HKADC Expresses the Deepest Condolences over the Passing of Veteran Scholar and Dramatist Dr Chan Choi-lai

Hong Kong veteran scholar and dramatist Dr Chan Choi-lai passed away recently. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) regrets for the loss and would like to extend our deepest condolences to Dr Chan’s family.

Dr Chan Choi-lai had been a Council Member of HKADC from 2003 to 2007 during which he was the Chairman of Arts Education Group, a Member of Strategy Committee and Arts Support Committee of HKADC from 2005 to 2007. He devoted himself to the development of the arts and culture in Hong Kong, and provided invaluable advice on HKADC’s projects and its future development direction.

Dr Chan committed whole-heartedly to education. He had been with the Department of Mathematics of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) over three decades. In 1995, he established HKU’s General Education Programme and served as the Director of General Education. Later in 2002, he established the Hong Kong Baptist University’s Art and Cultural Education Programme and served as the Director of Whole Person Education. Dr Chan also wrote on creative thinking and holistic education in Sing Tao Daily, Wen Wei Po and Hong Kong Economic Journal. Not only did he nurture talents for the society and enlighten numerous students, but also led local education towards a new direction.

Dr Chan contributed to theatre production at home and abroad for more than 20 years. He had worked in many positions including screenwriter, director, producer, translator and designer. He was also appointed the Adjunct Professor of the Central Theatre Academy and Shanghai Theatre Academy. As the Advisor of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Co-founder and Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama, and Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute for the Promotion of Chinese Culture, Dr Chan strived to promote artistic creation and cultural exchange.

Combining academics and arts, Dr Chan Choi-lai had enlightened many through humanities programmes and drama activities, and truly made remarkable contribution to the development of education and drama in Hong Kong. His passing away is a great loss to the local education and arts community. His accomplishment and devotion to the arts will be long remembered.