Renowned scholar Chan Yiu-nam dies at 85

Renowned Hong Kong scholar and University of Hong Kong Chinese department professor emeritus Chan Yiu-nam has died on Sunday afternoon at the age of 85.

Chan retired and moved to Australia many years ago. He returned to Hong Kong in June last year to visit friends and family, attending gatherings using a wheelchair. Veteran sports commentator Eric Chung was among those present, bringing several of Chan's books for autographs. Chung later saw him off at the airport, noting Chan appeared in good spirits. Chung posted on social media mourning "my beloved teacher."

Born in Guangdong's Xinhui in 1941, Chan entered Chung Chi College on a government scholarship in 1958 to study chemistry before switching to Chinese literature. He graduated as top student in 1962 and attended Northcote College of Education.

Chan served as vice principal of Ying Wa College, senior lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic's language department and HKU's Chinese department. He also taught at Kyoto University's humanities institute and Taiwan's Chung Hsing and Chung Cheng universities.

His students included singer Samuel Hui and former financial secretary Antony Leung. A prolific writer, Chan published dozens of books including "Chinese Culture Dialogues," "Fate and Culture," and hosted programs on radio and television, most notably the ATV talk show "News Tease."