Though diligent, Ho Sau was repeatedly interrupted in his pursuit of studies. In the summer of 1937, Ho accompanied his mother to visit their relatives in Hong Kong, but during their stay they received news that Guangzhou was bombarded by the Japanese. For safety reasons, Ho stayed to study at the subsidiary primary school of Man Fan Secondary School run by his uncle. After the death of his mother, Ho moved to Macau to live with his father and pursue secondary studies, but then the Pacific War broke out and Ho Sau was forced to terminate his studies and return to Hong Kong to seek work opportunities.