Hong Kong cultural icon Chua Lam passes away at 83

Renowned Hong Kong cultural figure and food critic Chua Lam, one of the city’s legendary "Four Talents of Hong Kong," passed away peacefully on Wednesday (June 25) at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, surrounded by close friends and family. He was 83.

In accordance with his wishes, no funeral ceremonies were held to avoid burdening loved ones, and his remains have been cremated privately.

A life of creativity and culinary passion

Born in Singapore in 1941 with ancestral roots in Chaozhou, Chua Lam studied in Japan before settling in Hong Kong, where he flourished as a film producer, writer, and celebrated food critic.

Alongside Louis Cha Leung-yung (Jin Yong), Ni Kuang, and James Wong Jim, Chua was crowned one of the "Four Talents of Hong Kong"—a title he once humorously dismissed as unworthy of Cha’s literary stature.

Chua’s career spanned decades, from scripting Shaw Brothers films to hosting beloved food and travel shows, where his witty, unpretentious style made him a household name.

His catchphrase, "Eat well, laugh often," encapsulated his philosophy of life.

Health struggles and a life transformed

In 2023, Chua suffered a hip fracture while rushing to aid his wife, Cheung King-man, who had fallen at home. After surgery, he largely retreated from public view, relying on a wheelchair.

The passing of his wife later that year profoundly affected him, leading to a dramatic "decluttering" of his life—he donated his vast collections, sold his La Salle Road home, and moved into a luxury serviced apartment in Tsim Sha Tsui with panoramic Victoria Harbour views.

There, he spent his final years with a HK$500,000-a-month care team, indulging in his lifelong loves: cigarettes and fine wine.

Farewell to the last of the "Four Talents"

Chua once shared a pact with fellow talents James Wong and Ni Kuang: "No tears when any of us goes first." True to his word, he honored his friends in their final days—copying 100 Buddhist sutras for an ailing Jin Yong and sourcing Hong Kong’s best fatty barbecued pork for Ni Kuang.

With Chua’s passing, the quartet—Wong (2004), Cha (2018), Ni (2022), and now Chua—is reunited in eternity, closing a golden chapter of Hong Kong’s cultural history.

(Marco Lam)