[2014.01.12] NG HOU: TELL A JOKE TO REMEMBER ME

Ho Lai Chuen
courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of mingpao.com

The famous screen writer of TVB series A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME (GA BIN) and THE BUND (SEUNG HOI TAN), Ng Hou who passed away in the middle of last month. Yesterday a memorial service and ceremony took place in the Universal Funeral Parlor and the funeral takes place today. Polytechnic U professor Wong Chi Ching wrote the altar couplet to eulogize and remember him as well as summing up Ng Hou's lifetime passion for film and television. When the memorial ceremony began Hou Sir's past interview footage was shown. Optimistic and positive, he said at the time that he hoped that someone would tell jokes at his funeral so everyone would laugh happily.

Ng Hou's services began yesterday at 5PM at the Universal Funeral Parlor. At 8PM the memorial ceremony began with almost 100 people in attendance. They included many show business luminaries like Legislative Council member Wong Yuk Man and famous director Felix Chong Man Keung. The altar had simple and clean decoration and had no religious ceremony. A photo of Ng Hou smiling with a beer in his hand was at the center. The atmosphere was friendly and not considered sad.

When the ceremony began, Hou Sir's past television interview video was played. In a Radio and Television Hong Kong interview he was asked how he would write the final chapter of his life in a script. His reply at the time was that he hoped that his funeral would "not be filled with friends, no praise or commendation, no sorrow or tear", "the best would be someone telling jokes to make everyone laugh, and etch the content on the tombstone".

5 of Hou Sir's university classmates, co-workers and students gave speeches. Veteran film scholar Law Kar said, when Hou Sir was still learning to write film critique at the Chinese University he already met him. He described Hou Sir as an optimist, his philosophy was "making the connection with tragedy and comedy". Because Hou Sir felt that everything in life was absurd, sorrow should be faced with a comedy mentality.

Famous director Stephen Shin Gei Yin who worked with Hou Sir at TVB praised Hou Sir for establishing a standard for Hong Kong creative industry and cultivating talent. He pointed out that when Hou Sir was young he was wild. At Law Kar's wedding, he and Hou Sir borrowed weapons and red costumes to play bandits from the TVB prop room to kidnap the bride. Everyone over the years would save this memory every time. Although this story made everyone laugh, Shin could not help but broke down in sorrowful tears right after.

University classmate, Polytechnic Institute Chinese and dual language department assistant producer Wong Chi Ching praised Ng Hou for rarely going out. He was never after fame and fortune, which was rare in a materialistic society in Hong Kong. He was worth remembering.

Speaking on behalf of the family was television professional and Hou Sir's former student Ho Lai Chuen. He said that Hou Sir after today's funeral would be transported to the Diamond Hill Crematorium for cremation. No location for the ashes has been decided yet. He asked Hou Sir's friends, students and others to attend a memorial event at the Baptist University International Conference center on the 18th at 3PM to remember Hou Sir's life together.

Passing away at age 66, Ng Hou contributed to Hong Kong television and film industries. He once worked as TVB screen writer. Later he taught at the Baptist University and cultivated talent for show business. Ng Hou also studied Hong Kong history, loved collecting old items and was anecdotes expert.