I suspected that when Albert Cheng King-hon and Peter Lam Yuk-wah first started their radio talk show back in 1994, their intentions were nothing more than personal gains. The show, as we all know, turned out to be a huge success. Audiences were mesmerised by Cheng's and Lam's fearless social commentary complemented by their personal charm and eloquence. At that time, Hong Kong was going through a transition, albeit not by choice, and people were dissatisfied. By virtue of the duo's outspoken nature, listeners like myself were able to vent our frustration through their provocative remarks. We cheered them on, and showed our support by phoning in. Like a steam engine on full throttle, the show picked up momentum and we were all caught riding in it. Not even Cheng or Lam could get off if they wanted to. The show turned into a battlefield where Cheng fought social evil and defended the poor. He became our social conscience and truly our people's hero. I, personally, believed that Cheng did not wish this upon himself but rather it was the success of the show that made this demand of him. He was very much a captive of the show just like we were. Now, like a tragic hero from some Greek mythology, Cheng has been betrayed by his success. When faced with his own mortality, Cheng on TV expressed some regrets at his past vehemence. He more or less admitted that he had been naive. Sure, Albert Cheng was a loud mouth and did not hesitate to speak his mind. He believed he could openly attack the dark forces in our society and get away with it. He believed the little guy could really take on the establishment. He was wrong and he paid a heavy price for his mistake. We have learned to compromise our standards and to accept incompetence, excuses, deceit, and mediocrity. But Cheng showed us we should not be intimidated by the powerful or the rich. He taught us that as members of a free society, we have the right to demand fair treatment, competent performance, and the plain and simple truth from our authority. As a man true to his word, Cheng brought out the better self in most of us and increased our social awareness. His success did not happen by chance, it was based on the genuine support of the people. Cheng is not a saint but I believe Hong Kong is a better place because of his outspokenness. Dr S F WONG Happy Valley
