People
The host of happiness
by Mandy Chi
From radio programmes to TV talk shows, Stephen Chan Chi-wan has proved himself a professional presenter. In real life, he is always the host of a special guest – happiness.
To the 48-year-old TVB's general manager of broadcasting, happiness is always available. "Happiness exists subtly and it all depends on how one chooses his angle to look at it," Mr Chan said in an interview.
In a similar vein, he said he saw his middle age as "midlife chances", not a "midlife crisis".
Mr Chan has raised his profile recently with his show Be My Guest, which has been a hit as many stars appeared in the programme to pour out their hearts to him on camera.
Despite his success, he said he knew clearly that the achievements could be related to his top position. "If you are not in a certain position, people may not treat you in the same way as you are in another position," he said.
He is conscious to stay happy and optimistic as well as to be humble in life and in his entertainment career.
He said his source of strength and support came from his Catholic religion. Waking up at 5:30 every morning, Mr Chan starts his day with a routine of saying prayers, reading the Bible and reciting his mantra to himself that "I am happy, I am cheerful".
He said he would talk to God whenever he encountered difficulties. "The power of man is limited. But when I calm down, pray and read the Bible, sometimes I can find a way," he said. "My religion gives me the greatest power; it is most important to me."
Mr Chan said he had learned to be cheerful since he was small. Recalling a childhood event, he said: "I was about 11 pounds when I was born. Everyone said I was a fat boy when I was young. A bus driver once asked me to pay for two seats as I was so fat."
His mother worried that he would feel hurt. But at the time he told his mother: "I will not be unhappy because I am stronger than other people."
Mr Chan was also deeply influenced by his father, a man with a good sense of humour, who still demonstrated his wit during the final days of his life while lying in a hospital bed.
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