念昊sir * In memory of Ho Sir

舊同學們因為老師的離開在Facebook上再一次走在一起。也許不過是數段留言，也許在很短的時間後，我們又會各奔東西，這一「聚」也是叫我感動的。
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去年十二月，昊Sir去世。回想從前有關老師的片段，不禁落淚。為什麼會哭呢？是傷心？是懷念？還是知道可以回想的，就只有這些。在未來的日子，沒法加添更多了。
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大學二年級，編劇課。那天是交劇本功課的日子。昊Sir在堂上放影片，什麼電影，我不記得了。因為我還在埋頭完成我的劇本功課。在黑暗的教室，昊Sir走到我身旁，輕聲的叫我先專心看電影，劇本遲些交也可以。他一說，叫我感到羞愧之餘，卻又是我對老師第一份深刻親切的印象。
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課後活動，放映《一個字頭的旦生》。請來了韋家輝出席對談會，由昊Sir主持。過程中，有電話響起。響了良多也沒有人關機，而韋家輝與昊Sir繼續對答。好一會，昊Sir淡定的從襯衫的口袋拿出正在響的手提電話，把它關掉，然後像沒事發生一樣。如你看過《一個字頭的旦生》，必明白幽默之處。
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那一年，老師得了病。我打電話告訴好同學。還記得她哭了。
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在電影資料館工作時，請來昊Sir作座談會講者。他早把座談會材料給我，好讓我安排同事放映。座談會當日，來的觀眾不少，我在影院一旁待命。昊Sir在台前說著說著，突然叫我的名字，海素。「海素，那些東西準備好了嗎？」在一眾人前叫我的名字，嚇了我一跳，而且，更是我的中文名字。老師，你的親切太有趣了。
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2012年尾回港，帶T參觀母校。電影電視系早已搬到新的校舍。在陌生的新大樓，第一個踫上的便是昊Sir。我興奮的介紹老師跟T認識，老師則熱情的叫人帶我們參觀新校舍。短短的一聚，興高采烈。參觀後回到跟昊Sir踫面的走廊，可惜老師己不在，沒法說一句再見。
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今天昊Sir出殯。身在遠方，只能在此告別。
昊Sir,我有幸成為你的學生。你敍事學的教導，不單是在電影上，而在藝術、生活上也給我啟發。謝謝你的親切與幽默感。你最後一堂課跟我們一眾同學說「江湖再見」，我想沒有一個忘了這句話。

昊Sir，期望一天，江湖再見。

Because of the pass away of our teacher, my old classmates came together again on Facebook. It might be only a few messages passing around, or maybe after a short while, we will all go in our own directions again. But this short “gathering” touched my heart.

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December 2013, “Ho Sir”* passed away. Looking back the moments of my teacher, tears came out from my eye. Why did I cry? Sadness? Maybe I realize that those are all the things that I have about Ho Sir. In the coming future, I will not have the opportunities to add more pieces to my memory.
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Second year of university, scriptwriting class. It was the day to hand in the script. Ho sir showed a film during the lesson and I didn’t remember the title of it as I was still working on my script the last-minute. In the dark classroom, Ho Sir walked next to me, and softly he told me to focus on the film, and my script could hand in later. I felt ashamed because of his kindness. And that’s my first memorial moment of my teacher.
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Afterschool event, film screening, Too Many Way to be Number 1. Director Wai Kar-fai was invited to the Q & A section and Ho Sir was the host. During the event, somebody’s mobile phone was ringing. It last for a while and no one answered that phone. Wai Kar-fai and Ho Sir continued their dialogue up front and slowly Ho Sir took out his mobile phone from his pocket. Then everyone realized it was his phone ringing. He switched it off, put it back and acted like nothing happened. If you watched Too Many Way to be Number 1, you understand the comic aspect here.
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That year, teacher got sick. I called my good classmate to let her know. She cried.
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When I was working at the Film Archive, Ho Sir was invited to be the speaker of several seminars. He sent me the material that he wanted to show before hand so that I could make the arrangement with the protectionist. On the seminar day, there was a lot of audience. I stood at the back of the cinema and ready to help. Ho Sir was doing his talk and suddenly he called my name, Hoi Sue. “Hoi Sue, are the material ready?” In front of all the audience, he called my name. It surprised me and more than that, he called my name in Chinese. Teacher, you are funny.
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End of 2012, I made a trip back to Hong Kong. I brought T to visit my old school. The Cinema and Television Department had already moved to a new building. In the unfamiliar building, the first one that I met was Ho Sir. I was excited and introduced him to T. Ho Sir happily got someone to show us around the new building. That was a short gathering moment filled with joy. After the tour of the new facilities, we walked back to the hallway where we met Ho Sir but he wasn’t there anymore. I was not able to say Goodbye.
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Today is Ho Sir funeral. Being far way, I could only say goodbye here.
Ho Sir, I am honoured to be your student. Your teaching on narrative theory inspired me not only in cinema but also in art and life. Thank you very much for your kindness and humour. In your last lesson, you told all the students, “See you again in Jianghu”. I think none of us forget that.

Ho Sir, wish that one day, I’ll see you again in Jianghu.

Ho Sir/ Ng Chun-bong:  “Acclaimed historian, teacher and scriptwriter. A prolific author, Ng – better known by his pen name Ng Ho – wrote extensively on Hong Kong history and popular culture, ranging from film to fashion. His 2003 book, The History of Hong Kong Television Volume One, was considered the first comprehensive study of the history of Hong Kong television.”