Legendary TV Producer Lee Siu-hung Dies at 89, Wife Confirms
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
Lee Siu-hung, the legendary producer who created the iconic drama series The Bund (大地恩情) and sparked Hong Kong television's most famous ratings battle, passed away on October 8 at age 89. His wife, TVB golden producer Ong Sum-wai, confirmed the news, stating he had suffered from sarcopenia in recent years and was hospitalized during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Doctors discovered blood antibodies and hemolysis on October 5, and he succumbed to organ failure despite treatment.
Key Points
- Lee Siu-hung died on October 8, 2026 at age 89, with his wife and fellow TV producer Ong Sum-wai confirming his passing
- He joined LSTV (later ATV) in 1973, rising to become drama production director in 1981, and was known as one of the "Three Heroes of LSTV" alongside Mak Tai-yan and To Yung-hung
- His 1980 production The Bund (大地恩情) achieved such overwhelming ratings that TVB was forced to cancel its rival drama Legend of the Condor (輪流傳) — the first time in Hong Kong television history
- Lee came from an entertainment family: his father was Cantonese film director Lee Sun-fung, and his mother was veteran actress Lee Yuet-ching
- He married Ong Sum-wai in 1982 after meeting at LSTV; she retired from TVB in 2024 after 35 years, promising to dedicate all her time to caring for him
Why It Matters
Lee Siu-hung's passing marks the end of an era for Hong Kong television, as he was among the last living architects of the golden age of local drama production in the 1970s and 1980s. His work on The Bund not only reshaped competitive programming strategies between Hong Kong's two major broadcasters but also established the template for epic family sagas that remain influential in Asian television today .
Lee Siu-hung's passing marks the end of an era for Hong Kong television, as he was among the last living architects of the golden age of local drama production in the 1970s and 1980s. His work on The Bund not only reshaped competitive programming strategies between Hong Kong's two major broadcasters but also established the template for epic family sagas that remain influential in Asian television today .