We all are indeed saddened by the passing of Principal Benedict L C Ng. Despite the grief, I will abide by his final words asking us not to feel sad at his funeral. I will deliver a eulogy looking at his achievements and anecdotes. 

I have known Principal Ng for 43 years. Blessed by Our Father, I joined the family of Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School (CSWCSS) in 1977 and it was a great pleasure to work with Benedict who was my mentor, colleague and good friend. He wholeheartedly dedicated his life to education, tirelessly teaching and enlightening students, not expecting any fame or wealth in return. He led by example and epitomised the spirit of “Love God, love your neighbour   Mark 12:30-31”  through life on life interaction with his family, students, fellow teachers, parents and alumni.  He is the role model for us all.

After graduating from the University of Hong Kong, Benedict served ten years (1966-76) at St Peter’s Secondary School[1]. Before retirement, he was principal of CSWCSS for 24 years (1976-2000), leaving a rich endowment to CSWCSS, including hardware, software, tangible and intangible assets…

During his tenure, he set up CSWCSS Students' Union, CSWCSS Alumni Association, Parent-Teacher Association, bringing together all stakeholders[2],[3],[4]. United we are all stronger. 

Benedict was a man of vision and a leader. He had established many pilot schemes and canvassed extra resources for CSWCSS. For example, as early as in 1988, he placed CSWCSS among the first schools in Hong Kong to partake in the Native English-speaking Teachers NET Pilot Scheme by recruiting two additional native English-speaking teachers[5]. In 1997, to facilitate the development of Moral and Religious Education Curriculum, three schools in the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong joined forces to fund, at our own costs, the appointment of a lay Catholic as pastoral care assistant. In addition to CSWCSS, the other two schools were Choi Hung Estate Catholic Secondary School and Raimondi College. Our students thus had better access to a dedicated pastoral worker who guided them to contemplate life, learn to be considerate and participate more in voluntary works demonstrating a spirit of care and service[6].

In addition, Benedict successfully leveraged the strength of CSWCSS in 25 laps (7 Km) long distance running [7] to raise funds to build a language lab (now a multimedia language lab) and to install air-conditioning in the school hall.

In 1999, he facilitated the application for Hong Kong Quality Education Fund which afforded us a Marching Band and a Physical Fitness Room[8].

Benedict was very hands on and resolute in what he believes is good. An example is his efforts to write the lyrics for the School Hymn of CSWCSS in 1980. The lyrics are precise and succinct, leaving a deep impression on each and every CSWCSS members[9] [10]. Led by Benedict, CSWCSS succeeded in keeping English as the Medium of Instruction (EMI)in 1998[11]. He was devoted to creating a bi-literal and tri-lingual learning environment (Chinese, English and Putonghua). He insisted that English subject teachers use only English as the medium of instruction in classes and always communicate with students in English inside and outside of the classrooms. To promote Putonghua, he and Ms Alice Lai led by example to enroll as students in the Education Department’s Putonghua course. He turned studies into a fun activity by singing to learn Putonghua.  He and two teachers once demonstrated their Putonghua skills with delightful songs at the morning assembly. On top of all these, he also organised Putonghua courses for our teachers.

After retirement, Benedict lived an even richer life. He volunteered to teach CSWCSS’ English Enrichment Class and was appointed by the HK Education Department to run the ESL in the Mainstream Teacher Development Certificate Course[12].

In his last 20 years, he industriously travelled to the mainland donating his time and expertise teaching English in his home town. He also ventured afar to remote regions to train English subject teachers, rebuilt dilapidated schools and funded education for students in extreme poverty.

Benedict had a very charming sense of humor making him very popular. To help train English subject teachers in remote regions in China, he founded the English Teachers Training Program (ETTP) and acted as program consultant and leader.  The title printed on his name card was VIP.  Jocularly he called himself a VIP – not a Very Important Person but a Very Insignificant Potato. He introduced himself as “Ben” to these teacher trainees and some addressed him the Putonghua way as “bèn” which means “stupid”. Instead of being displeased, he took this as an opportunity to teach English pronunciation. Many English teacher trainers/tutors from Hong Kong, mainland China, the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many more gravitated towards ETTP, all attributable to Benedict’s charisma. These volunteers join hands to serve in a happy and soaring spirit and this is one of the highlights of Benedict’s life.

In his final months, Benedict still cared about CSWCSS students a lot. He kept donating to the school for setting up scholarships to help and inspire students to strive to better themselves.

In sum, Principal Benedict LC Ng was a true life-long learner and educator. Without Benedict’s dedication, CSWCSS would not have gained the recognition as a much-loved English secondary school among all sectors in Hong Kong society. Through the work of Benedict, our school motto “Self-Strengthening and Continuous Improvement” is deeply etched in the minds of all students and alumni. 

Principal Benedict LC Ng now lives in our hearts. 

吳良川校長離世, 大家都非常難過, 不捨。但今天我還是依隨他遺願，盡量以一份較為平静的心情來回顧他一生的點滴。

我和吳良川校長相識43年。蒙天父的祝福，我於1977年加入長沙灣天主教英文中學 (簡稱「長天」) 這個大家庭，有機會和吳校長共事。吳校長是我的人生導師、合作伙伴、老友記。吳校長 一生淡泊名利，為教育作出無私奉献，誨人不倦 。他也展示了「愛主愛人」的精神，用生命影响生命，以身作則，實為家人、學生、老師、家長及眾校友的楷模。

吳良川校長香港大學畢業後，服務聖伯多祿中學10年 (1966-76)。[註 1]退休前，担任「長天」校長 24 年 (1976-2000), 留給「長天」大量財富 (包括硬件、軟件及有形無形的資產  ... )

吳校長在任內先後成立「長天」學生會 、「長天」校友會、家長教師會,  凝聚「長天」 持份者的力量。[註 2]    [註 3]    [註 4]

吳校長很有遠見及極具領導才能。 他經常為「長天」引進先導計劃及額外的資源。 例如: 他早於1988年, 為「長天」引進外籍英語老師。「長天」是香港首批參加 「外籍英語老師先導計劃」(Native English-speaking Teachers Pilot Scheme)的學校，額外聘請兩位外籍英語老師 。[註 5]   1997年 ,   為加強學校德育及宗教課程發展，三間天主教香港教區中學:「長天」、彩虹邨天主教英文中學及高主教書院合作首次自費聘請一位平信徒的「牧民助理」 ， 使學生獲更多機會，接觸專責牧靈工作的導師，多思考人生各種問題，也學會為他人設想，多參與發揮關愛與服務精神的義工計劃。 [註 6]

另外, 吳校長善用「長天」强項25圈校園長跑籌募經費, 成功籌得款項建立語言實驗室(現改建為多媒體語言教室)及安裝禮堂冷氣設備。[註 7 ]

於1999年, 他促成了申請香港政府優質教育基金, 為「長天」學生成立步操管樂團、創建校園健體室 。[註 8 ]

吳校長凡事親力親為, 而且擇善固執, 以身作則。 例如:  於1980年, 他親自執筆為「長天」校歌填詞。[註9 ]    校歌的歌詞簡而精, 都深深烙印在每一位長天人心中。[註10 ] 於1998年. 他帶領「長天」成功爭取繼續用英語作為主要教學語言(EMI)。[註11]他又刻意營造有利學習兩文三語 (中、英、普 )的學習環境。 他堅持英文科老師用全英語授課 ,  於課室內外都用英語和學生交談。此外, 為推廣普通話，他曾經和黎幸兒老師一起報讀教育署開辦的普通話班; 並於學校早會與兩位老師一齊示範[唱歌學普通話]。其後, 又為老師舉辦普通話硏習班。

退休後，吳校長活出更豐盛的人生。他曾經返回「長天」義務教授學生[英文拔尖小組],  又受聘於香港教育署, 為英文科老師舉辦「英語教學認證課程」。[註 12]

在過去二十年,   他不辭勞苦,  返回祖國貢獻自己的力量 。他在家鄉義教英語數年後, 又到偏遠的地區籌辦 (1) 培訓英語老師 (2) 重建危房校舍及 (3)資助貧苦學生升學。

吳校長為人風趣幽默，具個人魅力。為了協助培訓國內偏遠地區英語老師 , 他籌组了英語老師培訓班English Teachers Training Program ( ETTP)，他更親自担任ETTP顧問兼領隊。他在個人名片印上VIP，調侃自己是Very Insignificant Potato 。他自我介紹, 請老師學員稱呼他 「Ben」。有ETTP老師學員誤讀Ben 為「“bèn”  笨」 。但他並不介意,  經常用Ben 和「“bèn” 笨」作為英語發音教材。由於他的魅力，吸引了香港、中國大陸、英、美、澳、紐、加等地的英語導師加入 ETTP 團隊，一齊開開心心地做義工; 為他的人生添上精彩的一頁。

吳校長臨终前數月, 仍然牽掛著「長天」學生, 繼續捐款, 成立獎學金, 志在幫助及鼓勵「長天」學生奮發向上。

總結吳良川校長是一位真正的終生的教育家。「長天」能發展成為深受香港社會各界人士愛戴的一所英文中學,  而校訓「自強不息」精神，亦深深印記在每位同學及校友心中, 吳校長絶對是功不可沒的。

我們永遠懷念吳良川校長 。

                                                                                                  
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註:

1     吳良川校長於香港大學畢業後，即加入聖伯多祿中學(1966-76)，任教高年級英文科，兼任學校訓導主任 。

2      1976  成立「長天」學生會 (SU)

3      1982  成立「長天」校友會(AA)

4      1997  成立「長天」家長教師會(PTA)

5      1988「長天」是香港首批參加 [外籍英語老師]先導計劃 (Native English-speaking Teachers NETs Pilot  Scheme)的學校，額外聘請兩位外籍英語老師 。

6     1997 為加強學校德育及宗教課程發展，三間天主教香港教區中學:   長沙灣天主教英文中學 、彩虹邨天主教英文中學及高主教書院合作首次自費聘請一位平信徒的「牧民助理」，使學生獲更多機會，接觸專責牧靈工作的導師，多思考人生各種問題，也學會為他人設想，多參與發揮關愛與服務精神的義工計劃。「牧民助理」一職後來發展成為現今27間教區中學的全職「牧民工作者」。

7      「長天25圈長跑」是「長天」體育課程的傳統﹐每年學生需要進行圍繞學校跑25個圈(全程約七公里)的测驗。「長天」學生對這個傳统測驗都認真準備及參與。

8      1999  成功申請香港政府優質教育基金(QE Fund), 為「長天」學生成立步操管樂團 (Marching Band)

        1999  促成申請香港政府優質教育基金(QE Fund), 創建校園健體室 (Physical Fitness Room), 添置强身健體儀器。

9     1980  邀請音樂科黄淑琮老師為「長天」英語校歌(School Hymn) 及普通話自強歌 (Sports Song)譜曲。校歌由吳良川校長親自執筆填詞。自強歌由中文科楊熾均老師填詞。

10    長天校歌歌詞 School Hymn Lyrics 

           In this forest of concrete, there is a lovely place

           A haven from the urban crowd, where I spend my golden days

           Here  lifelong friends are made, together we run the race

           Amidst the bustling city din,  quietly I find my ways

           Every day in the misty morn, refreshed am I with His grace

           Carefree days may long be gone     In my heart Cheung Sha Wan stays.

11    1998  成功爭取長天為一所適合繼續用英語作為主要教學語言的中學 (One of the 114 EMI schools in  HK)   

12    2000   受聘於香港教育署, 為英文科老師舉辦「英語教學認證課程」(ESL in the Mainstream Teacher Development Certificate Course)。