Chan Kwai Sang
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1935 - 2006
Chan Kwai Sang – a name so closely linked with Sai Kung that all who knew him marvelled at his selfless dedication to his community and youth – passed away on 4 April 2006.
Born on Yim Tin Tsai in 1935, Chan Kwai-sang was one of few residents of that tiny island to graduate from high school – quite a feat considering the years of occupation and difficulties caused by the geography of the New Territories. Early school years were spent on the island but his final diploma was from Tai Tun Middle School in Kowloon.
Immediately after graduation (1957) he taught in the primary school in Sai Wan, two years later moving
back to the island of his birth and teaching at the Yim
Tin Tsai Ching Po School for 17 years. While teaching
Mr. Chan, September 2006 at the launch of Explore Sai Kung |
he attended Granthum School of Education, the “Institute of Education” of his day, graduating with a teaching certificate in 1963.
There were approximately 200 households in his first years at the school but numbers slowly dwindled as young men and women moved onto the mainland or overseas in search of jobs. Indicative of a trend throughout the New Territories, Mr. Chan recognized the need for a centralized facility and was instrumental in starting the Sai Kung Central Primary School, and continuing as supervisor from 1984 through 2006.
His community work began in the early seventies when he took on the position of Village Representative for Yim Tin Tsai and worked in the SK Rural Committee (a body comprised of all Village Representatives). Quickly he rose to be on the executive of the Rural Committee and then Vice Chairman and later Executive Committee member of the Heung Yee Kuk (the body representing all Rural Committee Executives).
One of his proudest achievements was to institute dragon boat races in Sai Kung and to pioneer the use of fibreglass for the construction of the boats to make them swifter. The first fibreglass dragon boat workshop still exists near the Fisherman’s Cooperative on the south side of the harbour.
He was awarded the St. George Medal and Badge of Honour by the Queen for his Sai Kung community work as well as extensive volunteer work with the HK Scout Association.
His first appointment to the SK District Council was from 1982 – 1987 and then in 2000 he was appointed once again, a position he held until his death. During those latter years he chaired the Tourism Development Working Group of the Economic Development Committee. His views were not always the same as other committee members but he listened and gave due consideration to all.
As testimony to his work and popularity the Sacred Heart Church in Sai Kung was filled to the brim at the Funeral Mass and Burial Ceremony on the 18th of April. His family was comforted by the number of people (from young persons up to senior government officials) who came to say their private goodbyes.