How Irish missionary Father Alfred Deignan shaped former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang and generations of the city’s elite
- Tsang was serving time in Stanley Prison when he heard of the Jesuit educator’s death
- Former chief executive spent his formative years at elite boys’ school Wah Yan College, and tells of how principal Deignan was inspirational
Former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen tasted freedom again two weeks ago after completing a 12-month jail term for misconduct in public office. But the disgraced former leader lived with one irreparable regret during his final days in jail – his inability to pay his last respects to Father Alfred Deignan, who died on December 11 aged 91.
Deignan served as a source of deep inspiration for Tsang as a boy at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, in Wan Chai. The lifelong educator was head of the local Society of Jesus and principal of the Wah Yan College campuses in both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
“His prayers for us never ceased, together with his infectious smile,” Tsang wrote in an article for the Post. “I could not hold back my tears at Stanley Prison when I heard about his passing.”
Deignan dedicated his life to educating young people in Hong Kong, and sometimes disciplining them too. Tsang described one incident where Deignan found out he had randomly concocted marks scored for school examinations when filling out a university admission form.
“I did that because I had lost my old report cards from the school. Father Deignan told me firmly but kindly that I should have left those items blank and admitted I did not have any reliable reference,” the now 74-year-old Tsang wrote. “I have followed that advice for the rest of my life.”