Written by Photos were supplied by Lee Shin and Adrian Hung.
Posts tagged CTSS 1971 Graduate
Robert Chu’s celebration trip in Hawaii
Written by It was around early of June this year that we decided to take a trip to Hawaii to celebrate my daughter’s graduation from medical school (Dr. Esther Chu, MD). Hawaii was the only 
place we could go without a lengthy quarantine. Still we needed to have a negative 72 hour COVID test result before departure from the mainland. We got the QR green code and passed the check points in Oahu.
The flight from Oahu to Big Island was short, took only 45 minutes. The first three days we stayed in the resort were shown in the pictures below. We went to see Manta rays in the first night. With the big flood light in the middle of the ocean, everyone held onto the float. The Manta rays swam so close that you could see their belly. Next day, we went snorkeling around Kilo.
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| Again, we rode there with a small boat (sorry, we did not have any pictures) — we had to take the sea sick pills prior to get there. |
Then, the following days, we went to do the zip line with guys who ensured our safety in 
hanging to the cable, zipping among the tree tops and walking on suspension bridges with deliberately missing steps in between to add excitement to the “walk”.
On the last day, we went to drive the all terrain vehicles (ATV) with no windshield. We breathed in dust and by the time we finished the driving, we only had nothing but running noses— allergies.
Before flying back to the mainland, we spent just a few nights in Honolulu to eat and drink (not wine). All and all, Hawaii is a relaxing place to have a break from the lock down.
 Smoke still comes out from the volcano in Big Island where we stayed |
Strange flower in Hawaii |
A plant grows in a dead tree |
Hawaii is well known of pineapple drink. This is my daughter, Esther. |
The place we stayed in Hilo |
Sunset |
A picture of lava |
Part of the Big Island |
The resort we stayed at Oahu |
Eat out in Oahu |
This is the place where part of Jurassic Park movie was taken |
You see why there is a cage |
A view from the balcony of the hotel |
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A better way to recycle |
Share with you the trip to the virus free Hawaii, or you feel it. |
A Weekend Trip in San Francisco Beach Front
It started with a little drive from a water front house which belonged to my sister-in-law. The drive took around twenty minutes because a lot of streets in San Francisco were closed for the cyclists. After arriving Presidio lodge, we took a walk around the perimeter of the facility, the old infantry training camp for the military during the World War II. Now, it is a hotel and not sure who owns it. The rental varies from three hundred dollars and up. That was where I took all the pictures including the decorations. From there, we drove to the nearby Golden Gatepark which was under the bridge. There were a few people did the wind surfing right under the columns support. After another walk, we then went to a Chinese restaurant for our dinner. The total steps we walked, if recorded, were around ten thousands. So, it was a good exercise plus outing for a short trip in the weekend.
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| 在舊金山的Presidio Lodge 拍。這是公共椅子。 |
舊金山 |
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| 這隻海豹要求更多雞肉 | 金門橋 |
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| 這wind surf 像放kite | 從未見過這種植物會有花 |
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| 這玩具是古董 | 大概Mary可以教他們種 |
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| 在灣區中的一個海島以前是監獄 | Water color picture in the Lodge |
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| Another water color picture | Another picture which shows the Lodge was an original military camp |
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| Yellow jacket in the bush | Decoration in the Lodge |
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| Another real plant in the Lodge |
In memory of our teachers
We receive a message from Grace Tsang on May 25, 2021 saying that Ho sir 何敬謙老師在澳洲柏斯Perth逝世。
| Jeff Chan | The memories of Ho Sir sharing his knowledge and wisdom while we were growing up will remain forever in our hearts. |
| Patience Lyons | I will always remember Mr. Ho. May Mr. Ho Rest In Peace. Condolences to the family. |
| Wong Tak Kwong | May our respectful Ho sir rest in peace, and my condolences to his family. |
| Chau Hoi Kit | 永遠懷念💖尊敬的何老師！記憶中他還是第一代ICAC工作人員！ |
| Joyce Jern | Mr Ho will be greatly missed but his kindness and gentle spirit will be with us forever! |
| Angela Or | 想何Sir 在澳洲生活很好；還記得Dr Cheng 很欣賞他，在早會時說他勤力有幹勁（類似的話😅） |
| Clara Ho | RIP |
| May Kwok | RIP 永遠懷念！ |
| Mary Lau | RIP 永遠懷念！ |
| Robert Chu | 他教什麼呢？我不認出他。 |
| Adrian Hung | 教economic? |
| Chau Hoi Kit | EPA |
| Tak Kwong Wong | 對，是EPA，我們當時叫 Economic and Public Affairs. 不過我記得當時文科 EPA 和地理是蕭sir所教，何老師可能是教理科班，不知對否? 這已是半世紀之前的事我已記不清楚了。老實說我當時對 EPA 也不大感興趣，但相反我兒子是在密芝根大學主修經濟畢業，這大學也是以經濟在世界出名。 |
| Robert Chu | 我可能也算是那班对EPA 沒有興趣。畢竟，何老師留下許多美好回憶。事實上，每位老師也对你我影響很大。感恩！ |
| Jeff Chan | I can’t agree with you more, Robert. |
| Chow Ho Wai | 如果我沒有記錯，何老師應該是教完我們F3(?) 後就離開了大成中學的。 |
| Jeff Chan | I believe you are correct !He taught us the basic understanding of the significance of economic in our society. |
| Adrian Hung | My narrow escape
Before our exam in School, boys had to take the chairs from the classroom to the Hall while girls took the chairs. We were warned not to run along the corridors in school and there would be penalty for those against the rule. At Form 2, after I took the first table to the Hall, I ran along the corridor to go back to the classroom to pick up the second table. Unfortunately Ho sir came out from a classroom suddenly and I hit his hand. He rubbed his hand and ordered me to see him at the hall after moving the second table. I knew I was in trouble and likely to be punished with a minor or major demerit. When I finished my task, I went to see Ho sir at the Hall with my head down and tears on my eyes. I said “Sorry Ho sir, please give me a second chance”. He said, “If I punish you with demerit, you won’t have the mood to prepare for the exam. Go home and study hard!”. I said, “Thank you very much Ho sir”. Ho sir was really kind and considerate! |
| Irene Ko | I also have a story to share: At form 1 or 2, he once drove me home (not feeling well), accompanied by Miss Chan. I am not sure if the car belonged to him or the school. |
| Simon Fan | So much more caring than just calling a taxi for you. |
| Irene Ko | 哈哈!佢喺教務主任。Indeed. |
| Jeff Chan | I recall I was appointed 班長by 班主任 Yeung Sir in Form 3B. After all these years I don’t know why…… |
| Simon Fan | Yeung Sir repeated me in Form 1, and I know why. 😝 |
| Grace Tsang | 他想見你多啲？ |
| Simon Fan | 😯😆 |
| Jeff Chan | Right on !!! |
| Cheung Wan Loi Roni | 大部份留班的都是男仔（包括我），我想男仔較貪玩，懶讀書。☺ |
| Simon Fan | 🤣😂 很敬佩你顧家👍👍 |
| Robert Chu | I remember him and he has an iron face (the one in the right). His brain is like a computer with unlimited memories , cashe, too. Ha! Ha! What has happened to him? |
| Chau Hoi Kit | Mr Ching told me that one of his students in his native place in China saved him from being caught by the Japanese troop. |
| Jeff Chan | Yes. like to know as well. He was the complete opposite of Mr. Yim Tse Choi who was the other Chinese history teacher who went by the book only. He reprimanded me on many occasions for having long hairs by standing beside the teachers office entrance door for 30 minutes or so… those memories linger…. |
| Tak Kwong Wong | From my recollection both Ching sir and Yim sir had passed away many years ago. Please correct me if my understanding is wrong. |
| Jeff Chan | All things must pass, memories forever remain. |
| Joyce Jern | Mr Ching was very good at stimulating students’ learning interest. Mr Yim was capable to drift many students into a dreamy afternoon. Anyhow, under Mr Yim’s guidance, 10 of us got distinction (A) in Chinese Language & Literature at the HK Cert of Education 會考 1971. |
| Jeff Chan | I must admit I was more interested in after school activities than studying for exams….
I recall Mr. Yau Kin Ming had distinct interest in classical music. |
| Robert Chu | What did the above teach as well as his name? |
| Jeff Chan | I couldn’t remember exactly the subject he taught…. perhaps other classmates might remember….?? |
| Adrian Hung | Mr Yeung taught Chinese and Chinese History? |
| Chau Hoi Kit | And also taught F.2 boys handcrafts, such as baskets! |
| Cheung Wan Loi Roni | F.1- F.3 Chinese. Mr. Yim taught F.4 – F.5 Chinese. |
| Robert Chu | We were really blessed with all the good teachers. |
| Jeff Chan | They turned our innocent mind into thinking like a lawyer. |
| Chow Ho Wai | Not exactly, Mr. Yim taught us F3 Chinese when I was in F3B class. |
花藝的創作技巧
Written by 多謝孔教學院大成中學1971年畢業同學的鼓勵，使我有機會寫下一些關於花藝的創作技巧，所謂「學到老，做到老。」令我獲益良多，現寫下我的感想及從這些課程學到的一些技巧。
- 古典同心圓捧花
製作花束前，花材應充份吸水。然後，確定花體部份的長度。長度應要是長春籐圓圈為度量依據。首先完成長春籐框框。然後開始做長春籐框裏的花束。把花枝順一方向傾斜順序排列成螺旋狀手綁式花束，花腳方向呈一致。花枝相交在一交义點，排列時花體向外仲展，花材位置適度調整。然後，綁扎花束。長春籐在做花束時已定位在花支叢中。綁扎花束要求一手拿花，另一手用麻繩綁扎，由一人獨立完成。
古典傳統同心圓花球花材緊密結構，象徵圓滿、團圓意思。
- 花藝設計之元素是線條，空間、質感，色彩，外形。
- 宴會桌面花飾佈置的技巧
桌面佈置以精緻簡約，選擇低式桌花，以淺色為主，用玫瑰花，象徴純潔愛情。百合花象徵百年好合。天堂鳥象徵比翼雙飛，洋桔梗(紫色)，紫色表示愛的神秘。
表現形式上，由於就餐需要，因此，婚宴桌多探用高架型作花器，在花器上部插作半球形花飾， 共以常春籘或其他下垂式葉材，從花器上垂下來，增加線條美。桌面花不佔用太多平面空間，不會遮擋賓客視線，以直立形豎向造型為主，節省空間，滿足就餐空間需要。
4. 婚禮拱門
5. 新娘捧花
劉素清 2020年7月17日
My watercolor painting
Written by Many of my paintings were inspired by Mr. Shibasaki’s watercolors channel on YouTube. I am interested in learning how to use colors for a vibrant drawing. Watercolor painting is a hobby that was started as something to do when I retired and it is both a challenging and rewarding medium. For me, a good painting can be done maybe one in five attempts. I am still learning to paint and like to share a few paintings that were done in the last five years with you. Hope you will enjoy them too. Thanks!
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Simple object showing light and dark effects A still life apple copied from YouTube |
| An European Bee-Eater bird with colorful feathers copied from a calendar |  |
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A river flowing in a grassland from imagination |
| Sunrise over the bay with glowing sunbeams |  |
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Winter sunset in the meadow with dark forest silhouettes Copied from YouTube |
| Lake view near the coast based on a magazine photo |  |
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From a photo of Lake Tahoe in California with snow mountains |
| Changed an autumn scene to a green summer landscape Based on a YouTube painting tutorial |
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A pumpkin painting from YouTube with contrasting shadows |
| A colorful sketch of a beach sunset from YouTube |  |
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A forest in the twilight with stars overhead from YouTube |
| A painting class exercise on mixing colors |  |
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A botanical illustration for a painting class project |
| A Chinese painting class exercise for a peony flower |  |
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A cold snowy morning in a village from YouTube |
| Cherry blossoms in a Japanese town from YouTube |  |
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A horse in a colorful forest from YouTube |
| Driving home in early evening from a photo |  |
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An acrylic painting for an imaginary moon rise over the horizon at sea |
| A grandmother and grandson walking home from YouTube |  |
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A marshland in a national park from YouTube |
深圳一天旅遊 2016年11月3日
今日天朗氣清，風和日麗，早上氣溫20 度，午後23 度，極度適合郊遊。十四位團友準時在關口集
合。食brunch 的金皇廷酒樓裝修豪華，地方寬闊，點心尚算精美。
東門是深圳最早的市集，有第一間的深圳戲院，更是全國第一間的McDonald 所在地。鄰近的京基100大廈，狀似鬚刨，樓高100層，現為深圳最高的樓宇。東門步行街現在是購物熱點，更是港人做窗簾及衣服的首選。亞Paul 在地下商場以驚喜價 ￥115買了支「容祖兒金咪」，值得慶賀。
到蓮花山公園時，兵分兩路，一支上山觀看鄧少平銅像及俯望深圳地標之市政府大樓，另一組沿平路到蓮花湖看錦鯉及水上單車。上山組員以驚人速度，不消半小時便匯合山下隊友。
下午茶時間，快餐店的雲呑麵不合格，雲吞不是用鮮蝦，麵身不夠爽，燒雞亦稍為過燶，唯送餐服務值得讚賞。到了大出血的Sams Club 時間，以團購方式買雲南雲耳，亦不忘參加各種試食。
晚飯在皇軒酒店的福鼎軒酒樓食海鮮，有茶葉蝦，薑蔥蟹，椒鹽九肚魚，片皮鴨，石頭窩海鮮豆腐等，又有啤酒及汽水，算是過得去。
全程坐了三次地鐵及兩次巴士。不計個人消費，三餐共用了約二千元（人仔）。沈正成同學其實亦已探明下次聚會之K場高歌，其中唱K 的消費和環境對比香港更具吸引力。我們隨意選了加卅紅作瞭解，它們在平日由中午12 時至晚上七時會員價豪華大房(可容10-12人）收費是￥90。食品和飲料自理。這￥90不是按小時計算而是整個時段，房間寛敞又有衛生間。因此我們願意進行實地驗證，稍後高國芬會在群組發出通知何時擇吉出發，歡迎大家踴躍參加。
網誌由蕭sir及沈正成提供，洪耀光插圖
Reunion with classmate Maureen Lai
“Are you Mrs. Chan, a teacher at Confucian Tai Shing Secondary School?” asked Maureen Lai. Mrs. Chan replied positively to her question. Luckily, Maureen could recognize Mrs. Chan at an occasion although she left school forty-three years ago. Mrs. Chan hasn’t 
changed much even though she is now an elderly. Mrs. Chan’s voice was deeply implanted into Maureen’s mind from her teaching.
Mrs. Chan met Adrian Hung the following week and she passed Maureen’s information to him. Adrian sent Maureen an email to welcome her. He also invited Cannie Tong to give Maureen a personal call. They were very excited and happy to talk to each other again.
Robert Chu visited Hong Kong from United States. We organized a welcome dinner for him on 10th Feb 2015. It was really a coincident that we also reunited with Maureen at the same time. We then invited Maureen to the welcome dinner too!
There were 16 of us attending the dinner which included our 
teachers Mr. & Mrs. Chan and Mr. & Mrs. Siu. We were too happy to meet Maureen again since our graduation. Robert came to visit us quite often but this time he brought his wife with him to the dinner. Adrian presented our 40th Graduation Anniversary DVD to Maureen.
We chatted and enjoyed the dinner and didn’t want to leave. We wonder who will be the next classmate that will rejoin us.
1967 Teacher & Student Signature Document for Dr. Irene Cheng’s Retirement
Written by I am delighted to share this signature document to all who visit the CTSS Alumni blog. The page was signed by the teachers and students as a gift to our principal Dr. Irene Cheng for her retirement in summer of 1967. It was forwarded to me after my visit to the new 
campus at Tai Po, NT in 1998. As I read every name, image of young faces gleamed with childhood innocence comes to life. What happened to our classmates after 1967, 1968 and beyond? It recaptures the moment of our youth and reminds me the lyrics of a song by the Carpenters in the early 70’s Yesterday Once More: … Those were such happy times, And not so long ago, How I wondered where they’d gone …
We drifted apart after graduation took paths of our choice, embarked on journeys that brought us where we are today. Whatever we have done, wherever we have gone, we have lived our life in our own way, a life that makes us happy and satisfied. A full circle back after some 45 years, I realize now that we have more in common than ever before. Our careers are coming to an end (or have ended) with the next generation taking over. We all belong to the group called senior citizens, entitled to Medicare, pension and senior discounts. We thought the stress level will ease off upon retirement not knowing that acquiring skills to navigate the digital world of iPhone, iPad, iCloud becomes our new challenge. The more we try to compare, measure up to our classmates, the more we found we all will ultimately arrive at the same destination. So if you feel the emotion and/or the burden of mid-life crisis or old age helplessness, you are not alone.
With utmost admiration to our teachers who had the passion and patience in educating young minds, with gratitude to my classmates who supported, antagonized, competed, embarrassed and challenged me in the past; may this document bring back the comfort, rekindle our love and friendship, laughter and fond memories of the times we were together. Let’s savor the experience and re-connect.
I would like to also remember our dear classmate Lanying Lau (1968) who passed away on 24 August 2013. As much as we grieve, we must value every moment of our lives.
Let me end with this quote: Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. Be of good cheer.
楊杏霖 (Teresa Kuan)(Year of 68)
kuan.teresa@gmail.com
1967 Teacher & Student Signature Document
40th Graduation Anniversary Celebration
Written by Celebration promotion video
…with School songs, panoramic School view, etc.
Confucian Tai Shing Secondary School is undoubtedly one of the smallest, if not the smallest, schools in Hong Kong. But remember? Every morning we began with lessons in the morning assembly from various teachers who were ready to share Confucian thoughts and advice based on their own life experiences. Those teachers then were younger than we are today. If wisdom accumulates along with time, we should be wiser than our teachers back then.
Visiting our school is a time reminiscing about the good old days－－and you will feel young again.
Look at the school hall where you started each and every of your school days and the playground where you had to line up for the morning assembly and the tuck shop where you filled up your stomach for the day. Look at the bell in a corner of the school playground and you can ring it without permission. Next to the bell are the 
washrooms where we girls spent our time talking during PE (Physical Education) lessons, the only lesson when we could talk to our hearts’ content. Memories like these might have been buried at the bottom of your heart. Digging them out and sharing them with your old fellow students would be heart-warming and you might find out even more treasured in your old fellows’ hearts. Indeed the collective memories might open up our hearts again and we can share more at the dining table in the reunion dinner on December 17 (Saturday), 2011.
Busy as most of us still are, a short trip to the vivacious city of Macau should be the second part of our reminiscing journey. There you can visit a variety of buildings, ranging from the European-style buildings like the façade of the ruined St Paul’s Cathedral to the modern ones like CN Tower overlooking the peninsula of Macau and part of mainland China and the glamorous casino resorts. The cultural heritage of such a ‘small’ city should enlighten us on its long-standing history for several centuries, much longer than that of Hong Kong.
Year 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of our Confucian Tai Shing Secondary School graduation in 1971. All classmates, alumni and teachers are cordially invited to attend these celebration activities. We hope you can participate in all or part of the scheduled activities.
Celebration activities details
School visit
Date: 17 Dec 2011 afternoon
We will re-visit our old school in Wong Tai Sin at and gather at 2:30 p.m. at the entrance of the school. After the visit, we may go directly to our buffet dinner venue.
Cost: Free of charge
Buffet dinner
Date: 17 Dec 2011 evening
Venue: Function Room, 6/F, Chinese Recreation Club, 123 Tung Lo Wan Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (Entrance at car park)
Time: Registration will start at 5:30 p.m. and program will start at 5:45 p.m.
Entertainment: Mah-jong, watching our home-produced DVD, singing, chatting with old classmates, lucky draw……
Cost: On equal sharing basis with a ceiling cost of $300. If the cost exceeds $300 per person, our organizing committee members will bear the excess cost.
We will invite all our teachers to come.
Macau tour
Date: 18-19 Dec 2011
It is a good chance to mix together, relax and enjoy ourselves.
Time: Gather at 9 a.m., Western Bridge, 3/F, Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Shun Tak Centre, Hong Kong.
Cost: On equal sharing basis
Memorable DVD
Besides, we are producing a DVD to commemorate this year’s celebration activities. It contains the following:-
- School photos and videos, its old and current views
- School songs, 孔聖頌, 大同篇
- Photos of activities when we were at school; gatherings since graduation, etc.
- Profiles of our classmates which include careers, qualifications, achievements, etc.
- Video of interviews of some of our teachers and classmates
- Plus many more…..
Every classmate and teacher will receive a complimentary copy of the commemorative DVD whether or not he/she takes part in any of our celebration activities.
You will receive it at our buffet dinner on 17th December 2011. If you are unable to attend it, we will mail it to you later.
We need your help
We need your great support to make this a successful celebration. Please provide us with the following as soon as possible before our deadline:
- Send us the soft copies of photos and videos of our previous activities concerning our classmates both at school and since graduation. If you mail us the hard copies, we will return them to you only upon your specific request.
- If you are our 1971 graduate, please fill in the classmate’s profile as much as possible and email it back to us. Download the Classmate Profile here. The information so collected will only be used for producing the DVD, and will not be shared with or sold to any unrelated persons. The DVD’s will only be distributed among our teachers and classmates.
Please send items 1 and 2 above to our official email box:
taishing1971@gmail.com
Our organizing committee is working hard to make this celebration a memorable and exciting event. Check your email box constantly and we will update you regularly on our progress and occasionally notify you of some exciting news!
We are looking forward to celebrating this event with you!
Contact
Email: TaiShing1971@gmail.com
Blog: http://TaiShing1971.com
