HONG KONG — Celebrated Hong Kong artist and media personality, Lawrence Cheng Tan-Shui, known affectionately as Ah Tan, is embracing new chapters in his enduring career, marked by a recent collaboration on a new musical while reflecting on five decades of industry highs and lows, including a poignant personal regret linked to his early radio days. At 65, Cheng, who famously transitioned the 1980s radio hit “The Yuppie Fantasia” (Siu Man Yun Jau Gei) into a blockbuster film franchise, recently detailed his journey and persistent ambition during an interview on Commercial Radio’s Star Behind the Scenes program.
The veteran media figure is set to launch a highly anticipated revival of The Yuppie Fantasia as a long-running musical this October, produced jointly with 27-year-old music prodigy, Andy Chan Yan-Shek, underscoring Cheng’s continuous pursuit of creative outlets.
From Radio Sensation to Box Office Success
Cheng’s career trajectory is deeply rooted in radio. Starting his professional life at Commercial Radio in 1978, he quickly became synonymous with the station, departing and returning multiple times—a history he now views with mixed emotions.
His first major career peak arrived in 1983 while at Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) with the debut of the “The Yuppie Fantasia” radio drama. The series, which chronicled the life of protagonist Leung Kuan, rapidly spun off best-selling novels before being adapted into three films and two television series starting in 1989. The initial film installment alone earned over HK$16 million at the box office, solidifying its place as a contemporary classic.
During the interview, Cheng recounted the challenging process of bringing the story to the big screen. Initially, director Taylor Wong expressed interest, but locating the lead actor proved difficult. Cheng approached several A-list stars:
- Sam Hui enjoyed the script but humorously declined, stating, “I have eight-pack abs; I’m not a ‘little man’ at all.”
- Alan Tam was keen but tied up with a two-year concert tour schedule.
- George Lam reviewed the material and ultimately convinced Cheng that he should take the lead role himself.
Despite his reservations about his own box office appeal, the project gained momentum after a fortuitous lunch with industry titan Chua Lam, who insisted Cheng star in the film. The movie’s success was also aided by a star-studded cast of actresses, including Carol Cheng, Cherie Chung, and Sibelle Hu. Cheng revealed he personally secured Carol Cheng for the role of his wife, Ann, with a simple proposal: “If there’s money, it’s fine!”
The Unforgettable Six Pair Half Regret
Despite achieving numerous professional heights, including a period as Deputy Head of Commercial Radio 2 in the late 1980s, Cheng admitted his biggest regret stems from a decision made early in his career—a consequence of his impetuous “three ins and three outs” history with Commercial Radio.
Cheng’s first-ever job was at Commercial Radio, where he was part of the original lineup of the influential youth program “Six Pair Half” (6 Pair Ban). Nearing his graduation from Baptist College, he was offered a television post at Rediffusion Television (later ATV) and sought to juggle both roles. When Commercial Radio executive Winnie Yu declined his request, citing deficiencies in his current performance, Cheng, in a moment of youthful pride, resigned.
While his subsequent television career saw him contribute to classic dramas like The Reincarnated Swordman and The Legendary Fok, Cheng recalled immediate regret over leaving Commercial Radio. That regret crystallized in 1980 with the release of the iconic Six Pair Half compilation album, on which he was conspicuously absent.
“To this day, that album, and my missing presence on it, remains my biggest professional regret and failure,” Cheng stated.
This desire to claim his place in radio history fueled his future projects. Upon returning to Commercial Radio in 1988, one of his first actions was to produce the “Ultimate New Generation” compilation album, which featured his song “Words Left for My Dearest.” He similarly produced a single during his time at RTHK.
Now preparing to become a grandfather, Cheng attributes much of his success and later ambition to Winnie Yu, whom he considers a tough but invaluable mentor. Yu even contributed a chapter and proofread his upcoming book, I Failed, Hope You Succeed, highlighting their enduring professional bond. Cheng’s account offers a candid look into the sacrifices and motivations behind a long and successful career in the demanding world of Hong Kong media.
