[2014.01.08] MEDIA LEGEND SIR RUN RUN SHAW PASSED AWAY AT HOME

Sir Run Run Shaw

Sir Run Run Shaw (center)'s favorite car is the Rolls Royce.  He once posed for a photo with it, actors and artists

Sir Run Run Shaw's body is transported to the morgue

Shaw's widow Mona Fong leaves Television City
courtesy of mingpao.com

The police makes note of the lack of a will

Sir Run Run Shaw attended the 45th TVB Anniversary on October 3 2011, his final public event
courtesy of mingpao.com

After half a century in the film and television storm, TVB honorary chair Sir Run Run Shaw (Siu Yat Fu) yesterday morning passed away at home in the company of his family at age 106. Siu Yat Fu was born in November 1907. Known as "Uncle Six", Siu Yat Fu spent his life in the dream factory and created starry dreams for tens of thousands of viewers; his life was also like an epic film as it exceeded a century.

Siu Yat Fu in his youth started a business with his brother, as they crated the "Eastern Hollywood" Shaw film kingdom. Later he switched to TVB and produced programs that everyone knew. Under the Lion Rock he led the domestic culture trend and grew up with Hong Kong. In his late years he gladly performed charity work, as he actively donated to national and domestic education. Known as the "Great Philanthropist", he showered glitter on his lifelong silver journey.

Gradually lowering his profile in recent years, Siu Yat Fat after the TVB sale in 2011 put an end to his career despite estimated personal worth of over 10 billion. In the same year, at age 104 he attended the TVB anniversary lighting ceremony, his final public event. About Siu Yat Fu's passing, the political and business world, show business also expressed deep sorrow. Chief Executive C.Y. Leung expressed sadness over Siu Yat Fu's passing and sent his deepest sympathies to his family. He praised Siu Yat Fu as a media and film industry giant of a generation and a well known philanthropist. Over the years, in Hong Kong, the Mainland and around the world, he made major donations to assist with education, scientific research, healthcare, community welfare services and cultural and artistic careers.

TVB said that Siu Yat Fu passed away at home yesterday morning around 6:55AM. Family after notifying the doctor contacted the police, an ambulance took Siu Yat Fu to the United Hospital. The police also arrived at the Clearwater Bay home for an understanding. Siu Yat Fu's funeral will be family only. Details on a memorial event will be announced separately.

TVB CEO Norman Leung Nai Peng yesterday morning went to the United Hospital for an understanding of the situation. He said that Siu Yat Fu was very peaceful when he passed. Everyone at the company was very sadden and in deep mourning. At 7PM, Leung Nai Peng personally walked Siu Yat Fu's wife Mona Fong Yat Wa, son Siu Wai Ming and others out of Television City. In mourning clothing Fong Yat Wa lowered her head when she walked out and appeared to be calm. When asked if her mood has settled, Leung Nai Peng said, "Don't disturb Ms. Fong" and confirmed that the family returned to the company to discuss Siu Yat Fu's affairs. However no announcement has yet to be announced. TVB's three color station insignia was turned black yesterday during the Siu Yat Fu special.

TVB artist Liza Wang Ming Chuen felt sadden over Siu Yat Fu's sudden passing. She described Siu as a friendly and kind elder who contributed a lot to Hong Kong television and entertainment. She said, after working for TVB for over 40 years, the most memorable was one year at the TVB anniversary. That year more artists left, Uncle Six said to her the longest employees at TVB were him, Wang Ming Chuen and Madame Lee.

The Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers chief Ng See Yuen said that Siu Yat Fu's passing was regrettable. He said that Uncle Six was a Hong Kong film industry giant who made enormous contributions to the film industry, made many good movies, cultivated many workers, directors and actors.

Siu Yat Fu was born in 1907. Originally named Siu Yan Ling, his family originated from Zhenhai, Ningbo, Zhejiang. Because he was the six child in the family he was called Uncle Six. At age 17 he graduated from secondary school and followed his brother to Singapore to develop his film career. In 1930 he founded the Shaw Brothers company and officially began his film life. Two years later, Shaw Brothers made the first Chinese film with sound WHITE GOLD DRAGON (BAK GUM LUNG) and brought Chinese film from silent film into the new era with sound. On the eve of the War against Japanese Aggression, Shaw had over 110 cinemas in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and other locations and ruled the Southeast Asia film industry market.

In 1950, Shaw Brothers saw Hong Kong's industrial and commercial takeoff decided to expand its business in Hong Kong as it formed the Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) and built the Shaw House studio in Clearwater Bay. Known as "Eastern Hollywood", its slogan was "Shaw Release, Good Film Guarantee". It made classic films like THE KINGDOM AND THE BEAUTY (GONG SAN MEI YUN). Shaw was the first with the Huangmeidiao and new style martial art film genres and even wrote an important page in Hong Kong film development.

Siu Yat Fu in the late 1970s decided to transition to the television market and led TVB television programs and series that became the talk of the town across centuries for Hong Kong. Siu Yat Fu firmly sat atop the Hong Kong film and television industries for half a century. In 2012, this film and television tycoon finally officially retired.

Siu Yat Fu in 1977 was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Late in his life he actively made charity donations. So far he donated 4.5 billion to Mainland education. He also made donations to many Hong Kong universities. In 2002 he founded the "Eastern Nobel Prize" Shaw Prize to honor the world's outstanding scientists.

Siu Yat Fu and his wife Wong Mei Chun wed in 1937 and had two sons and two daughters. After Wong Mei Chun passed away, Siu Yat Fu in 1997 at age 90 wed his companion of many years Mona Fong Yat Wa.

The police yesterday arrived in Siu Yat Fu's Clearway Bay residence. When the police left, they wrote on a piece of paper that the "dead did not sign any will".

TVB's Tsang Sing Ming said, "I am not at liberty to say too much" and revealed that as of last night the funeral committee has not been established yet.

Attorney Luk Wai Hung said that it was unlikely for famous people who were elderly and to have no will, perhaps the "will" was not at home. If so, the asset in general would be distributed to the closest family member, the spouse; if the dead was single, it would be distributed to child, parents, siblings and others. Even when the dead set up a foundation, it might not be able to receive any asset.

Siu Yat Fu's final public appearance was in October 2011. At the time the media caught him and his wife Fong Yat Wa at Central. After dinner they even enjoyed some shopping. Since then he did not appear in public again. Fong Yat Wa once revealed that Siu Yat Fu returned to the company for meetings but rarely appeared in crowded places to avoid germs. Once said "the greatest job is work" he did not appear at the TVB anniversary, the Shaw Prize and the Miss Hong Kong pageant like he used to; on his birthday last year, Uncle Six did not hold a party either.

Known as everyone as Uncle Six, Siu Yat Fu once said, only by work could he ensure longevity. Before turning 90 he still insisted on going to work every day; when he turned 100 he still attended the biweekly TVB executive meeting on time, on his 100th birthday he even watched the entire TVB anniversary show in person. He said, he could only sleep for 5 hours every night, and 1 hour in the afternoon. The rest of the time was spent on work. Aside from work and meetings, Siu Yat Fu's other important job was watching movies. In the 1970s, the over 70 year old Uncle Six once watched 9 movies in one day and 700 in a year.

Always described as "gluttonous", Uncle Six in 2006 at age 99 was hospitalized for pneumonia for a week after having yellow oil crab congee the day before. As soon as he was released the first thing that he did was going to the Peninsula Hotel with Fong Yat Wa, Liu Chia Chang and his wife, famous Taiwan illustration artist Jimmy, current Commercial Radio CEO Stephen Chan Chi Wan and others for afternoon ice. He had chicken wings, chocolate cake all on his own. He was alert and had a decent appetite.

In the past two years, Uncle Six did not appear in public. Reportedly his family was worried that Uncle Six would be "too bored", on days with good weather they would arrange for a drive to take Uncle Six "on patrol". He could only take a ride but not a walk. Thus he did not even have a chance to go for his favorite afternoon tea at the Peninsula.