His father was Ah Yow Leong, who was born in Toisan in Southern China
around 1891 and jumped ship in Liverpool about the time of the First
World War. He started washing clothes before founding the Leong Trading
Company, importing goods from Hong Kong to England. When Japan occupied
Hong Kong he lost his ship. He then opened the Universal Chinese
Restaurant at 11 Denmark Street in Soho, London. He died in London in
1948 after falling down the stairs.