Writer and poet Leung Ping-kwan remembered for crossing art divide

Award-winning writer and poet Leung Ping-kwan's dying wish was for Hong Kong literature to receive the respect it deserves.

But his friends say he should also be remembered for his work focusing on the streets, food and characters of Hong Kong that are often overlooked by busy city-dwellers.

"[Leung] was wishing on his death bed that Hong Kong literature could receive serious and fair attention domestically and globally, and that local quality writers could be read and known to do justice to Hong Kong literature, which has long been marginalised," said a statement from Lingnan University's Centre for Humanities Research.

Tang Siu-wa, convenor of The Studio of the House of Hong Kong literature, said she had discussed the issue with Leung many times since calls for a literature museum began in 2008.

"We had a lot of discussions. There had been so many ideas, but at the end of the day, we didn't get any response from either the government or the West Kowloon Cultural District. Does the government want to wait until all our great Hong Kong writers are gone?"

Born on March 12, 1949, Leung was one of Hong Kong's best-known cultural icons. A versatile writer, his works ranged from poetry to novels. He taught at the University of Hong Kong's department of English and comparative literature, and was chair professor in Chinese at Lingnan University.