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. He was firstly educated at Jit Sin Chinese Primary School, then he went on to the Anglo-Chinese School and after that, he finished his secondary education
St. Xavier's Institution from which he graduated in 1933. Instead of pursuing further studies abroad, Wong Pow Nee went to work as a clerk at the Bukit Mertajam Catholic Benevolent Society. In 1935, he took up a clerical position with the Sin Ban Guan Bus Company, but the company folded not long after and Wong Pow Nee embarked on a very different career. Between 1937 and 1943, he taught English at St. Mary's Mission School at
Permatang Tinggi. In 1945, he taught English at Kim Sen Primary School in Bukit Mertajam. At the same time he enrolled in a Teachers Training Course from which he graduated in 1947. ==Politics and public service==