CHUNG King-fai
2001 Honorary Fellow
Citation
Chung King-fai is the founding Dean of Drama of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Since Assuming Deanship in 1983, ‘King’, as he is affectionately known to all colleagues in the local theatre community, has led the Academy’s School of Drama from strength to strength towards achieving a high international reputation.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Drama at Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master Degree in Fine Arts at the Yale University. He returned to Hong Kong in 1962 and taught at the Baptist College. In 1965, he was awarded the World University Service Scholarship to further his studies at the New York University.
His career covered a wide range of senior positions including that of Manager (Programme and Production) of Television Broadcasts Limited, Deputy General Manager of Rediffusion Television Limited and Deputy General Manager of Asia Television Limited. He was an honorary lecturer in Master courses at the University of Hong Kong, a lecturer at the Hong Kong Baptist College and a lecturer in theatrical study at the School of Continuing Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has also directed, produced, hosted, narrated and performed in numerous television programmes and movies over the years.
Chung King-fai was the first person to present to the Hong Kong audience works of the Theatre of Absurd and Broadway Musical in Cantonese. His exceptional artistic contributions have won him numerous awards which include the Best Director Award (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997), the Best Actor Award (1994, 1995, 1996, 1999) and the Outstanding Achievement of the Decade Award presented by the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies. He was honoured with the Artist of the Year Award (Stage Director) by the Artists’ Guild in 1999, and the Drama Achievement Award by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2000.
He is currently the Executive Director of the Chinese Theatrical Arts Society, the Principal Artistic Consultant of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, Advisory Board Member of the Chung Ying Theatre Company, Chairman of the Board of the Exploration Theatre and President of the Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies.