02 Dec 2006

Eulogy for Dr. Yu Chiu Kwong

Delivered on 2 December 2006

We gather here this afternoon not to mourn though mourn we will , but to remember and to pay our last respect to a grand old friend – Dr. Yu Chiu Kwong – a practical doctor with a heart of gold, a stern father with only his sons future in his mind, a generous philanthropist and devoted educator where sky is the limit when it came to nurture the future generations.

Dr. Yu was born in 1905 in the twilight years of the Qing Dynasty when western medicine was still very much a taboo.? His vision for doing good to the sick brought him to enter the Medical School for Chinese which later because the University of Hong Kong where he graduated and since practise uninterruptedly as a total general practitioner.? Those where the days when doctors were complete doctors who not only attend to the sick, often paying home visits in the wee hours of the night, delivering babies, comforting families of the death and dying; provide the very much needed mental and holistic support.? It was in that light that Dr. Yu’s fame grown and Yu Chiu Kwong became a household name.

Seeing that specialization in medicine is the correct and unavoidable trend and yet unable to achieve it himself he spared no effort to indoctrinate his 4 sons and guide them not only to take up the honourable profession of caring for the sick but each to excel in a major medical specialty.? His determination bore fruit – Frank became the surgeon par excellence, Richard the doyan in nephrology, and internal medicine, Donald a respirologist of unequal expertise and Victor, the unsurpassed and the children’s choice paediactrician and latterly the family’s direct link to the Creator.

Dr. Yu’s life and activities traversed 2 centuries.? Having witness 2 world wars; Hong Kong’s up and down roller coaster style economic upheavals resulting in many who move from rags to riches and vise versa; political transformation and change in sovereignty, he was most aware that Hong Kong’s only asset are its people in particular the young, Dr. Yu started to work on his educator’s vision.? Basing on his dedication to his Alma Mater, Yu Chiu Kwong together with his family established an endowment professorship in medicine at the University of Hong Kong as a means to promote teaching and research, enhancing education for young health care professionals.

For a man who have contributed so much, it would have thought that his life would be more complete if there were daughters to match his 4 sons.? This dream was answered, Dr. Yu gain 4 amicable daughters through the wise choice of his sons.? They, the daughters-in-law, not only cared for, pampered and respect the elderly gentlemen with the full dedication of the old traditional Chinese culture, but also promogate a big family of grandchildren great grandchildren all the jewels of the old man’s eyes.

I have had the privilege of being a family friend, to witness the gaiety, the laughter, the intergeneration harmony in any of the Yu’s family gathering that touch the heart of anyone, something that Dr. Yu can be proud of and take solace to.

Perhaps the only regret Dr. Yu had in his twilight years was that Mrs. Yu passed away a few years earlier leaving him shattered. I was however given the good news that permission has been obtained to have Dr. Yu laid to rest side by side with his life long companion.? While the Yu family mourn the passing away of their beloved senior, they can take comfort that Dr. & Mrs. Yu are now united enjoying eternal company and happiness in the arms of the Creator.

It has been said that it is not the length of life that matters but how much one contribute during lifetime that counts.? Dr. Yu is fortunate to be blessed with both – an extraordinary centurion who has brought so much love in the family and care to the society.? His passing away symbolizes a fallen star.

To the many many members of the Yu’s family we offer our sincere condolence.

Thank you.