Yuen memoir to help next generations

The autobiography of Yuen Kwok-yung covers his life experience from childhood to fighting epidemics, with most of the content being disclosed for the first time.

The 268-page My Life in Medicine: A Hong Kong Journey, written in English and published by the Hong Kong University Press, goes on sale on July 15.

Yuen said he wishes to publish the memoir as he is nearing 68 and about to semi-retire, adding he started writing last year - the 20th anniversary of the SARS outbreak and the end of the Covid pandemic.

"The writing process brought me enjoyment. I finished the first draft in 14 days, during which I recalled happy memories and it was like nostalgia therapy," Yuen said. "I hope my experience could help the next generations, as I always believe that despite the changing practices, some principles remain unchanged."

In his memoir, Yuen talks about how he had dreamed about becoming an astronaut when he was a teenager. Although he did not take the path to space, he never lost interest in astronomy.

He also likens the discovery of new infectious diseases using a microscope to finding a star with a telescope.