Dearest Uncle Tong & Mother,
I received your letter & acknowledge that I'll soon be hearing about the procedures becoming a naturalized British citizen, but I have not had any news in HK so I could only wait. I think it'd only be in a matter of months so please don't worry about it. I also share the wish that we could all be together again as soon as possible.
I learnt from your letter that the national affairs in England are not looking good, but I am relieved to hear that it has not affected the economy. It is, however, a problem that there's difficulty in finding labor. I've heard that even Mother has to work in the kitchen. I am very worried that it may be more than what she could put up with & I do understand that Mother's reason is to earn a living, but I do hope that you could look after & not overwork yourself. Uncle [maternal] & I keep thinking of & worrying about you over here!
Never mind England, I can't even bear to mention HK. Many goods value have skyrocketed, which really brings out the brutish nature in man. I believe that you must have read about this in the papers. Even the price of toilet tissue is currently $1.50 per roll. Rice, fuel, fish & vegetables are even more ungovernable, so every business is having their headaches. Because income can't cover outlay, it's making life impossible for the people, causing a two-month slack period for Uncle. In short, the so-called civilized, flourished & advanced society that we live in is only constructed on the false faces & distressed livelihood of the people!
Uncle Tong, I believe that you must be even more stressed out at work, but do remember that you should always put your health first. We initially wanted to record our messages, but both Uncle & I are afraid of audio recordings, therefore we could only express our heartfelt wishes & to send our regards on pen & paper. As the saying goes, "although all family correspondences are the same, they are better than nothing." Things have stayed the same here, so please do not worry about us.
I wish you all good health & happiness.
Your Loving Daughter, Barbara
24th February 1974
(translator unknown)
親愛的棠叔、媽咪：
你們的來信已收到了，知道手續將有音訊，但至今香港還沒有甚麼通知，只有再等等，相信都是於這數月期間，請勿擔心，我也不是一樣希望，能早日見到你們，共聚一堂。
來信知道英國的國況不佳，但喜聞並沒有影響到銀海，但工人的難請，亦是煩事之一，現聞母親也要親身入廚，真是為恐妳吃不消。雖然知母親這樣做也是為了生活，但希望妳能自我保重，不要太過操勞，因我和舅父在這裡也很掛念妳，擔心妳啊！
不要說英國，就是香港也不堪一提，百物之騰漲，獸性之人心，相信妳看報紙也略知其情。現在連廁紙也買1.50一卷，米、石油、魚肉、蔬菜更為之猖狂，所以每行都為之頭痛，正所謂入不付支，真是民不聊生，故舅父這二個月的生活也很清淡，總之，這所謂文明、繁盛、進步的社會，也只不過是建設在痛苦的民生、虛偽的面孔之上吧了！
叔叔，相信你對工作更辛勞憂事，但望身心皆安康為重。我們本想錄音給你們，但我和舅父二人都很怕錄音的，所以只有薄紙數字，以表心聲，以告問安，正所謂「家書封封同，亦勝無個字」，至於家事，一切無異，請勿遠慮。
祝生活愉快 身體健康！
女兒 囡囡上
七四年二月廿四日
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