Chapman ToLiberal chatterer
By Kayu Wong
Kayu Wong Chapman realized his responsiblitis to society after being a radio programme host for commercial Radio.
Having indulged in gambling and later turning to acting, 29-year-old Chapman To has experi-
enced more hardships in life than other people his age.
"My philosophy of life is to never to take my attitude from anyone else. I hate being controlled," he said.
Chapman revealed a rebellious character at a young age.
"I was a naughty boy from a broken family. My father disappeared when I was in primary school. My mother, who thought one could be a success by studying hard, sent me to a prestigious secondary school called Diocesan Boys' School," Chapman recalled.
Breaking school regulations was nothing unusual in Chapman's school life.
Said he: "Once, I wrote a poem satirizing the teachers and prefects on the walls inside a toilet. One student told this to the discipline teacher. Then, I was closeted in a room like a prison with teachers and prefects forcing me to admit the 'crime'. I cried loudly and claimed to be innocent. Finally I convinced them and they let me go."
That might have been the first successful acting in his life.
After Form 5, he took on many low-income jobs, such as office boy, waiter, hawker, and the most shameful one -- gambler.
"I had been obsessed with gambling since 1992. I was 20 years old then. I won $1 million in a short period of time. I spent the money extravagantly on brand name watches and meals."
No one can win forever. One year later, Chapman had lost all his money. He defaulted to loan sharks and fled from Hong Kong to Taiwan.
During the nine months in Taiwan, Chapman received letters from his disappointed mother. He finally realized that how deeply he hurt his family for the sake of gambling.
Said he: "When I was addicted to gambling, I could see nothing except the words 'banker' and 'player' on the gambling table. Such a life was miserable. Thus, I promised myself I would turn a new leaf when I returned to Hong Kong."
Chapman's turning point actually came in mid-1999, when he met Sandra Ng Kwun Yu. She introduced him to Commercial Radio 2 and asked him to be the co-host of the radio programme Wah Wah Wah.
"There are many differences between being a radio programme host and an actor. When I was an actor, I only cared about the director's requirements and the script. I did not even know who the chief secretary of Hong Kong was. I was an ignorant person," he said.
Chapman's enthusiasm for being a programme host increased last year when he acted in a movie in Malaysia.
"I was asked to jump down from the second floor of a building. Before I did it, I suddenly felt upset, but not because of the height. I took a month's leave from radio and gave up the chance to talk freely on air. Instead, I was subjected to the director's orders," he recalled.
"Afterwards, I phoned Sandra to tell her about my feelings. From that moment, I began to feel more seriously about my job in radio," he said.
In order to make the radio program informative and interesting, humour is not enough. Chapman admits that he lacks knowledge. Besides reading newspapers every day, he studies sociology and psychology at Cattle Depot College.
Chapman has become more diligent and mature than before. He attributed his changes to his partner, Sandra.
"Sandra has been in showbiz for 20 years. She is willing to share her acting experience, as well as interpersonal skills in showbiz with me."
Chapman's decadent youth has passed. What he pursues at present is not fame or wealth, but a meaningful life.
"Life is unpredictable. I won't waste my time anymore. I don't have any noble ambitions. I hope I can learn new things every day," he wished.
