By Vivian Au

Copyright scmp

Hong Kong comedy legend Michael Hui Koon-man, who plays a Taoist priest in the local blockbuster film The Last Dance set in the funeral business, has revealed his wishes for his own final day.
In a rare sharing session on life and death issues with Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) medical students at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin on Monday evening, the 83-year-old actor said the key to living a meaningful life was to be happy.
“Life is so pretty that we have to treasure the views of our lives,” he said in a dialogue with students who must confront the issue of patients dying on a daily basis.
Hui stressed the importance of letting go of obsession and attachment, saying that “once you let go, you are happy”. Happiness was extremely important, he added.
Joining Hui for the dialogue on life and death were the dean of CUHK’s medical school, Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, the clinical oncology department’s chairman, Professor Tony Mok Shu-kam, students and staff.
Asked for his view about the worrying issue of youth suicides, Hui said: “We are destined to die no matter what, why not appreciate the views [on the journey]?”
Hui also revealed that his views on life were shaped by his family’s experience years ago.
“I watched my father endure great pain, relying on injections to sustain his life,” he said.
In the end, he asked medical staff to stop treatment. His father died peacefully the same day.
Hui said this underscored the value of acceptance and a timely, peaceful farewell, adding that he hoped his ashes could be delivered to the sea when his time was up.

He also revealed that he had once cheated death, recalling a diving trip where he came face to face with a shark.
“At that moment, the faces of the people who were most important in my life unexpectedly popped into my mind,” he said.
Asked if today was his final day, he said his only desire would be to honour those whose faces had flashed before his eyes.
“I treasure every memory we created and thank them for the gift of their presence in my life,” he said.
Life and death emerged as a talking point last year when The Last Dance not only broke Hong Kong box office records grossing HK$122 million, but provoked a question about how to break life’s bottlenecks.
The film’s Chinese title, translated as “breaking hell’s gate”, refers to a Taoist ritual performed at Chinese funerals.
Set against a backdrop of the funeral industry, the film delivers a message about respecting the departed while simultaneously caring for the living.
“After filming the movie, it made me feel freer and easier,” Hui said, reflecting on the experience.
The film revolves around Dominic, played by comedian Dayo Wong Tze-wah, a debt-ridden wedding planner who tries his hand at being a funeral agent out of desperation, and Master Man, portrayed by Hui, a Taoist priest who struggles to stay on good terms with his son and daughter.
The film will represent the city in the race for best international feature film at the Oscars next March.
Hui said that he believed the film stood a chance of winning as the judges usually preferred movies with strong local characteristics, according to his understanding.