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Jackie Chan came into this world in 1954, the son of a desperately poor couple who had just fled to Hong Kong from the Province of Shandong, China. When he was born, his parents could barely raise the money for the hospital bill, and were almost forced to adopt him out to the delivering doctor. But the good omen of his birth - an only child born in the Year of the Horse - was destined to change his fortunes. His parents tried very hard to raise money to pay for the bill of hospital and took Jackie, their only child, home. They named him Chan Kong-sang, which means "born in Hong Kong", to celebrate their safe arrival in Hong Kong. The family lived in the French Embassy where Jackie's father worked as a cook and his mother a housekeeper. Jackie disliked school and left after finishing Primary One. When Jackie was seven years old, his father took a position as chief chef in the American Embassy in Australia to improve the family's lot. Jackie's humble beginnings were destined to change dramatically from the moment his father determined that the boy should learn some skills, and sent him to the China Drama Academy operated by Yu Jim-yuen. Times they were a-changing. Chinese Opera was declining...
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