In memory of Mr Chan Chi-kwan, my college senior

Mr Chan Chi-kwan was my senior at King's College. He graduated 14 years earlier than I did. In 1979, Mr Liu Ping-hon, my other colleage senior, fell from his apartment in Sai Ying Pun and died of an unknown cause. At that time, Mr Chan was a barrister and a member of the then Urban Council. I and other graduates of the same cohort went to see Mr Chan on the incident. That was the first time we met.

After joining the King's College Old Boys' Association and the Association of Experts for Modernization Limited, I started to work with Mr Chan and often accompanied him to the Mainland to give lectures.

In 1984, during the latter stage of the Sino-British talks on Hong Kong's future , Mr Chan and I were invited to Beijing to explain to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council our proposals for dealing with the expiry of the land leases in the New Territories on June 27, 1997. The proposals were adopted and later became the main contents of Annex III to the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Three weeks ago, I went to Beijing to attend meetings. At night, I often stayed in the hotel room to watch a television drama, "Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads". The episode on the Sino-British talks on Hong Kong's future reminded me of the trip to Beijing with Mr Chan, when we stayed at the Traveler Inn Huaqiao Beijing Hotel.

Unexpectedly, soon after returning to Hong Kong, I received the sad news from the King's College Old Boys' Association.

Mr Chan had been the President of the King's College Old Boys' Association for eight years. He was also the Chairman of the Association of Experts for Modernization Limited, making important contributions to the community. Cheerful and with a good sense of humour, he had always tackled difficulties with ease and grace. All of my college mates are deeply saddened about his passing.

May Mr Chan Chi-kwan, my colleage senior, rest in peace.

Your colleage junior, C Y Leung

March 29, 2017