Franklin Wong Wah Kay
黃華麒
Class of 1961- Founder of ‘Below the Lion Rock’ Series
1961屆畢業 —《獅子山下》之父
Franklin Wong entered St. Paul’s College in 1956 and graduated from sixth form in 1963. He is a director, producer, and former broadcasting director of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). Wong is mostly known for creating the drama series Below the Lion Rock.
Living in Ngau Tau Kok, in an era before harbour tunnels, the commute took a lengthy two hours. This, however, gave him a chance to catch up with his studies. Reading English classics proved helpful for his marks and inspired his future career.
Wong joined RTHK (then known as Radio Hong Kong) in 1966 and helped create its television division. By the 1970s, he was a respected figure, having created the drama series Below the Lion Rock. Portraying the hardships ordinary citizens faced, the series did not shy away from airing public grievances and was widely praised for its social commentary.
From 1974 to 1977, Wong also worked for the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which had just started up. He helped build the agency’s reputation. Wong later set his sights on directing and producing movies, with over a dozen to his name. He was appointed RTHK director in 2008, during which he continued to produce quality programmes. Wong retired in 2011, but later that year planned and produced the TVB documentary drama Shades of Life, which aired in 2014.