In memory of Mr Shum Choi-sang (1922–2016)  (中文)

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Mr Shum Choi-sang was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) by the HK SAR Government in 2002

Mr Shum Choi-sang passed away peacefully on 27 April 2016 at the Hong Kong Sanatorium Hospital, aged 94.

Widely acclaimed as one of the foremost figures in Hong Kong journalism, Mr Shum was respected throughout the profession. In addition to his role as the publisher of the Wah Kiu Yat Po, or Overseas Chinese Daily News—a Chinese-language newspaper founded by his father, Shum Wai-yau, in 1925—Mr Shum also held key posts in other media organisations, including Chairman of the Newspaper Society of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Chinese Language Press Institute and Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Committee of the International Press Institute.

Mr Shum was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1967, awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1986, the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2002 and an Honorary Fellowship from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2003.

The Shum family have a long tradition of philanthropy that spans the generations, notably in promoting media, culture and education. Mr Shum and his son, Mr Robert Shum, were early benefactors of the JMSC and in 2005 the Shum Wai Yau Reading Room at the Centre was named after Mr Shum’s father and the founder of the Wah Kiu Yat Po newspaper, in recognition of the contributions made by the Shum family to the newspaper industry in Hong Kong and its generous support to journalism education at HKU.

In 2006, the Shum Wai Yau Journalism Education Fund and the Lee Kam Woon and Shum Shuk Yuen Education Fund were set up through donations from Mr Shum and his sister, with a launch ceremony held for the funds in 2007.

In 2007, The University of Hong Kong presented Mr Shum Choi-sang with an Honorary University Fellowship in recognition of his contribution to the University and the community. Then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap-Chee Tsui, praised Mr Shum and the other newly-awarded fellows as ‘true examples of courage and leadership, because they themselves lead by example’.

In 2010, the Wah Kiu Yat Po Readers’ Loan Fund for Post-Secondary School Students, a fund chaired by Mr Shum Choi-sang and operated by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), set up the SCMP Wah Kiu Yat Po Journalism Scholarship Fund at the JMSC for Bachelor and Master of Journalism students, encouraging outstanding students and journalists to study at the Centre from all around the world.

Funeral and wake details

A wake and public tribute will be held from 5 p.m. oWednesday 18 May at the Hong Kong Funeral Home, 679 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong (Tel: 852-2561 5226). The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday 19 May.

The Shum Wai Yau Reading Room

Shum Reading Room in Eliot Hall at #JMSCHKU #HKU #theta360 – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

The Shum Wai Yau Reading Room in Eliot Hall was opened with a ceremony on 27 October 2005. It was a gift from the Shum family and was completely renovated and re-furnished, with custom-made furniture and architectural design work from Nelson Chen, a specialist in the restoration of historical buildings and winner of a UNESCO Heritage Conservation Award.

For many JMSC students, the Shum Wai Yau Reading Room provided the first impression of HKU that they received, with the room also being the venue for Bachelor of Journalism application interviews over the years.

The room continues to be a centre of activity at the heart of the JMSC amongst staff and students for tutorials, meetings and events today. Most recently, in December 2015, it was used by the judging panel for Asia’s first Editors Lab hackday event to deliberate and decide on the winner of the competition to develop an innovative video journalism tool.

 

Opening of the Shum Wai Yau Reading Room, 27 October 2005

 

Teaching and learning in the Shum Wai Yau Reading Room

 

The Shum Wai Yau Journalism Education Fund, the Lee Kam Woon and Shum Shuk Yuen Education Fund and the SCMP Wah Kiu Yat Po Journalism Scholarship Fund

EducationFundIn 2006, the Shum Wai Yau Journalism Education Fund and the Lee Kam Woon and Shum Shuk Yuen Education Fund were set up from the generous donations of the Shum family.

The Wah Kiu Yat Po Readers’ Loan Fund for Post-Secondary School Students was set up in the 1960s to support underprivileged students to further their education. It was chaired by Mr Shum Choi-sang and operated by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). In 2010, the SCMP Wah Kiu Yat Po Journalism Scholarship Fund was established using money from the fund.

The money has been used to provide scholarships for both Bachelor and Master of Journalism students, to subsidise students on unpaid internships in Hong Kong, mainland China or overseas, and to help students taking part in overseas training programmes (including JMSC exchange programmes) or conferences.

Nearly 50 students have benefited from the funds, coming to the JMSC from all over the globe, including Hong Kong, mainland China, the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, Austria, Zambia, Afghanistan and India.

After benefiting from the scholarship fund, students have gone on to work at top international news organisations such as Reuters, the New York Times, The Economist, CNN, the Financial Times and Bloomberg, as well as local media companies including RTHK, Hong Kong Economic Journal and TVB.

Shum scholarship students

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Patrick Boehler, Digital editor for the International New York Times and JMSC Assistant Lecturer; Master of Journalism, 2012

‘The skills, knowledge and experience that I learnt during my time as a Master of Journalism student were invaluable in helping me to secure my current role as digital editor for the International New York Times in Hong Kong. Working as Assistant Lecturer at the JMSC has also enabled me to pass these skills on to the next generation of journalism students in Hong Kong.’

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Vicky Kung, left, worked for TVB Pearl after graduating from the JMSC; Bachelor of Journalism, 2013

‘It’s very sad to hear about the loss of Mr Shum. Thanks to the generous support from this fund, I was able to graduate from the JMSC and start a journalism career at TVB Pearl. I’ve also been able to use the skills that I learnt at the JMSC in my NGO work with refugees.’

 

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Matin Safraz, Media and Public Relations advisor to the Minister of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan; Master of Journalism, 2013

‘Afghanistan has seen major development and progress in its media but still needs more professionals working in the field, so I wanted to be able to come back with what I learned at the JMSC and help Afghans. The scholarship made it possible for me to pursue my goals. I would not be able to attend HKU without the scholarship, so I am really happy and thankful for the chance.’

Sophia Xu Qian, Deputy Editor (Asia) at Storyful; Master of Journalism, 2012

‘Thanks to the SCMP Wah Kiu Yat Po Journalism Scholarship, I was able to study at my ideal university. I very much appreciate that Mr Shum’s family helped me during my studies—such support and care has motivated me to make contributions to society in my work and to be worthy of the generous support from the warm-hearted Shum family.’

 

A tribute from JMSC Director, Ying Chan

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Mr Shum Choi-sang and Professor Ying Chan

‘I am shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Mr Shum Choi-sang. For more than 10 years, numerous JMSC students and teachers have attended meetings or tutorials in the ‘Shum Room’, an elegantly designed reading room in Eliot Hall and a gift from the Shum Family. Mr Shum and his son, Robert, were early benefactors of the JMSC. Mr Shum supported us when we were just starting out because he saw the need for professional journalism education in Hong Kong. He also had faith in us. For everything Mr Shum had done for aspiring young journalists and the cause of journalism, we are eternally grateful. We offer his family our deepest condolences. May he rest in peace.’

– JMSC Director, Ying Chan