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In Memoriam: Ms Siu King Lo, Dominica, Distinguish Documentary Producer and Teacher 1 April 2020

An influential documentary filmmaker, dedicated teacher and respected colleague, Ms Siu King Lo, Dominica, passed away on March 24, 2020 in Canada, at the age of 68.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1975 and finishing her Master degree at University of Hawaii, she started her career at RTHK where she had served for 25 years starting as a researcher in 1978 and became Head of Education Television and Senior Executive Producer in 1995. Throughout her time with RTHK, she played an instrumental role in producing countless well-known documentary series, Hong Kong Connection 《鏗鏘集》 in particular, which is the signature TV documentary program of RTHK. She was also widely recognized as the mother producer of Hong Kong Connection.

Ms Siu was a part-time lecturer at the HKBU Academy of Film (AF) for 11 years from 2005 to 2016. She was an enthusiastic teacher who was very eager to contribute her wealth of professional experience to teaching. She was a teacher for a number of institutions including her part-time lecturer role for postgraduate programme for AF.

Documentary films produced under Ms Siu's supervision had won significant international recognition. It includes over 50 awards from different international film/TV festivals: the very prestigious New York International Film Festival, Chicago Film Festival, and Golden Gate Festival etc. “This is a great loss for her family, our School and the community. She left a legacy behind with her unparalleled contributions to the development of both the documentary film and education in Hong Kong.” Professor Eva Man, Director of the Academy of Film, addressed.

Ms Siu’s passion for teaching is incredible and was one of the important pillars of the teaching team when the MFA Programme in Film, TV and Digital Media (MFA) of AF, HKBU was first launched. “Despite her part-time teaching role, Ms Siu always worked like a regular staff in terms of the efforts she put into her teaching. She was teaching wholeheartedly and had tremendous patience guiding her students. Her gentle yet insistent style captured my enduring respect and affection.” Dr Lo Wai Luk, former MFA Programme Director, said. “She was a popular and beloved teacher,” Mr Derek Wan of AF recalled, who became acquainted with her when he served as Programme Director of MFA. “Her works were always the voice of justice, which was also the expectation she had in her students’ works.”

Hundreds of students over the years have witnessed Ms Siu’s dedication to teaching. Because of her, they have gained the confidence they needed to become documentary filmmakers on their own. Chan Tze-woon, 2013 graduate of MFA shared,” Without the support of Ms Siu, I would not have had the courage and the professional skills to produce my first documentary film which has made me proud.” Chu Hoi-ying, 2014 graduate of MFA,said, “Ms Siu has instilled in me the never give-up spirit, I will remember what she has taught me and her encouraging words and support forever”.

Ms Dominica Siu will sorely be missed by many of her colleagues and students.