community,” she added.

For her inspirational work, Wong has been nominated for the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by the South China Morning Post and property developer Sino Group to celebrate the achievements of remarkable people whose work may not come to public notice.
Her name was put forward by Rotary Club of Metropolitan Hong Kong in the Spirit of Perseverance category, which recognises individuals who have, against the odds, overcome personal challenges to succeed.
Wong said it was important to stay positive.
She was also grateful to the relatives and friends who had helped her.
“I was lucky to have met many good Samaritans,” the mother said of her maternal uncles and high school chums who had comforted her and encouraged her in her darkest moments.
“I now want to share my luck with others.”


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Spirit of Hong Kong

Hong Kong widow shows strong character to become Tai Po entrepreneur with a conscience despite family tragedy

Wong Lee-lee, a single mother who lost her husband to heart disease, has been nominated for a Spirit of Hong Kong award. Photo: Edmond So

Spirit of HK 2019 nominee Wong Lee-lee, single mother and snack shop owner, poses for a picture at her shop in Tai Wo. 17MAY19 SCMP / Edmond So

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Mother-of-two’s husband died suddenly but she bounced back to start up her own rice roll shop
Wong Lee-lee donates cash to support an underprivileged child and her struggle has been recognised with award nomination


Rice roll master and mum-of-two overcomes adversity by setting up business that helps others.


Hong Kong widow shows strong character to become Tai Po entrepreneur with a conscience despite family tragedy

Mother-of-two’s husband died suddenly but she bounced back to start up her own rice roll shop Wong Lee-lee donates cash to support an underprivileged child and her struggle has been recognised with award nomination

Mother-of-two’s husband died suddenly but she bounced back to start up her own rice roll shop

Wong Lee-lee donates cash to support an underprivileged child and her struggle has been recognised with award nomination