HONG KONG – A wave of nostalgia and heartfelt tributes swept through a ViuTV drama promotion on Monday as veteran actors Ha Yu and Kwok Fung recalled their time with the late screen legend Patrick Tse Yin, reflecting on his enduring coolness and disarming humility.
Ha Yu, Kwok Fung, along with younger stars Poon Chun-leung, Natalie Tong, Stanley Yau, and Ha Yu’s son, Wong Yat-ching, gathered to promote the network’s upcoming series Sunset Rainbow. But the event quickly turned into a poignant conversation about Tse, who passed away in 2021, as the two senior actors shared their final interactions with the iconic figure.
Ha Yu, who co-starred with Tse in the classic 1983 adaptation of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, revealed a painful encounter about a year before Tse’s death. “I saw him at a clinic when I was feeling unwell. I walked up to greet him, but he didn’t recognize me anymore. It broke my heart,” Ha said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Kwok Fung, who worked with Tse on the 1980s gambling drama The King of Gamblers, recalled their last collaboration on a mainland Chinese series four years ago. “He was in great spirits then. It’s hard to believe he’s gone,” Kwok said.
Both actors described Tse as a lifelong idol and a man of unmatched style. “He was cool his entire life. No one could top him,” Ha said. “He was easygoing, without arrogance or scheming—a truly respectable senior.”
Kwok added: “He had that effortlessly cool, charming look, and a big, open laugh. I feel lucky to have learned from him during my acting career.”
The conversation also turned to the cast’s experiences filming the ViuTV project. Ha Yu compared the production process favorably to that of TVB, the city’s dominant broadcaster. “We had the full script early, everything was well arranged. If the right project comes along, I would definitely do it again,” he said.
When asked to grade performances on set, Ha gave his son, Wong Yat-ching, a score of “82 or 83,” calling it high praise. He gave himself an 80 and reserved a perfect score for Kwok Fung.
Wong, who plays Ha’s on-screen son, said he sets aside their real-life relationship when stepping onto the set, treating his father purely as a fellow actor. While he’s heard Ha described as having a “firecracker temper,” Wong said he has never witnessed an outburst. “He’s kind and easy to get along with,” he said. “The crew is actually afraid to wake him when he’s napping on set—they always send me to fetch him. I suspect they cast me just to babysit my dad!”
Kwok Fung, who plays a character caught between the father-son duo, described overhearing their off-camera conversations. “I envy Ha Yu for having such a devoted son,” he said.
Wong recalled a deeply emotional scene where, moved by his father’s performance, he turned away to hide his tears. “I was crying, and I didn’t want him to see,” Wong said. Ha, seemingly surprised, turned to him and asked, “That scene happened?”
When asked if he ever seeks acting advice from his father, Wong laughed and said, “I do, but his answers are always vague and philosophical. I think he doesn’t want to give me a subjective answer.”
The promotion shed light not only on the upcoming series but also on the enduring bonds between Hong Kong’s acting generations—and the quiet, powerful influence of a star like Patrick Tse, whose legacy continues to inspire even years after his passing.
