HONG KONG — Lai Peter, the legendary Cantopop lyricist and veteran actor whose words shaped generations of Hong Kong music, died Tuesday at 11 a.m. local time at Princess Margaret Hospital. He was 76.
His son, Lai Shu Tak, 38, appeared before media Wednesday alongside family friend and TV host Chung Chi Kwong to confirm the death and share details of his father’s final months. Lai Peter had been living in a nursing home since March 23 after a prior illness, but on the night of April 30 he suffered a brainstem ischemic stroke that left him unconscious and hospitalized. His condition initially stabilized, and he was transferred on June 8 to the Lai King care facility under Princess Margaret Hospital for rehabilitation. However, his health deteriorated sharply in recent days, leading to his death.
“My father was an extremely good person to me,” Lai Shu Tak said, his voice still raw with grief. “We will always miss him.” He stressed that he and his father maintained a close, communicative relationship, and that Lai Peter had urged him to take care of himself before falling ill.
No Final Words, Copyright Issues Unresolved
Because the stroke struck suddenly and left Lai Peter unable to speak, he left no verbal will. Chung Chi Kwong, who had met with him just days before the stroke, described Lai Peter as “in decent spirits” at the time. “He was unable to communicate after being admitted,” Chung said. “So there are no final words.”
The lack of a directive has left the handling of Lai Peter’s extensive songwriting copyrights — which include iconic hits for Sam Hui, Leslie Cheung, and beyond — uncertain. The family is still working out funeral arrangements in consultation with Lai Peter’s mother, with details to be announced later.
Debunking Financial Hardship Rumors
Rumors had circulated that Lai Peter faced financial struggles in recent years. Chung Chi Kwong forcefully rejected those claims. “He never borrowed money from me,” Chung said. “Once after a hospital discharge, he had forgotten his credit card, and I paid HK$4,500 for him. The next time we met, he repaid me in cash immediately.”
Billionaire Joseph Lau had provided financial assistance through his charitable foundation. Chung clarified that Lau’s office proactively contacted the family — not the other way around.
As for earlier reports that Lai Peter had to pay off his son’s credit card debts, Lai Shu Tak explained he was studying in Nanjing at the time, and the charges were solely for tuition and basic living expenses. Chung added that a father supporting a child’s education is “perfectly normal” and urged the public not to overinterpret.
Lai Shu Tak, who has been unemployed for nearly a year, said he quit work to become his father’s full-time caregiver. “He needed dialysis three times a week,” the son explained. “After the stroke, he required round-the-clock care. I put everything aside to be with him.”
A Serious Man Behind the Jester’s Mask
Chung described Lai Peter as someone who appeared carefree and irreverent but was deeply meticulous in everything he did. Regarding the long-rumored rift between Lai Peter and Sam Hui — the singer for whom he wrote many of his most famous lyrics — Chung deferred to Hui. “Sam Hui is the most qualified person to comment on Lai Peter,” he said. “Everything Sam posted on social media about him is absolutely correct.”
Lai Peter remained well-liked in the entertainment industry. During his illness, a stream of celebrities visited him at the nursing home and hospital, including Myolie Wu, Suki Chan, Lo Yuen-yan, Tong Ying-ying, Lam Suk-man, So Yan-chi, and Yang Ruilin. Musician Pal Sinn and former colleagues from Commercial Radio also checked in regularly. A retired TVB cameraman even drove Lai Peter to and from dialysis three times a week.
Chung, speaking on behalf of the family, thanked the medical staff who cared for Lai Peter in his final days, as well as 環星娛樂 (Star Entertainment). He suggested fans revisit Lai Peter’s online talk show 《玖噏秘笈》 (The Nine Secret Manual) as a lasting tribute. “Whatever Peter said on that show is the truth,” Chung said. “I was honored to work with him on his final 12 episodes.”
Lai Peter’s death marks the end of an era for Hong Kong’s music and film worlds, leaving behind a catalog of lyrics that defined the city’s golden pop age — and a son determined to ensure his legacy is remembered accurately.
