James Choi

Administrator Note:
I regret to inform everyone that James had a recurrence and passed away January 28, 2010 in Hong Kong.

In Memory of James Choy

Day Is Done But Love And Friendship Unfailing

James, I know I was privileged not only to have you as my classmate and close friend but also as my caring legal adviser.

I still remember vividly how determined you were to stop me from buying an apartment without verification of whether the seller was the named owner in the will, paying deposit for the other without a search and suing a business customer not worth pursuing.

On one occasion when I left your office, I heard a man say to his friend in the elevator "Now you are in good hands and can relax. Lawyer Choi is excellent and conscientious. If he doesn’t think you have a good chance in winning and worth pursuing, he would not have accepted your case." I told you this and very humbly you smiled.

Your departure put us all in grief. But this was lightened when I heard your soft, relaxed and gentle voice saying :

" I have begun my new journey from here.
So, shed no tears and rejoice with cheers.
Remember the best of me,
And you all stay healthy and happy all the years.

All my illnesses and sufferings were gone,
And I am very happy and strong.
Now I am in very good care,
In a much better place I belong.

Please tell my loving wife Amelia,
my dear ones and friends"

James, I want you to know,

"Yes, you are gone from our sight,
But never our memories.
Gone from our touch,
But never our hearts "

James, you will always be remembered.

Joseph Shek, Form 5B, 1958.
February, 2010

In Memory of James Choi

Ode to a Fallen Hero

Although I have little memory of your face
I did look you up at our Web and read your Bio
It brings back some faint and familiar recollection
That I had seen you in the classroom next to ours
And occasionally on the playing ground

I missed to meet you in person on our 50th anniversary
But I savor the reunion pictures you took
That I finally could identify this dear classmate of mine
And his glorious career with family and wife

You fought bravely against the virulent evil
And without a sound you decided to leave us
To a place more peaceful and calm
Away from the toil and miseries
Away from this menacing world

I know the Almighty Father in Heaven
Will welcome you into His bosom and love you best
Someday we shall meet
Inside Saint Peter’s Gate
And I hope you’ll be glad to greet us
With open arms and warm embrace

Go in peace my good friend.

Moses Wong, 1958 Form 5B
Jan 30, 2010

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Sorry to hear about the passing of our beloved classmate James. Please extend our sincere condolence to his family. He is now at peace and with God. I am very glad that I have the opportunity to meet him and his wife during our 50th Class Reunion which seemed such a short time ago.

Edward Tang

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When I came back to Hong Kong to wind up my father’s affairs in the late 80’s, James took good care of me. Not having operated as an adult in Hong Kong, I was totally lost. James helped me every step of the way. James was indeed a good and reliable friend. The world is so much poorer without him and Hong Kong has lost a capable and trustworthy lawyer.

I was very happy to be able to see him at the 50th class reunion in Hong Kong in 2008. That speaks volumes for the value of such a reunion. I am sure the whole of the class of 1958 mourn the passing of this fine member of our class. A classmate that we are all proud of.

My sincere condolences to James’ family.

Joseph Ku Class of 1958 Form 5B

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A few words to James

For all of us, James, your departure was much too early.

Yet you may have found yourself a better abode ---
where flowers bloom all year round,
where it never rains on any parade,
where no medication is known or necessary,
where there is no strife or suffering of any kind, and
where you simply lounge around and enjoy the beauty of creation by your Maker.

May your family and your loved ones find comfort knowing that you have a new address in Paradise, at peace and in good hands.

Reginald Mak
SJC Class of 1958

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REMEMBERING JAMES CHOI

I'm not sure when I first met him. In the beginning it was his Chinese name that intrigued me... ...this is the Chinese version of ...Johan...or John.. yet he called himself James. Fascinating.

As teenagers we hung around in groups. The groups he hung around with were the tough guys who used to pick fights with other tough guys in our school and sometimes with other schools. Yet he didn't look tough nor as far as I know,did actually participate in the fighting. He could be a ... sort of adviser to the group; and he looked like one to me anyway. He had that air on him, a sort of , seen by my mind's eyes that were heavily influenced by Chinese novels of fighting men and comics of the sort.

Years later when we met again in the seventies, he became a lawyer and I thought to myself, "I knew he'd become a lawyer all along." And as a young lawyer he had lots of fascinating stories to enthrall us all. Stories about criminals, thieves, gangsters, liars, or ordinary men and women who somehow got ensnared into the web of the law. People we'd only read about.

In the intervening years while we all pursued our separate careers I did not get to see our school chums so often. Still here and there a few words trickled through about our old friends from different parts of the world.

It was not until the late 90's and early 2000 that I got to return and see our old school chums again and James was among them. It was at a casual luncheon. By then he was well established and successful. He had mellowed a lot, with none of that of his younger days.

At the reunion gathering we had in 2008, he and his wife Amelia hosted a luncheon for us.
Among the fine delicacies on the table was a dish of barbecued pork. " This is the finest in all of Hong Kong. Try it and you'll agree. " He said with an authoritative gesture. Really ? All of Hong Kong ? He might as well say " finest in the World. " It was just . We were skeptical . We tasted it and it was really really very good indeed. We soon asked for another dish. " The secret my friends, is the pork. It's a special kind of pork. " He said as if deciphering a riddle for us. He was very amused at our curiosity and said even he didn't know what kind of pork the chef was using.

So long my friend . We will miss you .
When you meet that Judge up there will you put in a few good words for us ?
You know, being also in the legal profession, He might just listen to you .
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Robert Yan
.................Feb 5th 2010