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| The lyricists of a generation Peter Lai will be greatly missed |
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| Sam Hui and Peter Lai were the best partner in music and lyrics. Now he personally writes an eulogy to mourn him |
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| Eric Chung and Peter Lai's son Lai Shu Tak speak at the press conference |
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| Bosco Wong says his godfather's work and laughter will always remain with everyone |
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Peter Lai took part in the series LO AND BEHOLD
courtesy of on.cc |
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Vicky Chan regrets not being able to have dinner with Peter Lai again
courtesy of on.cc |
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Peter Lai passed away from illness at age 76 |
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Sam Hui after learning about comrade Peter Lai's passing personally writes a letter in mourning |
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Eric Chung (left) holds a press conference with Peter Lai's son Peter Shu Tak |
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Peter Lai, Joseph Koo, James Wong, Lo Kwok Jim and Cheng Kwok Kong were important creators of the Hong Kong music industry at the time |
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Bosco Wong and Peter Lai collaborated on WARS OF IN-LAWS and called each other godfather and godson |
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Peter Lai, Law Lok Lam, Lau Tan and Chan Wing Chun form "Four Great Fortunes" in LO AND BEHOLD. Lau Tan and Law Lok Lam both express regret over the passing of their former colleague Peter Lai
courtesy of mingpao.com |
Hong Kong music master lyricist Peter Lai Pei Tak passed away
from illness the day before at the age of 76. Lai Pei Tak's son, Lai
Shu Tak, met the press with Eric Chung Chi Kwong yesterday afternoon
to explain Lai Pei Tak's condition for the past month and subsequent
funeral arrangements, and to clarify some false rumors.
Lai Shu Tak first recounted the death of his father. "At 11:00
a.m. on August 5th, Lai Pei Tak passed away due to illness at the Lai
King Building in Princess Margaret Hospital. Currently we are still
emotional and hope everyone would be considerate, give us a little
space. The funeral is under arrangement and yet to be announced; the
actual situation is that on March 23rd, Mr. Lai Pei Tak was sent to the
Yan Chai Hospital Chinachem Care and Attention Home. On April 30th in
the middle of the night he was rush to the hospital for treatment of
ischemic stroke and his condition was stable. On June 8th he was
transferred to he Lai King Building for recovery, unfortunately he
finally succumbed to illness." He gave special thanks to the medical
staff.
Subsequently, Lai Pei Tak's friend Chung Chi Kwong added that
Lai Pei Tak's family hoped to deal with the aftermath in a low-key way.
However, due to the emergence of some different reports, he stressed
that only what he and Lai Shu Tak said yesterday, and what everyone
saw Lai Pei Tak personally said in some videos in the past, were true.
Chung Chi Kwong specifically mentioned that Lai Pei Tak was rumored to
be doing "very badly" financially. Chung Chi Kwong clarified that there
was no such thing. "Ever since I have known him, he (Lai Pei Tak) has
never asked me to borrow a single dime. Once he was discharged from the
Prince of Wales Hospital and he did not bring a credit card, I helped
him charge HK$ 4,500. The next time we met, he already returned the
cash to me; so the outside rumors about him having financial problems,
this definitely is not the case." He also mentioned that Lai Pei Tak
did not take the initiative to ask rich businessman Joseph Lau Luen Hung
for help. "Lai Pei Tak wasn't the one who looked for Lau Luen Hung,
it was Lau Luen Hung who took the initiative to find him through his
foundation or secretary, and said that what he appreciated the most
about Lai Pei Tak was not his lyrics, but Lai Pei Tak's performance in
THE YUPPIE FANTASIA (SIU NAM YUN JAU GEI). He thought that this person
was worth helping, and Lai Pei Tak wasn't the one who took the
initiative to ask for help. Thus many reporters were untrue."
Lai Pei Tak and Sam Hui Koon Kit collaborated countless times in
the past, and were hailed as the golden partner of the pop music
industry. Hui Koon Kit would deeply miss his late friend, and wrote a
note in particular to pay tribute to this former comrade. He wrote in
the note, "Peter, have a safe journey! Thank you for creating countless
wonderful works for the Hong Kong music industry, your lyrics are
conventional but not crass, the vivid image of LEGEND OF THE MAHJONG
HEROES, the clarity of WORLD LIKE CHESS, the deep love of DIMPLE SMILE,
the open-mindedness of VOICE OF THE PRODIGAL SON, I am grateful to have
you on my musical journey!"
After 7 year of collaboration they broke up and were rumored to
be at odds. Lai Pei Tak once personally explained his relationship with
Hui Koon Kit. "In response to many online requests that want to know
about my relationship with Hui Koon Kit. Actually it had more good than
bad. You of course would say I am kissing up. Actually it isn't at
all. Why? Because with any friend, as long as everyone get too close
they definitely would have good and bad. As for whether Sam has any
complaint about me, I don't know. However I am very grateful to him,
we are not enemies at all!"
Chung Chi Kwong pointed out that after the death of Lai Pei Tak,
Hui Koon Koon also spoke on the Internet. He believed that Hui Koon Kit
was the most qualified to talk about Lai Pei Tak. In the 1970s and
1980s, Lai Pei Tak's lyrics had an influence on contemporary Hong Kong
people, and in particular, he incorporated Cantonese into pop songs and
was one of the behind-the-scenes drivers of Cantonese culture in
Guangdong. He also pointed out that Lai Pei Tak seemed to be
lackadaisical and lunatic, but he was very serious about his lyrics and
how he handled things. From his writing of LEGEND OF MAHJONG HEROES,
the lyrics were organized and could really build a mahjong hnad. He
once said that he built the song in front of a mahjong set. Chung Chi
Kwong also mentioned that Lai Pei Tak did not graduated from primary
school with his education, but its Cantonese rhyme was clever because
he was deeply influenced by the Cantonese opera elder "Uncle Four" Lan
Chi Pat. When he was a child he frequented the opera troupe and was
well versed with operas and even Tang Ti Sheng's scripts. Coupled with
the fact that Lai Pei Tak read newspaper while helping his family at its
newspaper stall, during his lyricists age many compared to him to James
Wong Jim, Lo Kwok Jim and Cheng Kwok Kong. Yet actually each had their
expertise. Lai Pei Tak in particular preserved the Cantonese opera
culture, and he should be credited with the legacy in this area.
Chung Chi Kwong praised Lai Pei Tak for his connection with
people. While at the nursing home he received visits from Myolie Wu
Hung Yi, Marianne Chan Miu Ying with food and fruits. While at the
hospital he also had visits from Angelina Lo Yuen Yen, Cecilia So Yan
Chee, Joseph Yeung Shui Lun, Angela Tong Ying Ying, Mandy Lam Suk Man,
etc. and also text messages from Pal Sinn Lap Man and his former
colleagues at Commercial Radio. A retired TVB photographer also
provided transportation for Lai Pei Tak three times a week for dialysis.
Chung Chi Kwong said that he had the privilege of knowing this friend
Lai Pei Tak, and fought side by side on the final 12 episodes program of
his life. On the episode released on June 11, the final appearance of
Lai Pei Tak, he and Chung Chi Kwong talked about the World Cup and even
predicted that Spain would win. The episode was recorded on March 9th.
Did Lai Pei Tak have any last words? Chung Chi Kwong said that
after Lai Pei Tak was sent to the hospital after a stroke on April 30,
he could not communicate with his words. They just met for tea a few
days before admission, but he did not think that the situation would
change so rapidly. At that time he was also gossiping like usual, which
was a bit regrettable. His son Lai Shu Tak revealed that he has been
with his father until the last moment. Lai Shu Tak said, "He was great
to me, a great person, and we will always miss him." Referring to
reports that Lai Pei Tak has been paying for his son's cred card bills
in the past, Lai Shu Tak clarified that most of the reports were untrue
and exaggerated, and the card bills his father covered was for his
school cost and living expenses; Chung Chi Kwong also clarified that Lai
Shu Tak studied in Nanjing before, and of course, as a student he needed
to pay for school. As a father Lai Pei Tak provided what his son needed
regardless. Lai Shu Tak added that this happened in the past 5 years,
but for now the family had no financial problem. At present he was
still looking for a job, he explained that he has been looking for the
job because his father needed help due to dialysis and his father also
wanted him to be around. He also said that his father told him to take
care of himself in the future. Regarding the royalty of Lai Pei Tak's
song, Lai Shu Tak said that his father had a sudden stroke so he did not
explain how to deal with it.
Godson Bosco Wong Chung Chak met Lai Pei Tak while working on
the TVB drama WAR OF IN-LAWS in 2004 and called each other godfather
and godson. They were very close. He said, "The elder is gone, give
some time for his family to handle the affairs first!" He then said,
"Godfather left us. Although I really miss him, but with Godfather's
dashing and laugh at life personality I believe he wouldn't want anyone
to be unhappy. His classic lyrics, film and television work, laughter
and his spirt would always be with us!"
Over his years in the business, Lai Pei Tak not only
participated in behind the scene work but also many film and television
performance. Due to his humorous nature, he constantly brought joy to
everyone, frequently lent a helping hand to his juniors and loved by
his colleagues. Thus after his passing, many friends in the business
mourned him online. Playing "Little Mrs. Lung" in LO AND BEHOLD,
Vicky Chan Sze Yan posted a photo on social network and wrote, "Green
Light Forever. I remember that Mid Autumn's Festival, after everyone
got off work, you actually said that you would go to my family Mid
Autumn Festival dinner. Since then, you have become our family 'green
lit' 'so-called boyfriend'. Sorry, I was thinking about asking you
this Mid Autumn's Festival, I am too late. The forever genius Brother
Peter, green light, we will always miss you."
"Poon Kam Lin" in the same series, Kiko Leung Yan also visited
him at the hospital. She said, "Whiling at the hospital, at the time I
really didn't want to take pictures because I hope you can be discharged
with all the energy and take pictures when we would have dinner again.
At the end of January dinner, I thought your hospital discharge was good
news, I really didn't think that the when we want to set up the next
one there wouldn't be a next one." She also revealed, "You are the
best elder I have ever met, constantly using funny and humorous ways to
teach us acting. Constantly arguing with you on the set became a
habit, making the shoot everyday a joy."
"Sung Shui Fai" Jack Hui Ka Kit said that he would miss Lai Pei
Tak as the undiscounted great person. "He was an elder who was really
smart and took are of people. When I listened to his past work, I
really appreciated his talent. Even though he is gone, I believe that
his work and his laughter would always stay in our hearts." He posted
photos of him celebrating Lai Pei Tak's birthday with Lam Suk Man and
from the show on social platforms. "Thank you Brother Peter (Mr. Lai
Pei Tak) for bringing us your classic work and your smile. To be able
to work with him has been our honor."
Once his tour guide and taking him on vacation in mainland, Bob
Cheung Pok Yin was grateful to have met him. "When I heard your
stories and sharing your voice of the prodigal son, learning as you
live......I have benefit greatly from you. Have a safe journey.
Thank you."
In 2017 he joined the series LO AND BEHOLD. As "Uncle
Panther" he and "Uncle Gun" Lau Tan, "Big Mr. Lung" Law Lok Lam and
"Tam To Tak" Chan Wing Chun formed "Four Great Joys". The 4 senior
actors often dressed up in ridiculous costumes to sing and dance.
However, in 2021 Lai Pei Tak took time off from the show for an
operation to clear arterial blockage in his heart. As he gradually
recovered he did not receive any assignment. Reportedly he once asked
executives for help but received the cold shoulder. Finally in 2023
he officially left the company.
Lau Tan was heartbroken. He admitted, "Chung Chi Kwong told
me, because when he visited Peter, at the time Peter already couldn't
recognize anyone. Sigh......turning out like this and I still didn't
visit him, because I didn't feel comfortable with it. Actually he was
sick for so long, it could be considered a type of release." Chan
Wing Chun said, "At the time Chung Chi Kwong told us, he was admitted
into a nursing home because he needed dialysis everyday. Earlier he
also said that he had a stroke and was already half paralyzed. We
didn't visit him because we knew he wasn't conscious." Law Lok Lam
said that Lai Pei Tak really liked to play, "all crazy" and had a lot
of fun. He made great contributions to the industry and his passing
was regrettable. He admitted that working at the same company and same
series, meeting was a type of destiny and wished him a safe journey.
The expressive verse of VOICE OF THE PRODIGAL SON came from
the pen of Lai Pei Tak. Lai Pei Tak wrote more than 200 song lyrics in
his life, and his collaborators include Sam Hui Koon Kit, Leslie Cheung
Kwok Wing, Anita Mui Yim Fong, Alan Tam Wing Lun and other kings and
queens of Hong Kong music, including the classics of "The Voice of the
Prodigal Son", "Here Comes The God of Fortune", "Half Catty Eight Tael",
"Monica", "Cleave the Iceberg" and so on. He was an important promoter
of the golden era of Cantonese music in the 1970s and 1980s.
Lai Pei Tak's creative style was unique. He and James Wong Jim
were the first generation of Cantonese pop song lyricists in Hong Kong,
supporting half of the golden age of Cantonese lyrics. Although the two
were peers, their origins greatly differed; in comparison Wong Jim was a
Hong Kong University graduate and son of a rich businessman, his words
were magnificent. Lai Pei Tak lost his father at the age of 9, only had
some primary school education, and worked hard from the experience of
the wooden house area, the newspaper stall and the taxi driver, and the
city's atmosphere and the philosophy of life were molten into words. He
was appreciated for his self-study contributions, then received a
helping hand from the Wynners' Anthony Chan Yau and Hui Koon Kit and
eventually became a lyricists of a generation. Born from the grass
root, he could not only write the deep understanding of "The Voice of
The Prodigal Son" but also the delicate gentleness of "Dimple Smile".
He and Hui Koon Kit were the best partners, and have co-created
countless classics such as "Here Comes The God of Fortune", "Half Catty
Eight Tael", "Legend of Mahjong Heroes", "Drink When You Have Wine",
"Brother Student", "World Like Chess", among which "Here Goes The God
of Fortune" has become the immortal representative of the Cantonese
Lunar New Year song. Wong Jim once gave a very high evaluation to Lai
Pei Tak. "I can write the words of several other lyricists, but not
Lai Pei Tak's", because Lai Pei Tak's words were "too Hong Kong flavor"
and truly understood Hong Kong's grassroots culture.
In the 1980s, Lai Pei Tak wrote "Monica" for Cheung Kwok Wing,
which was based on his own experience of a broken heart from his
girlfriend of three years. The emotional injury has not healed, but in
response to the request of Michael Lai Siu Tin he wrote a happy fast
song. The result was a unique way to write a man's regret for the lost
love, and surprisingly created a new direction of Cantonese fast song.
He wrote "Cleave the Iceberg" for Mui Yim Fong, and wrote "A Goose on
the Edge of the Sky" and "Lover Goddess" for Tam Wing Lun, all of
which became their representative work. In 2008, Lai Pei Tak was
awarded the Music Achievement Award by CASH for his outstanding
contribution.
In addition to the lyrics, Lai Pei Tak was also a famous
"licorice actor" (support player), participated in Stephen Chow Sing
Chi's movies like FLIRTING SCHOLAR (TONG BAK FU DIM CHAU HEUNG) and
FIGHT BACK TO SCHOOL (TOH HOK WAI LUNG) and excelled in playing the
grass-root witty minor roles. In 2017, he appeared in the TVB situation
drama LO AND BEHOLD, playing the role of "Uncle Panther". The character
was straightforward and explosive, but also with the savvy and sense of
humor of little people. This role also became the most familiar
masterpiece of his later years. Last year his HOY TV drama KOWLOON MY
CITY became his final television drama that aired. He also guest
starred in ViuiTV drama like MARGARET AND DAVID TIE.
Lai Pei Tak married his former wife after two months of
dating and had a son. The marriage ended after 3 years. After divorce
he raised their son alone.
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