SUMMARY
At the height of anti-Chinese zealotry in the
U.S. during the 1920’s and 1930’s, Chinese were
barred from purchasing burial plots in all American
cemeteries. Fortunately, in 1922, through the efforts of good men like Mr. Hung Tak Wong and
Shao Hing Lee, a piece of land at the corner of
First Street and Eastern Avenue in East Los Angeles was purchased for use as burial ground for
Los Angeles’ Chinese. It was later placed under
the management of CCBA’s Cemetery Division, a
group of fve persons elected annually by CCBA.
The fee charged was only US $30. Sadly the cemetery deteriorated gradually to a weed-flled patch
due to lack of maintenance. Although Mr. Shet Tin
Lau later assumed restorative responsibilities, his
hard work was terminated by lack of funds and
other problems.
In 1958, Chinatown community leaders spearheaded the effort to overhaul the cemetery again.
They formed the Management Committee of the
Los Angeles Chinese Cemetery under the direction of then Committee Chairman Poy Wong, Vicechair Kea Woo Gee, Treasurer Kit Fun Quon, and
Wah Shau Lee, etc. In addition, Poy Wong, Kit Fun
Quon and Wah Shau Lee provided a loan, interest
free, to purchase the three-story property, including basement, at 940 Chungking Road as headquarter for the Cemetery operation.
As the regulations governing immigration relaxed after WWII, waves of Chinese immigrants
arrived on U.S. soil. To meet the need for the expansion of the Cemetery, Mr. Poy Wong led the negotiation for the purchase of four parcels adjacent
to the Cemetery, and applied to County and State
governments for the construction of streets and
drainage systems. The completion of this expansion project that took a decade was in large part
accomplished through the generous donations by
the Chinese community and the trust the donors
placed in the key people mentioned above.
Not only did the Cemetery’s total area increase
upon expansion, its organizational structure also
become more integrated. Each plot sold for $250,
and $500 each for special plots. CCBA amended
its bylaws, merging the Cemetery Fund Management Committee and Cemetery Division to form
the Los Angeles Chinese Cemetery Committee.