TV producer Robert Chua to release book chronicling his 50 years in HK media

Television producer Robert Chua wants to release a book on his long career in the media and food industries in Hong Kong with help from long-time friend Nancy Sit

Robert Chua presenting actress Nancy Sit with the Kam's Roast special Iberico Char Siu to commemorate their 50 years of friendship at the restaurant in Singapore, which he brought in.
Robert Chua presenting actress Nancy Sit with the Kam's Roast special Iberico Char Siu to commemorate their 50 years of friendship at the restaurant in Singapore, which he brought in. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Singapore-born television producer Robert Chua plans to release a book chronicling his past 50 years in the media and food industry in Hong Kong.

He will be getting long-time friend, veteran Hong Kong actress Nancy Sit, to do the voice-over for the audio component of the book.

Chua, 70, who is based in Hong Kong, says: "I first met Nancy when she was a guest on a show at Radio Television Singapore. When I moved to Hong Kong, she was my first friend there."

The first edition of the book is slated for release in November and its official launch is set to be in January next year.

Chua was a television producer at Radio Television Singapore in the 1960s before he moved in 1967 to Hong Kong, where he carved out an illustrious career in television.

In the same year, he created the long-running Hong Kong variety show, Enjoy Yourself Tonight, which lasted for 27 years. The classic show's host, the late Lydia Sum, was introduced to him by Sit.

"If not for Nancy, I would not have got Fei Fei (Sum's nickname) on the cast," says Chua, who also brought famous Hong Kong restaurants Tim Ho Wan and Kam's Roast Goose to Singapore.

He and Sit were reminiscing about the good old times over a meal at Kam's Roast restaurant at Pacific Plaza, which is the Singapore spin-off of Kam's Roast Goose, on Tuesday.

"Fate has brought us together and I really cherish these 50 years of friendship," says Sit, who dropped by for lunch after attending the televised fund-raising show Thong Chai Charity Night 2017 on Sunday.

The 67-year-old actress will also be marking another milestone - next year is her 60th year in show business.

She says: "I am planning a concert.

"The organiser wanted to hold it in March or April next year, but we probably have to delay it because I will be too busy preparing for my son's wedding in June."

She reportedly single-handedly raised her three children after divorcing her husband in 1996.

The doting mother has been making headlines for her generous wedding gift, a mansion located in the affluent Mid-Levels residential district in Hong Kong.

She says: "I'm not too sure what to do with the money I earned, so I invested in property.

"Since my son is getting married, I want to give him something. I can't possibly live in all the houses. He picked the house next to mine because he wants to look after me."

As for her daughter-in-law, she can rest easy. Sit says she will be nothing like her meddlesome character in the ongoing TVB drama, The Tofu War.

She says: "I am not such a fussy mother-in-law like my character. I am pretty easy.

"My future daughter-in-law and I get along very well."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 21, 2017, with the headline TV producer Robert Chua to release book chronicling his 50 years in HK media. Subscribe