Lai Peter, the celebrated lyricist and actor whose witty Cantonese lyrics defined a generation of Hong Kong pop music, died Aug. 5 at age 76 after a prolonged illness. A memorial service was held Sept. 26 at the Yan Chai Hospital Lim Por Yen Memorial Secondary School in Tseung Kwan O, where Lai once served as a school board member.
The private funeral had taken place Aug. 31 in a low-key family ceremony, but the school gathering — attended by former co-stars, musicians and colleagues — allowed the public to bid farewell. Lai’s son, Lai Shu Tak, wearing a mask, joined family members on stage to bow in gratitude. The school’s guzheng ensemble performed Lai’s compositions, and the event closed with a collective rendition of “A Prodigal’s Heart” (Long Zi Xin Sheng), the classic he co-wrote with Sam Hui.
Among the most emotional moments was a pre-recorded video of Sam Hui playing guitar and singing “This Song for You” (Zhe Yi Qu Song Gei Ni), a track they had created together. “Peter’s passing makes me feel very sorry,” Hui said in the clip. “On the musical journey, we created many classic songs together. He was truly my best partner. This song is for him.” Hui ended with a simple farewell: “Rest in peace, Peter.”
A Life of Words and Laughter
Lai was widely known as the “ghostly word wizard” for his sharp, colloquial Cantonese lyrics that turned everyday frustrations into art. Though he often described his own life as tragic, he insisted on performing comedy to bring joy to others, said longtime friend and MC Chung Chi-kwong.
Chung disclosed details of Lai’s final months. A lover of food, Lai developed diabetes and worsening kidney function. In December 2025, he coughed up blood and was admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital, but was transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital after costs exceeded HK$100,000 per day. Doctors found he had lost all kidney function; he began dialysis three times a week. After contracting peritonitis, he moved to a nursing home run by Yan Chai Hospital. “In late April, he fell in the home and was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital, where doctors found a complete brainstem ischemic stroke,” Chung said. “He fought for months but passed away peacefully on Aug. 5.”
‘Every Word Precise, Every Line Hits Home’
Actor and musician Anthony Chan, a longtime collaborator, recalled meeting Lai in the 1970s. “He called me his ‘Bole’ — the man who discovered him,” Chan said, referencing an ancient Chinese proverb. Chan had parked his new car next to Lai’s employer’s vehicle while Lai worked as a chauffeur. “I was his No. 1 fan,” Chan said, adding that Lai used the pen name “Tchaikovsky” for his newspaper column. Chan persuaded Lai to write lyrics for the TV show Wynners’ Rhapsody, charging just HK$150. The result became the film The Wandering song “Let’s Play,” which Lai co-wrote with James Wong. Chan praised the lyrics as “every word precise, every line hits the bone.”
‘Hong Kong Music Scene Owes Peter a Debt’
Musician Pal Sinn said Lai pushed Cantonese pop to “a very high new level” and declared: “I personally feel the Hong Kong music scene owes Brother Peter an explanation — a proper one, and respect.” Sinn, along with fellow actors Joyce Chan and Chunting Chan, sang Lai’s iconic lyric “Monica,” swapping the refrain to “Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, Brother Peter.”
Actresses Angel Lam and Jack Hui described Lai as a “playful old child” and the comic heart of the long-running TV sitcom Come Home Love: Lo and Behold. Lam called Lai her “food guide,” saying he loved eating and always picked up the check. “He seemed flirtatious but was always polite — never a curse word or a dirty joke,” she said.
Legacy and Next Steps
Gary Chang, owner of Universe Entertainment, announced two charity concerts in December at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to honor Lai and raise funds for Yan Chai Hospital. Performers include veteran singer Wan Kwong, rap duo Farmers, JW Wong, Vivian Lai, and Anthony Chan. “We have contacted Sam Hui and hope he can attend — that’s our ultimate wish,” Chang said.
Lai leaves behind a catalogue of hundreds of timeless Cantonese songs — from Leslie Cheung’s “Monica” to Sam Hui’s “A Prodigal’s Heart” — that continue to resonate. His son is reportedly considering resuming Chinese medicine studies, with family support. For the Hong Kong music industry, Lai’s death marks the end of an era, but his words remain etched in the city’s cultural memory.
