[2] He was born in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, as the son of ethnic Penangite Chinese parents of Hakka descent, namely Cecilia Foo Nguk Yin and John Wong Ee Chin, a hardworking timber merchant cum building developer who both were of the Catholic faith.

[3] Instead of pursuing further studies abroad, Wong Pow Nee went to work as a clerk at the Bukit Mertajam Catholic Benevolent Society.

[4] In 1957, he was appointed as the first Chief Minister of Penang and delivered the Proclamation of Independence at the Esplanade on 31 August in front of a large crowd, after Tunku Abdul Rahman had done the same simultaneously in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

[1] In 1969, he failed in his bid to retain the Bukit Mertajam seat and was defeated by the Gerakan candidate, Dato' Ooh Chooi Cheng (Chinese: 余水清; pinyin: Yú Shuǐqīng).

[4] As a result of the electoral defeat, he suffered a heart attack in December of that year but recovered well enough to continue his service to King and country.

[9] After relinquishing the position of Chief Minister of Penang, Wong Pow Nee served as Malaysian Ambassador to Italy and the Holy See between 1970 and 1975.