china town

Asian said:

That is completely false. But, it is true small number of Chinese there, including my grand aunty, refuse to learn Khmer, which is the official language of Cambodia.

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I was not here, so I can only speak based on someone else's experience.

It appears so much Chinese people has come to Cambodia and settled in PP, they have been able to start business, convienence store, noodle shop, etc. Like it or not, majority of business is owned by Chinese, and it is a fact.

There are a fair number of Khmer at the time, but mostly working for Chinese. The Khmer at the time, seems to be the lower class.

It appears there are little need to speaks Khmer if you are born and raised in PP, whereas in other province, it is not the case.

If anybody claims or used to claim, for personal gain in order to go oversea based on Cambodian refugee status, to be Cambodian, he or she must be able to speak Khmer.

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Yes, if you want to keep the pride to be a Khmer, then you may believe you must speak Khmer. But this isn't the case in the late 60s early 70s.

I have found these Chinese living in Cambodia and refuse the learn Khmer, but have Cambodia passports, are so ignorant. I don't talk to grand aunt because of this.

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If are born in Cambodia, then the authorites really have no choice but grand you Cambodia ID/Passport. Your ability to speak Khmer is irrlevant. Besides, Khmer is not exactly easy to learn.

By the way, mrfusion, by the same token, the whole San Francisco or Vancouver should be very much a Chinatown because some Chinese living there don't speak English. What. I am trying to say is by your fact alone is not enough to claim that "PP used to be very much China town" even though sounds very off base.

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I don't know how many Chinese is in SF or Vancouver, what % are there? If Chinese is ALL YOU NEED to get around, then it is very much Chinatown. I been to SF and Oakland once, this is not the case.

mrfusion said:

I was not here, so I can only speak based on someone else's experience.

It appears so much Chinese people has come to Cambodia and settled in PP, they have been able to start business, convienence store, noodle shop, etc. Like it or not, majority of business is owned by Chinese, and it is a fact.

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It is true that most Chinese own most of the business in Phnom Penh. No one denies that.

mrfusion said:

There are a fair number of Khmer at the time, but mostly working for Chinese. The Khmer at the time, seems to be the lower class.

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Once again this is completely baseless and I'd say that it is insulting to Khmer people. I think we should have a strong base first before we say that.

mrfusion said:

It appears there are little need to speaks Khmer if you are born and raised in PP, whereas in other province, it is not the case.

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Of course, if you are ignorant, which most of us Toechew are, toward Cambodians. All of universities and institutions in PP at that time had Khmer as language of instruction. Almost of half of student population was claimed to be Chinese-Khmer, who were born in PP. They were not born with Khmer language (we all know that), but they tried hard to learn it from Khmer teachers and academias. Still, you called these people "seem to be the lower class"? It is beyond imagination of any kind.

mrfusion said:

Yes, if you want to keep the pride to be a Khmer, then you may believe you must speak Khmer. But this isn't the case in the late 60s early 70s.

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I was born in late 60s and 70s in Cambodia. I am proud to be Cambodian, even though I have Teochew background. Just like people born and live in America are proud of being Americans regardless what background they are from. Of course, they are always a few opportunists who are so ignorant not be that. It is not a belief, but an obligation that you must speak Khmer if you are a Cambodian. I have been there and done that.

mrfusion said:

If are born in Cambodia, then the authorites really have no choice but grand you Cambodia ID/Passport. Your ability to speak Khmer is irrlevant. Besides, Khmer is not exactly easy to learn.

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Not to sure if that is the case that " If are born in Cambodia, then the authorites really have no choice but grand you Cambodia ID/Passport" . One of my nephew was born in Cambodia, but he is a Cambodian citizen. If you call yourself Cambodian, then your ability to at least speak Khmer is relevant. It is just like if you call yourself English, your ability to speak English is relevant.

If you are born in Cambodia and you can learn Mandarin, you can learn Khmer unless you don't like Khmer culture and tradition.

mrfusion said:

I don't know how many Chinese is in SF or Vancouver, what % are there? If Chinese is ALL YOU NEED to get around, then it is very much Chinatown. I been to SF and Oakland once, this is not the case.

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A third of Vancouver population is Chinese, but its China town is only a small poor portion of the city. Basically, some Chinese can get around with only Chinese. This does not make Vancouver a China town. It is laughable to say that.

In PP in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, I don't think if more than a quarter of its population was Chinese or presented themselves as Chinese. So, I don't think majority of Cambodians, regardless their background, would agree with you at all on this.

Asian said:

Once again this is completely baseless and I'd say that it is insulting to Khmer people. I think we should have a strong base first before we say that.

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Please don't take it the hard way, it is not insulting, it is based on what I heard from the relatives that was in PP at the time, I am in no position to agree or disagree with anyone that has first hand experience.

Of course, if you are ignorant, which most of us Toechew are, toward Cambodians. All of universities and institutions in PP at that time had Khmer as language of instruction.

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University, yes, but primary School and possibly high school, I am not so sure. There are plenty of chinese school that uses Chinese to teach, yes, they did teach Khmer, but prehaps most Chinese at the time want to keep their pride and not so much interest in Khmer, and know only the very basic.

Still, you called these people "seem to be the lower class"? It is beyond imagination of any kind.

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I aplogise if it offended anyone. I did not called these people "lower class", it is only based on what I heard.

Not to sure if that is the case that " If are born in Cambodia, then the authorites really have no choice but grand you Cambodia ID/Passport" .

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If you are born in Cambodia, but left Cambodia in an early age so you never get to learn Khmer, Cambodia is still require to grant you citizen regardless of your ability to speak Khmer. (I think this rulle apply to almost every country). But the officials will probably give you a hard time.

One of my nephew was born in Cambodia, but he is a Cambodian citizen.

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Why but?

If you are born in Cambodia and you can learn Mandarin, you can learn Khmer unless you don't like Khmer culture and tradition.

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I guess the problem is I have spoken to the wrong group, those that lived in PP never liked Khmer culture and tradition, not proud to be Cambodiam, and believe Khmer are of lower class.

A third of Vancouver population is Chinese, but its China town is only a small poor portion of the city. Basically, some Chinese can get around with only Chinese. This does not make Vancouver a China town. It is laughable to say that.

In PP in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, I don't think if more than a quarter of its population was Chinese or presented themselves as Chinese. So, I don't think majority of Cambodians, regardless their background, would agree with you at all on this.

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I think you are confuse when I used the word Chinatown, and my usage will probably be different to fulltimer as well. don't be confuse with China's Town.

When lots of Chinese move toward a region, and established business in the region, we can called it Chinatown.

There is a Cambodia town in Longbeach California, what percentage of the people there are Khmer? Probably not much.

mrfusion said:

Mod should move this Chinatown related conversation to an more appropiate thread.

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You are right my friend! My parents don't even speak a lick of Khmer when they were in cambodia. Now they only speak chinese and practice the culture. I ask today about the reasons why they don't practice khmer culture they see it as lower class. Sorry to any khmer here.

mrfusion said:

Please don't take it the hard way, it is not insulting, it is based on what I heard from the relatives that was in PP at the time, I am in no position to agree or disagree with anyone that has first hand experience.



University, yes, but primary School and possibly high school, I am not so sure. There are plenty of chinese school that uses Chinese to teach, yes, they did teach Khmer, but prehaps most Chinese at the time want to keep their pride and not so much interest in Khmer, and know only the very basic.

I aplogise if it offended anyone. I did not called these people "lower class", it is only based on what I heard.


If you are born in Cambodia, but left Cambodia in an early age so you never get to learn Khmer, Cambodia is still require to grant you citizen regardless of your ability to speak Khmer. (I think this rulle apply to almost every country). But the officials will probably give you a hard time.

Why but?



I guess the problem is I have spoken to the wrong group, those that lived in PP never liked Khmer culture and tradition, not proud to be Cambodiam, and believe Khmer are of lower class.




I think you are confuse when I used the word Chinatown, and my usage will probably be different to fulltimer as well. don't be confuse with China's Town.

When lots of Chinese move toward a region, and established business in the region, we can called it Chinatown.

There is a Cambodia town in Longbeach California, what percentage of the people there are Khmer? Probably not much.

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^^yeah but now pp is not really a chinatown anymore! That is why I think they should build a big chinatown in this city. It will boost PP economy! If they can get at least 3 million or more chinese to move into this new city it will be GREAT!!!!

Fulltimer said:

^^yeah but now pp is not really a chinatown anymore! That is why I think they should build a big chinatown in this city. It will boost PP economy! If they can get at least 3 million or more chinese to move into this new city it will be GREAT!!!!

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It doesn't work that way, there are lots of Chinese people move to Cambodia, Thailand, Indoesia, etc first half of last century because there are problems with China and they don't have much to eat, and moving away from their own town is one option.

China is better now, and you are not going to see those sort of exodus anymore.

Also, you can't build Chinatown, the Chinese from groups, and as it dominate a region, that region becomes Chinatown.

Cambodia does not have a open door policy when it comes to immigrations, even if you can find 3m poor Chinese that want to come, even if you can promised them a better life, it is not going to happen.

mrfusion said:

It doesn't work that way, there are lots of Chinese people move to Cambodia, Thailand, Indoesia, etc first half of last century because there are problems with China and they don't have much to eat, and moving away from their own town is one option.

China is better now, and you are not going to see those sort of exodus anymore.

Also, you can't build Chinatown, the Chinese from groups, and as it dominate a region, that region becomes Chinatown.

Cambodia does not have a open door policy when it comes to immigrations, even if you can find 3m poor Chinese that want to come, even if you can promised them a better life, it is not going to happen.

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^^My dreams are over!

Fulltimer said:

^^My dreams are over!

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Because you wish over too.

Don't think much about China town, Chinese currency... etc in Cambodia While
we are both Khmer-Chinese living together with happiness if you want that
happen.. in one day no any Khmer with Chinese are married and than people
try to split up become (YOU and ME) (Khmer and Chinese) (Your hair is your head)hno:

Khmer heart is always open.. warm and welcome.. we are a good buddhist^^

Fulltimer said:

You are right my friend! My parents don't even speak a lick of Khmer when they were in cambodia. Now they only speak chinese and practice the culture. I ask today about the reasons why they don't practice khmer culture they see it as lower class. Sorry to any khmer here.

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Just like my aunty, your parents are ones of those ignorant that I was talking about. Just like the old China - every thing else that not Chinese is barbarian and lower class, including the Manchu that ruled China for century. Maybe your parents' parents was treated as low class in China before escaping south to Cambodia. They could not fit in for some reason (economic may be). Notice that not all Chinese living in Cambodia are from high society class or even middle class.

Cambodians called these ignorant Chinese living in Cambodia and claim themselves Cambodians - Chin Chhaow. Unlike the majority of good Chinese-Cambodians, all they care are themselves, nobody else even the country that gives them birth.

This ignorant act and discrimination against Khmer people was one reason that there was a riot against these Chin Chhaow in PP in the early 70s or late 60s. Without the support of the majority of the middle class Cambodians, who your parents stupidly call them low class, these Chin Chhaow's faith maybe would have been the same as those living in Malaysia.

Fulltimer said:

^^yeah but now pp is not really a chinatown anymore! That is why I think they should build a big chinatown in this city. It will boost PP economy! If they can get at least 3 million or more chinese to move into this new city it will be GREAT!!!!

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I think 3 million chinese can fit into your basement. So, you can call it My Basement China Town. Wake up!

mrfusion said:

Please don't take it the hard way, it is not insulting, it is based on what I heard from the relatives that was in PP at the time, I am in no position to agree or disagree with anyone that has first hand experience.



University, yes, but primary School and possibly high school, I am not so sure. There are plenty of chinese school that uses Chinese to teach, yes, they did teach Khmer, but prehaps most Chinese at the time want to keep their pride and not so much interest in Khmer, and know only the very basic.

I aplogise if it offended anyone. I did not called these people "lower class", it is only based on what I heard.


If you are born in Cambodia, but left Cambodia in an early age so you never get to learn Khmer, Cambodia is still require to grant you citizen regardless of your ability to speak Khmer. (I think this rulle apply to almost every country). But the officials will probably give you a hard time.

Why but?



I guess the problem is I have spoken to the wrong group, those that lived in PP never liked Khmer culture and tradition, not proud to be Cambodiam, and believe Khmer are of lower class.




I think you are confuse when I used the word Chinatown, and my usage will probably be different to fulltimer as well. don't be confuse with China's Town.

When lots of Chinese move toward a region, and established business in the region, we can called it Chinatown.

There is a Cambodia town in Longbeach California, what percentage of the people there are Khmer? Probably not much.

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Fair enough. You should not have said that "PP used to be very much a Chinatown," which I completely disagree with because you don't have solid proof that the majority of people living in PP that time was all Chinese and spoke only Chinese. Perhaps, you would have meant there was a big Chinatown in PP (if there were one at all). Using the fact that "my mom told me so" does not cut it.

MYPHNOMPENH said:

Because you wish over too.

Don't think much about China town, Chinese currency... etc in Cambodia While
we are both Khmer-Chinese living together with happiness if you want that
happen.. in one day no any Khmer with Chinese are married and than people
try to split up become (YOU and ME) (Khmer and Chinese) (Your hair is your head)hno:

Khmer heart is always open.. warm and welcome.. we are a good buddhist^^

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^yeah but now my whole family live in America now. We all marry white people! :cheers::cheers:

Fulltimer said:

^yeah but now my whole family live in America now. We all marry white people! :cheers::cheers:

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It is pretty rare to see an extreme believer in me-Chinese-this-Chinese-that is married to a white person, let alone the whole family marrying white people. Insteresting to see that everyone in your family including you loves white people so much (maybe more than Chinese). This makes me wonder why you are so interested in Cambodia's affairs, especially anything that is related to Chinese, like every beautiful Cambodian woman or rich person is chinese. Are you missing something in Cambodia? Hope the marriage lasts.

Asian said:

Fair enough. You should not have said that "PP used to be very much a Chinatown,"

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Just don't take it as I claim "PP is Chinatown".

I believe when a street, or a number of streets, or even a city is dominated by Chinese operate business (which you agreed), whether is official or not, people will called it Chinatown.

But of course, you were here, so you can judge if the Chinese population in PP at the time is significant.

which I completely disagree with because you don't have solid proof

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lol, do you have any proof? You should not disagree because other has no proof, but you can disagree on the basis you were here and have first hand experience.

that the majority of people living in PP that time was all Chinese and spoke only Chinese.

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Doesn't have to be majority, just need to be significant. But I guess there isn't even enough Chinese to be called significant.

Perhaps, you would have meant there was a big Chinatown in PP (if there were one at all).

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Yes, maybe I should have said that.

Using the fact that "my mom told me so" does not cut it.

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My mum told me some, anyway, it is my only source of information of the old PP. I tried to google it to find more info, but don't have much success.

mrfusion said:

Just don't take it as I claim "PP is Chinatown".

I believe when a street, or a number of streets, or even a city is dominated by Chinese operate business (which you agreed), whether is official or not, people will called it Chinatown.

But of course, you were here, so you can judge if the Chinese population in PP at the time is significant.

lol, do you have any proof? You should not disagree because other has no proof, but you can disagree on the basis you were here and have first hand experience.

Doesn't have to be majority, just need to be significant. But I guess there isn't even enough Chinese to be called significant.

Yes, maybe I should have said that.


My mum told me some, anyway, it is my only source of information of the old PP. I tried to google it to find more info, but don't have much success.

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I know that I don't have solid proof of otherwise, but I was born there and went to school there, and I saw the only place (where I was raised) that the Chinese population was concentrated in big number is the Oreusey Market. But, I never heard people called it a Chinatown. Anywhere else Khmer, and others are the majority.

Having said that you and I may be 50-50 right. So, I think it is acceptable for me to disagree on your 50, and you to disagree on mine.