The Khek speak Akha (or Hakkah), which is the language spoken by the Akha people of southern China Yunnan Province. The Khek were driven out of their lands into the inhospitable highlands of the Yunan in south-west China by the Han Chinese some two thousand years ago, but they spread father south beyond the frontiers of China into Kentung Shan of Burma, into northern Laos, Thailand, North Vietnam, and of course Malaya. Ioka is the name of the guardian spirit of the Khek community. The Khek shamans are believed to be in direct contact with the Ioka. In the Akha language, the word of this shaman is tumo. The Khek are a very superstitious people.

Being already sesquilingual, the Hong Kong Chinese are therefore quite receptive to the teaching of another language.

In the parlour, she could hear Aunty Biola attempting to teach her father Yoruba, collapsing into helpless giggles whenever he mispronounced his vowels, giving them the flat English sound instead of lifting them upwards with the slight outward puff of breath that was required.

Hot water supplied by an electric faucet attachment at the kitchen sink, an electric shower attachment, etc., ...