How Mr

Welcome to our first large-scale reunion in the new century, which is a pre-retirement farewell dinner held in honour of Mr. Yue Poon Leung, our dear teacher and currently Vice Principal of Wah Yan. Altogether 11 teachers and fathers, including some who are even teachers of our teachers, and 29 1972 Wah Yan graduates spent a memorable evening on June 30, 2001 in the Maxim’s Palace Chinese Restaurant in Grand Century Place in Mong Kok. Typhoon signal number 3 was hoisted that evening, but the Wah Yan spirit expressed among those present was far stronger than the gusty wind outside the restaurant.

The dinner was held not long before Mr. Yue’s retirement in August from the vice-principal post. Mr. Yue is a Wahyanite himself. After graduating from the University of Hong Kong, he returned to Wah Yan as a teacher. Up to now, he has spent almost 3/4 of his lifetime in Wah Yan. Accroding to Mr Yue, he will continue to do some work for Wah Yan even after his retirement.

The dinner began with our school anthem (click here if you forget the words) and Fung Kai Ming’s opening speech on behalf of us old boys, in which he thanked Mr. Yue and the fathers and teachers for what they have taught us and achieving what we have accomplished today.

This was followed by a speech by Mr. Chiu Hai Kaw, the only one of our teachers not yet retired from Wah Yan other than Mr. Norman So the principal. He described Wah Yan’s magnanimity to her students, giving us every chance to enjoy a successful secondary education. Mr. So, who spoke after Mr. Yue, gave us an interesting example of how he learnt magnanimity from Fr. Reid. (link to article) Then Mr. Yue gave a speech on his Wah Yan days. Three of the teachers present in our dinner had also taught Mr. Yue. (Click here if you want to know who they are.) Then, Fr. Deignan, who succeeded Fr. Reid as principal of Wah Yan and is now the Regional Superior of the Jesuit fathers here, presented a souvenir to Mr. Yue. This is followed by a cheer in champagne and a delicious dinner.

Several teachers and classmates performed during the dinner. (Click here to watch who did what.) The evening ended with a karaoke celebrating our everlasting friendship.

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To fellow 1972 (Form 5) and 1974 (Form 7) Wah Yan College, Kowloon graduates:

Fung Kai Ming (a.k.a. Derek Fung)

There’s always a sense of home-coming when fellow Wahyanites and teachers/fathers gathered for our re-union. Our 20th anniversary dinner with the presence of Rev Fr Reid; the 25th anniversary get-together with many overseas returnees; the Mr Francis Kong-special event; and this pre-retirement farewell dinner for Mr Yue Poon Leung – they all brought us fond memories of those school boy days in our beautiful campus.

Looking back, we couldn’t help but thank the efforts, patience and encouragements we received from all our teachers and fathers. As the Chinese saying goes: teacher for one day is teacher for whole life. That is why I said during the dinner we have to thank our teachers for achieving what we have accomplished during these years.

It’s been almost 30 years since we graduated from Wah Yan. The 160-odd 1972 graduates, with the exception of two who had left us, are now scattered all over the world. Efforts had been made in the past to organize and maintain correspondence among us, but those efforts had been mostly sporadic and the correspondence list only covered 40-50 fellow classmates, primarily those who are in Hong Kong. Today, with the advent of the Internet, it is now possible to secure an extensive coverage of our fellow Wahyanites no matter where they are. Wong Chi Kin and Hui Pak Kwan have compiled a database (http://lists.wyk.edu.hk/mailman/listinfo/1972); Siu Kin Wai, Chim Moon Wing and myself are trying to make use of this database to re-invigorate the spirit of togetherness among us the 1972 (Form 5) and 1974 (Form 7) graduates. Lam Chi Ming’s activity report mentioned 37 Wahyanites attending the re-union dinner. In fact there are another dozen who, although not present, sent us regards and encouraging notes as they received Wong Chi Kin’s e-mail invitation to the event. This is really a good start, and we look forward to receiving further inputs from all of you. To follow up on the success of the June 30 re-union dinner, we are planning a large-scale 30th anniversary event next year. Any ideas on how we should organize this event, any resources you could make available, please let us know. At least we expect to hear from you feedback on this particular mailer you are reading! You could address to any one of us – Siu Kin Wai (davidsiuphysio@hotmail.com), Chim Moon Wing (chimandho@hotmail.com), myself (DerekFung@bigfoot.com) or our IT guru Wong Chi Kin (wck123@hongkong.com).

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How Mr. Norman So Learnt Magnanimity from Fr. Reid

Lam Chi Ming

Mr. So told us a story about his first year as vice-principal of Wah Yan under Fr. Reid.

One day, Mr. So got a phone call from a theatre in Mong Kok. A Wah Yan boy had played truant. The boy skipped his classes and went to the theatre to watch a ‘blue movie’, and without buying his tickets. He was caught by the theatre personnel, and the manager phoned the school to send someone to fetch him.

The unwelcome task fell to Mr. So. He fetched the boy and brought him to Fr. Reid’s office. He thought that the boy would get punished and waited outside for the outcome.

After a short while, the boy came out, looking very sorry.

‘What did the principal say to you?’ asked Mr. So.

‘He just told me not to do this again,’ the boy answered.

There was no scolding nor punishment, but the boy changed his behaviour afterwards and paid more attention to his studies.

In our dinner gathering, Mr. So said he learnt magnanimity not only from Fr. Reid but also from the theatre manager.

He brought the boy back to the theatre to say sorry to the manager. The manager did not scold the boy. He just said, ‘If you want to watch a movie here, you’ll be welcome, but watch some other kinds of movies.’

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Mr. Yue and His Harmonica

Lam Chi Ming

The first time Mr. Yue revealed to his students his harmonica talent was in a Christmas variety show in the school hall.

As he recalled to us in our dinner gathering, he asked the students whether they knew the origin of the tradition of singing Christmas carols. He told them the first Christmas good news had been spread in the following way. He took his harmonica out from his pocket, and performed ‘The First Noel’.

As a teacher, he believes that this is a better way to get his message across to the students.

That was how he performed ‘The First Noel’ to us in our dinner gathering. After that, he performed another song, ‘The Moon Stands for my Heart’ (月亮代表我的心).

Fellow Wahyanites, have you got Mr. Yue’s message?

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Full Name List of Participants

Fathers/Teachers: (11)

Mr. CHIU Hei Kau

Rev Father Alfred DEIGNAN

(Regional Superior of the Society of Jesus in Hong Kong and Macau)

Mrs. KO

Mr. LI Hoi Chow

Mrs. MA

Rev Father Harold NAYLOR

Mr. SO Chung Ping, Norman

Mr. SO Wai Hong

Mr. WONG Chin Wah

Mr. YAN

Mr. YUE Poon Leung

1972 Wayanites: (29)

CHAN Ning Fai, Frank

CHAN Yat Nin

CHANG Yun Po, Robert

CHEUNG Po Ki

CHIM Moon Wing, Frederick

*CHOI Kam Yee, Samuel (left before dinner)

CHOW Chun Kwan, John

CHOW Hei Sing, John
CHUN Ka Po, Maurice

FUNG Kai Ming, Derek

HUI Pak Kwan

LAM Chi Ming, Peter

LAU Wai Keung, Timothy

LEE Kai Tak, Edward

LEE Yan Ming

LEUNG Chuen Choi, David

LEUNG Fuk Pui

LEUNG Nam Yiu, Tommy

LEUNG Wing Tai, Victor

LIU Chung Keung

LUK Chi Man, Francis

NG Pak Tong

NG Sing Hoi, Kenneth

SIU Kin Wai, David

TSUI Siu Chung, Ronald

WONG Chi Kin

WONG Tak Wing, Anthony

WONG Tat Cheong, Frederick

YAU Fai To

With Apologies

Rev Father Coglan (left for Ireland and Canada on June 15

and wouldn't be back until August. He sent his best regards to

the boys of 1972 and to Mr. Yue.)
Mr. KONG, Francis (was on his summer trip to San Francisco,

Hawaii and Japan at that time.)

Mr. KONG Siu Tak (couldn’t make it this time.)

Mr. LEE Tak Kwan (the music teacher, who had a concert to attend

in the same evening.)

Mr. LEUNG Kin Ping (was on a 'duty visit' to China. He would like to

convey his best wishes to Mr. Yue and look forward to our 30th

Anniversary in 2002.)

Rev Fr. ZEE (had another appointment but looked forward to our

30th Anniversary dinner gathering in 2002.)

CHAU Tak Ho, Cyrus (was out of town)

CHOW Chi Wah (was out of town)

CHU Leung Ning (couldn't make it this time)

CHU Leung Wing (was out town)

FUNG Shing Cheung, Simon (back to HK on Jun11 after 8 months in UK,

couldn't make it this time.)

FUNG Shing Pong, David (was out of town)

HO Mei Chor, Peter (couldn’t make it this time)

LAM Hon Yin, Hymen (couldn't make it this time.)

LAU Lim Tat, James (With best wishes to all the fathers, teachers and

old boys.)

... from Los Angeles, California USA

LEUNG Tin Yau (couldn't make it this time.)

MA Hok Cheung (couldn't make it this time.)

NG Ho Kuen ( "I am 7000 miles away and will not be able to attend.

Please send my regards to my teachers and friends, and my wishes to

Mr. Yue for a happy retirement.")

... from San Hose, California USA

SHANG Shek Lun, Hugh (unable to attend as being at the other hemisphere.

Wish us enjoy the dinner and would like to express his gratitude to

Mr. Yue for his valuable guidance during our study years in WYK.)

... from Toronto, Canada

SHEK Siu Tai, Stephen (was out of town)
TANG Lap Fai, Philip (couldn't make it this time.)

TSE Tak Ming (couldn't make it this time.)

WONG Moon Kan, Matthew (couldn't make it this time.)

... from Vancouver, Canada

YIM Pak Kai (was be in Sacramento, USA for vacation.)

YIP Kwong Hung, Joseph (couldn't make it this time.)

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Mail from Father Naylor (via Derek Fung Kai Ming)

Dear Derek,

Last night was a well organized dinner, with much content.

I appreciated the good words you spoke, with sense and also recalling us many good things. Thanks be to God.

Wong Chin Wah was the star. His English rendering of the last Cantonese song we sang was really striking – and that from a man in his eighties. There is hope for us all.

Damien Yue Pun Leung spoke well and rounded what he had to say in the simplicity and beauty of the mouth organ music.

I was surprised by Mr. Chiu Hei Kau’s deep speech about Jesuit education – Magnaminity and Magis. Norman SO’s response was rich and humble. We can misunderstand the GREATER!

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely in Christ, Harold Naylor s.j.

(Signature)

1 July 2001 HKSAR DAY

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Mail from David SIU including a Compliment from Mr. WONG Chin Wah

From: "David K.W. Siu" <davidsiuphysio@hotmail.com>

To: <1972@lists.wyk.edu.hk>

Subject: [1972] (no subject)

Date: Sunday, 1 July, 2001 18:42

Dear Old Boys,

It was a wonderful evening yesterday and we all had a good time. The efforts

of the "organizing committee" were well rewarded and acknowledged by the

frequent laughter and applause during the Dinner and the smile on

everybody's' face. Thank you all!

Mr. Wong Chin Wah rang me early this morning to congratulate us on the huge

success of the evening. He mentioned in particular that he was really

impressed by the harmonious atmosphere and the close bond among us boys

present, which was not always experienced in such functions he had been

invited to. That was a real compliment to all of us!

We must endeavour to make our 30th Anniversary Dinner next year even better.

For those of us who were unable to join the gathering last night, because of

prior commitments or unexpected circumstances, please be assured that ample

opportunity will be allowed for to accommodate as many 1972 Old Boys as

possible for the event in 2002. Some boys are already putting forward ideas

like making it a family gathering, which will be unprecedented and real fun.

I am sure it will be unforgettable.

With best regards,

David Kin Wai

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Mail from Robert CHANG Yun Po

From: "Robert CHANG" <changyp@ha.org.hk>

To: "David K.W. Siu" <davidsiuphysio@hotmail.com>

Cc: <1972@lists.wyk.edu.hk>

Subject: Re: [1972] (no subject)

Date: Tuesday, 3 July, 2001 15:01

Dear Friends,

I would like to recapitulate the appreciations expressed the other night from

all classmates to the great work of the organizing committee.

Looking forward the Wah Yan Spirit will blossom for the generations to come!

Again, congratualtions!

Chang Yun Po.

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School Hymn (Wah Yan College, Kowloon)

‘Our Captain and Our King’

Our Captain and our King, We kneel in love before Thee

Our hearts in tribute bring glad homage here to pay

O do not Thou disdain

The gift so mean, so poor; more precious far we fain

Would offer and more pure.

Grant us, we pray, Thy cause

To champion, though so slowly.

Nor ever fail nor pause,

When trails throng and press.

O god of battle smite,

And nerve us for the fray;

O Prince of Peace, Thy light

Can ev’ry toil repay

Chorus

Our deep love O Lord

Till this our life is O’er

Be Thine forever more, be Thine forever more, Yes, Thine

Forever more.

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