Bout with Covid 'weakened maestro just before death'

Stacy Shi

The late Hong Kong composer Joseph Koo Kar-fai had suffered from Covid-19 complications before he passed away in Vancouver on Tuesday, his son said yesterday.

Ken Koo Chi-wo said his father had contracted Covid but tested negative three days before his death.

Ken Koo also said his father's funeral will be held in Vancouver in a low-profile manner and he hopes people will always remember his songs.

Ken said Koo chose to live in Canada after retirement because most of his friends and relatives live there. Koo was satisfied, sometimes playing cards, painting and listening to music, but he didn't compose.

Ken said that his father was not in poor health in his late years but became weak in the past three weeks and suddenly deteriorated on Tuesday. He passed away with his family by his side.

He was infected with Covid and tested negative three days before his death. But Ken added coronavirus can complicate other diseases, and might have caused the deterioration with his father's advanced age.

Ken also said that after his father retired to Canada, he still paid attention to current affairs in Hong Kong and watched Hong Kong news programs there, especially Cantonese media.

He said his father's greatest wish was that Hong Kong has a better future, because he had lived in the city since 1948 and had seen most of his achievements come to fruition in Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong was a special home for him."

The father and son were upset about things that happened in Hong Kong in recent years, but just like the lyrics of Below the Lion Rock, the spirit of Hongkongers was diligence and endurance, and Koo believed even though the next generation would face difficulties, Hong Kong would become better.

Ken also said his father was a hardworking person who usually worked until morning when he was in secondary school, becoming the role model for the son. He told Ken: "You have to work hard, even if you have the talent."

He also said that his father had written more than 1,200 songs, all of which were like his children.

Some popular songs were better, such as Below the Lion Rock, The Bund of Shanghai and Love and Passion.

Ken said his father was a shy person with a low profile, so the funeral would be handled in a low-profile manner in Canada, with family and closest friends invited.