Another transformation for Sars hero Sydney Chung: busking

As medical dean at Chinese University, he once held one of the most prestigious and powerful medical jobs in the city. He was dubbed one of the Sars heroes after he warned that the deadly virus had escaped from hospitals into the community. Then, after the Sars trauma, he gave it all up to become an ordinary doctor in Papua New Guinea for three years.

Since returning from the land of the headhunters, he became an author, writing about his adventures as a doctor over three decades. Now, he has adopted a completely new career. Meet Sydney Chung Sheung-chee, street musician.

Professor Chung, 53, has recently taken up jazz and is now training hard with his saxophone. He recently showed off his musical prowess in a pedestrian tunnel in Tsim Sha Tsui. He did not say how much money he collected from passers-by. His interest in jazz dates back years ago when he was a rising medical star, but now it has been rekindled after he joined a government-subsidised jazz programme for the elderly. He said his classmates were so enthusiastic and serious that he had to train hard to keep up.

'I have no musical talent, only interest,' he said. But his ambition is to become good enough with his classmates to form a jazz band to perform in public.

His experience with Sars has truly proved to be a transformational experience.