Sadness as king of laughs dies

Condolences poured in for the death of veteran comedian Richard Ng Yiu-hon, who passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday.

It is understood Ng underwent surgery for a cardiac embolism in 2021 and had to undergo dialysis treatments four times a day due to a severe kidney failure that left his kidneys functioning at 10 percent.

Doctors told Ng's family to send him to the hospital, where Ng was hooked up to several tubes. The doctors tried to resuscitate Ng after his heart stopped, but were ultimately forced to give up.

Ng, a son of Kowloon Motor Bus and Kowloon Funeral Parlor cofounder Ng Hoi-lam, had his first major role in the 1976 Michael Hui Koon-man comedy The Private Eyes, before starring roles in the action comedy film series Lucky Stars in the 80s and 90s.

He was nominated for best actor in the Hong Kong Film Awards twice in the 80s for Winners and Sinners, the first Lucky Stars film and drama Beyond the Sunset.

He also starred in supporting roles in action comedies Wheels on Meals, Millionaire's Express, and Miracles throughout the 80s, before moving to London in 1997 and starring in several British productions.

Condolences poured in from the local film industry. His costar, Michael Miu Kiu-wai, said he learned of Ng's death in a newspaper report: "We can't help it. As I get older, more of my friends are passing away."

Miu, now 65, hoped Ng, "a professional and a good teacher," was in a better place after his passage, and conveyed his condolences to the Ng family. "He was very funny. Back in the day, him, Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Eric Tsang Chi-wai, and Stanley Feng Tsui-fan would crack each other up on set," he said.

Juno Mak, director of 2013 horror film Rigor Mortis, in which Ng starred, said he would always remember the veteran actor's unique sense of humor. Nina Paw Hee-ching, Ng's costar, said: "Everyone affectionately called him Uncle Richard. He was one of the most unique comedy actors in the industry.

Louis Cheung Kai-chung, who costarred alongside Ng in 2019 comedy A Lifetime Treasure, said Ng shared his experiences both as an actor and as a father.

"He told me about being a dad, and how he missed lots of opportunities to spend time with his kids as an actor. That made me remember not to miss out on opportunities to spend time with my kids," Cheung said.

Ng is survived by wife Susan, whom he married in 1965, and his four children: 47-year-old actor Carl Ng Ka-lung, and daughters Alex, 56, Zoe, 54, and Louise, the youngest.