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Ng Kang-chung

Hong Kong is mourning the loss of two beloved film stars, Chow Chung and Suet Nei.
Chow, known in recent decades for his roles as a “lovable old gentleman” in many local productions, died from pneumonia at the age of 92 on Friday, according to friends.
Suet Nei’s family, meanwhile, said the actress, 77, succumbed to pancreatic cancer on Thursday, 10 days after the death of her husband, renowned kung fu choreographer Tang Chia.
“It is a double whammy and a great loss to the sector,” Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild vice-president Candice Yu On-on said.

Chow, born Sin Kam-wing in Hong Kong in 1932, left a six-decade legacy across television and film.
Television actor Eric Chung Chi-kwong, a long-time friend, noted: “His family said he had been in hospital for a month after contracting Covid.
“I visited him last month. He still looked okay and was in good spirits. I had thought it was a minor thing and that he would recover soon.”
In a Facebook post, actress turned politician Christine Fong Kwok-shan said: “Uncle Chung was best remembered for his sense of humour and energetic personality. Even behind the camera, he was always chirpy and effervescent.”
Chow was discovered by a talent scout while working in a department store back in the 1950s. He debuted in the 1955 melodrama Broken Zither Bower and later starred in many other Cantonese films, with more than 100 movie and television credits to his name.

He shifted his career trajectory in a different direction in the 1980s and joined local broadcaster TVB. He often played the role of an endearing gentleman, which won him the nickname “official grandfather of TVB”.
Chow was given a lifetime achievement award by TVB in 2016. In his acceptance speech, he said his biggest achievement was being able to bring “warmth and happiness” to audiences and fans.
He was also an active unionist in the industry and had been the chairman of the South China Film Industry Union for three consecutive years until 2005. Chow retired from TVB in 2020.

In an interview in 2021 for the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care project, Chow shared his views on “living free, dying well”.
“I have been acting for decades, almost 60 years, during which I have apparently died many times,” he said.
“[As the Chinese saying goes] Tonight I have passed away, one day you will share the same fate.
“Death is the fairest thing in the world. It comes for everybody, no matter whether you are rich or poor, smart or dull. It is something that we all have to face.”
He said that he would have no regrets if he could die wearing a smile.
Chow is survived by three daughters and a son. His wife died of cancer in 2018.
Suet Nei, originally surnamed Li, was born in 1945 but had used her adoptive parents’ surname and was known as Hung Suet-nei since she was small.
She received formal acting training in Taiwan and made her on-screen debut in the 1962 Taiwanese film Good Neighbours.
She later returned to Hong Kong and had roles in many kung fu films, often performing the fight scenes herself. Her agility and strength, paired with the tough, cool characters she often played, made her an emerging female fight star.

The actress, who remained active in the 1970s, emigrated to Canada in the late 1980s and left the entertainment scene. She returned to Hong Kong in 1997 and joined TVB, acting in many popular series, including Secret of the Heart and Rosy Business. She retired in 2020.
She and her husband Tang were celebrated as a model couple in the entertainment scene, having been married for 56 years. In recent years, Suet Nei had been battling pancreatic cancer and remained in hospital for a lengthy spell.
Late last month, Tang, 88, was thought to have jumped to his death from their Jordan home. Tang had previously expressed his devastation over his wife’s condition and wished that they could “die together”.
The couple had two children.
If you have suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 18111 for the government-run “Mental Health Support Hotline” or +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans and +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.


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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong mourns loss of 2 stars of film and television, Chow Chung and Suet Nei

Screen veterans Chow Chung (left) and Suet Nei. Photo: Handout

Kung fu choreographer Tang Chia and Suet Nei were seen as a model couple in the business. Photo: Handout

Chow Chung was nicknamed the “official grandfather of TVB” because of the roles he played. Photo: Weibo

Chow Chung had a six-decade career as an actor. Photo: Weibo

Suet Nei and Chow Chung in a scene from the TVB series “At the Threshold of an Era”. Photo: Instagram/tvbcomhk

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Hong Kong

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Chow Chung died from pneumonia aged 92 on Friday while Suet Nei, 77, succumbed to cancer on Thursday after long battle against the disease


Chow Chung died from pneumonia aged 92 on Friday while Suet Nei, 77, succumbed to cancer on Thursday after long battle against the disease.
