From That Island to This Island / By Chang Hung-yen

**From Indonesia to China, then from the mainland to Hong Kong.** **They embarked on a journey of displacement, from one island to another.** **When nationality and identity become mere buoys,** **only family and memories serve as anchors for a lifetime.** **"Perhaps every family experiences separation, then a long journey, with the next generation returning to find their roots. In the end, regardless of the external environment, the most important thing is to have family by your side, facing the indescribable nostalgia together."** In the 1950s, several young Indonesian Chinese, armed with suitcases and one-way tickets, set off on a path of no return, filled with aspirations for the homeland they had never seen. From overseas Chinese to foreign nationals, from a minority in one societal gap to a minority in another, they were constantly adrift in the tides of the era, seeking a place to settle and thrive. As her elder family members gradually passed away, Chang Hung-yen was determined to document the experiences of her family members after they returned to China, as well as the choices and fates of her parents' generation amidst political upheaval. After a period of wandering between Indonesia and China, they eventually put down roots in Hong Kong, drawing strength from adversity to forge a new life. Their life experiences also reflect the complex destiny of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia during that era. Full Title: From That Island to This Island: The Dispersal Story of Indonesian Chinese Author: Chang Hung-yen ISBN: 978-988-237-324-2 Binding: Paperback Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: 324 Dimensions: 210 x 148 mm **About the Author** **Chang Hung-yen** A veteran media professional. Her parents were Indonesian Chinese. Born in Beijing and raised in Hong Kong, she graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Asia College, with a degree in Journalism and Communication and holds a Master's degree in Political Science from Keio University, Japan. She was formerly a chief anchor at Cable TV News and currently serves as the Director of the Office of Communications and Public Relations at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her works include "Goodbye, News Anchor: The Scenery of Returning After Leaving," translated works such as "A Hundred Years in Retrospect: A Japanese Veteran's Memoir of the War of Resistance Against Japan" (by Shin'ichiro Kumagai), and edited works like "One Person, One Story: Whispers of Journalists" (co-edited with Su Yao-chi, et al.). She possesses a keen ability to discern, amidst a crowd, the Cantonese spoken with a unique blend of Indonesian, Hokkien, and Mandarin accents—a distinctive vocal imprint of the older generation of Indonesian Chinese. **Endorsements** Governance is the domain of political parties, while one's homeland is what the people cherish. Chang Hung-yen truly knows how to write. She writes of her parents' hardships, portraying the principles of the older generation; she writes of her own yearning, depicting the unwavering spirit of the youth. Viewed more deeply, this book is, in essence, laughter and tears within the long corridor of history spanning both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the three regions. Its perspective is novel, and its sentiment profound. What is remarkable is how she writes with such ease and candor, step by step, offering a comforting read. —**Tung Chiao**, Writer These Indonesian Chinese, born in the 1930s and 1940s, endured immense historical shifts, migrating to mainland China in the 1950s and arriving in Hong Kong in the 1970s. They started from scratch, carving out new lives in a foreign land. Their stories reveal the transformations of identity amidst dispersal and mobility, as well as the struggles to find a sense of belonging in different social environments. Ultimately, they convey the preciousness of family companionship and the strength to confront nostalgia, no matter where one finds themselves. —**Wang Gungwu**, Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong and Distinguished Professor at the National University of Singapore