Before it's too late: Hong Kong author documents Chinese in Cuba
One man's quest to learn more about his father's time on the island has led him to record the little-known history of an obscure part of the Chinese diaspora
Hongkongers often have personal links with Chinese communities around the world, but former academic Louie Kin-sheun is a rare resident with a connection to Chinese emigrants in Cuba.
Both his grandfather and father established themselves in the Caribbean nation, and Louie has been digging into records and visiting Cuba over the past decade to retrace his father's journey, learn about the experiences of other Chinese there and record the history of its Chinese diaspora.
The quest began after his mother's death in 2004.
"I was tidying up her things after she died and found 200 letters from my father that described his life in Cuba [in the '50s and '60s]. I became curious and wanted to know whether there were more traces of him in Cuba," Louie says.
Louie's family originated from Taishan in Guangdong province, and his grandfather, José Luis, was among thousands of workers who left to seek a better life in Cuba.