HONG KONG — In a touching finale that blended culinary nostalgia with heartfelt remembrance, actor Mak Cheung-ching and Charmaine Hui, daughter of late entertainment icon Hui Shiu-hung, concluded their YouTube series Ching Ching Dei with an emotional tribute to the beloved veteran performer.
The 10-episode food-and-memory program, which premiered earlier this year, saw the unlikely duo traverse Hong Kong’s diverse neighborhoods to explore culinary traditions while bridging generational gaps. But Tuesday night’s final installment carried a deeper purpose: revisiting the flavors and moments that defined Hui Shiu-hung’s life both on and off screen.
The hour-long special opened in Kowloon City, where the pair visited a local cha chaan teng that held special significance for Hui’s late father. Mak recalled that the veteran actor—affectionately known as “Shiu Hung Gor” to industry peers—frequently ordered only beef brisket rice noodles without a drink, prompting a curious question about his frugality.
Charmaine offered a tender explanation: “Father would come with me and my mother. Whatever iced milk tea we couldn’t finish, he would finish for us.”
The conversation deepened as Charmaine revealed her father’s remarkable persistence in romance—a seven-year courtship of her mother, who worked behind the scenes in television. “These days, if someone pursued for seven weeks without reciprocation, they’d walk away,” she noted. “But my father would finish long shoots and park outside the studio lot, waiting patiently. It was genuinely sweet.”
Mak, for his part, shared his own connection to the late star, recounting their first collaboration on the 1980s drama Bing Kuen. As a newcomer, Mak received extraordinary kindness from Hui, who personally drove him to meals to ease his discomfort on set.
The episode then moved to Tsz Wan Shan, where Mak introduced Charmaine to a barbecue shop famous for its “square rice boxes”—the standard catering for outdoor shoots in the 1980s. The pair enjoyed a roadside picnic near the former Clearwater Bay TV City, recreating a ritual Hui Shiu-hung and his colleagues practiced for decades.
“This lets you experience exactly how your father ate during location shoots,” Mak explained. “We’d sit by the roadside, eating warmed-by-the-sun rice boxes while telling jokes under the beating sun.”
For Charmaine, the experience proved cathartic. Fighting back tears, she reflected on her father’s quiet resilience. “Father never wanted us to worry. He kept all his stress and emotions buried, never mentioning his hardships. But he needed care too,” she said. “He was always so strong that I sometimes overlooked that. I regret not giving him more attention. If your loved ones are still here, please cherish them.”
Hui Shiu-hung, who passed away in 2023 at age 75 after a storied career spanning five decades, was celebrated for his versatility—from comic sidekicks to dramatic roles in films like The Storm Riders and Infernal Affairs. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the industry.
Mak, reflecting on the series’ success, emphasized that the show’s enduring appeal lies in its universal themes. “Food is how we remember people,” he said. “Every dish tells a story. This wasn’t just about meals—it was about keeping his memory deliciously alive.”
The final episode has since racked up thousands of views, with viewers praising Charmaine’s candor and Mak’s warmth. Many took to the comments section to share their own memories of the late actor.
Beyond the series, Charmaine announced plans to compile her father’s favorite recipes into a commemorative cookbook, with proceeds going to charity. “He’d have loved knowing his food stories could help others,” she said, adding that she hopes the project will inspire families to document their own culinary histories.
As the credits rolled, the show closed with a simple handwritten note: “To the ones we’ve lost—and the meals we shared.”
