Hon Adviser Mr CHAN Hung's letter to Old Boys and candidates – Brothers all are we

2020.04.20

Following is the translation of a letter to Old Boys and candidates of the 2020 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) by the Honorary Adviser of Queen's College Old Boys' Association (QCOBA) and Founder of Principal Chan Free Tutorial World, Mr CHAN Hung, today (April 20).

This is the fourth episode of Letters Asunder, an initiative to mark QCOBA's centenary in 2020 under the theme "Serving QC family, our centenary duty", sharing with the Queen's community words of wisdom and reflections.

Brothers all are we

Dear brothers,

I am CHAN Hung from Class of 1986.

Noting that QCOBA celebrates its centenary this year, I am afraid that I have been quite detached from QC Old Boys for so many years.

After departing from QC, apart from few classmates in junior and sixth forms, I seldom connect with QC Boys. As I became a teacher in a secondary school upon graduation from university where I barely need to get together with people beyond colleagues, my QC identity has rarely been used in reunion with alumni. Sometimes I came across one or two QC Boys in events or meetings, but I tended not to reveal my QC identity. There are a lot of QC icons across professions, including the public service, business, medical, legal and academic sectors, but I do not see any connection with them.

Things changed after I quitted my job in school and established a charity providing grassroots students with free tuition. I then realised the essence of the QC identity, the extensive QC networks and the subtle albeit special brotherhood and links among QC Boys.

That was the time when I needed capital and an office most as well as all sorts of equipment and manpower desperately. Without any connections in the government and business sector, I had to start from scratch. Fortunately, a number of passionate QC Boys took the initiative to approach me with a big helping hand. Some were two decades senior than me while some were fresh graduates. There were close friends and some whom we never met. These QC Boys not only introduced businessmen and entrepreneurs to me for my charity, but also gave numerous generous donations. Two seniors located a good office for our operations and even paid two years' rents for us.

Instead of money and equipment, those in university who were just fresh QC graduates put in their hard work and time to become our voluntary tutors, providing free one-on-one tuition for grassroots pupils. Outstanding juniors who attained 5** in seven subjects in HKDSE came forward and shared with our students their experience in studies and exams. I am blessed to have these precious opportunities which equipped grassroots children, who may not be able to enrol under "Tutor Kings", with effective exam skills.

Many QC Boys provided assistance to me in this epidemic, too. In the past few months, various kinds of equipment were donated to grassroots students non-stop through our organisation and many donors were Old Boys. I always have a special feeling of intimacy and fraternity. Further, they do so not only for we all studied in QC or for myself alone, but also for social justice we all believe in helping the poor and disadvantaged.

This is the key attribute of QC Boys. We not only think big, but also care for those left behind. We not only aim high, but also rescue the perishing. The quality pride of QC Boys is not about how many celebrities we become, but starting your career and making dreams come true by what we learnt in QC, followed by helping the vulnerable, serving the community and making the world a better place. This is the QC legend and virtue we share.

Without such qualities, a QC Boy is merely an icon no matter how privileged, rich and famous he may be. An icon is not necessarily a role model; and to me, he does not deserve to be a QC Boy even though he did spend few years in the government boys' school opposite to Victoria Park.

As the government confirmed the commencement of HKDSE in this week, let me conclude with my wishes to QC candidates. Sitting for the most important exam in your school days amid the pandemic, your setbacks, pain and anxiety can hardly be understood. Yet, whatever the grades may be, you will soon embark on a new chapter. Exams never determine your achievements and there are unlimited possibilities ahead. Sit back and relax when you sit for the exams. On this note, I wish you good luck in accepting this challenge.

I trust you, young men, for this is the way that we have been.

CHAN Hung

Queen's College Old Boys' Association
April 20, 2020