13/09/2013 (Fri)

Very many alumni will be shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Professor Martha Cheung, who passed away on 10th September.

Martha did her undergraduate studies in the Department of English Studies and Comparative Literature at Hong Kong University, and then joined the department as Assistant Lecturer, while working on her MPhil literature dissertation. Later she went to the University of Kent at Canterbury in England, and returned to Hong Kong with a PhD in literary theory and English and American literature.

She continued to teach literature courses, while developing her interests in translation, the area in which she was to establish a most distinguished reputation in Hong Kong and internationally. From 1991 to 1995 she worked in the Department of Translation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, before moving to the Hong Kong Baptist University where she spent the rest of her career.

It was at Baptist University that Martha really came into her own, as a scholar and academic leader. In the Centre for Translation, where she rose to be Director, and in the Department of English Language and Literature where she was Chair Professor in Translation, she was an inspiration to students and colleagues. From 2008 to 2010, she served as Associate Vice-President of the university.

Martha published widely as a translator, editor, and translation theorist, and she made a decisive mark on the world of translation, and translation studies, in Hong Kong. Though she enjoyed an international reputation, she was every inch a Hong Kong person, and she worked tirelessly to promote the understanding of Hong Kong writing and culture. Her productive friendship with the poet Leung Ping Kwan, whom she translated and edited, is just one example.

Those of us who were lucky enough to work with Martha as colleagues or students will remember her skills as a teacher and scholar, her enthusiasm and cheerfulness (even in the face of protracted serious illness, which she withstood with great bravery), her sense of fun and her great unselfishness. Above all she was a great educator, by practice and example. We will miss her very much.

(* If students and friends would like to add their tributes to Martha Cheung, please send them to engalums@hku.hk and we will post them on this site.)

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PS We have received the following, from the HKBU Arts Faculty office:

Subject: Funeral of Professor Martha Cheung

Dear colleagues,

Please be informed of the funeral arrangements of Professor Martha Cheung as follows:

1.     Vigil

Date: 29 September 2013 (Sunday)
Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Venue: HK Funeral Home at 679 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong

2.     Funeral Ceremony

Date: 30 September 2013 (Monday)
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Venue: HK Funeral Home at 679 King’s Road, North Point Hong Kong
*Followed by cremation at Cape Collinson at 11 a.m.
Colleagues or students who would like to attend the ceremony at Cape Collinson, please inform Miss Iris Chao (ichao@hkbu.edu.hk) by 23 September 2013.

Donations in lieu of flowers to charity
Donations can be sent to Professor Cheung’s brother, Dr. Henry Cheung at the following address:
Henry Cheung
24A Block 2, 61 South Bay Road, Hong Kong

Donations will be distributed to charitable organizations of Prof. Martha Cheung’s choice.

Flowers can be sent to Hong Kong Funeral Home addressed to Martha Pui Yiu CHEUNG on 29 September 2013.

The Faculty of Arts will organize a memorial service for Professor Cheung in early October 2013, and a memorial booklet will be produced.  Please send your condolence messages to artd@hkbu.edu.hk by 17 September 2013.

Thank you.

Arts Faculty Dean’s Office