Hong Kong Stories

Brian Wong – A Life of Ups and Downs (31x5)

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Maybe you can recognise his face, but you can’t recall his name. Maybe you do know that he is a champion swimmer, but you can’t remember which TV programmes he has appeared in or which roles he has played. Having struggled in the TV business for thirty years, he still holds on to his dreams about acting, thanks to his perseverance and determination that all come from his sports. His name is Wong Chak Fung Brian. Brian started swimming from a young age to follow the footstep of his father, a renowned swimmer in the 1950’s. Brian is a multiple-time champion of the cross harbour race and still holds the record from then. He is also a devoted Chinese martial arts practitioner. His healthy and energetic image gave him the opportunity to appear in an RTHK programme about young people, which also saw the start of his showbiz career. For all the years that followed, however, he was given only minor roles and programme host assignments, which never set him on the path to fame. In 2001, Brian and his friends started a joint venture in food and beverage. Business was robust at first, this time really bringing him fame and fortune. However, Hong Kong was soon struck by SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which drove him to bankruptcy and ruined his marriage. Then he found himself at the lowest point in life. Fortunately, perseverance from his sportsman’s side stepped in; he rose from turmoil and started all over. Banking on his expertise in swimming, Brian is now teaching swimming classes. At the same time, he practises Chinese martial arts and Thai boxing; he has even become a licensed instructor, referee and adjudicator of Thai boxing. He is now flourishing in both swimming and boxing; his talents are fully utilised. Having gone through so many ups and downs, now Brian lives in optimism, believing that everything happens by providence. Even though he is still passionate about acting, it is no more than a hobby for him. He hopes to continue to make the best u