Leung Fung (1918–1987), originally Leung To-kin, was born in Guangzhou to a Heshan, Guangdong family. He studied at a Guangdong sports college and a provincial university and in 1943 graduated from the Central Cadre School in Chongqing, then joined the youth army's 204th Division as a lieutenant-colonel in charge of a news bulletin and worked as an editor of the Central Daily News. After the war he was sent to Guangzhou for cultural work, becoming general manager of a newspaper and a correspondent for the Shanghai Daily, and it was while working for Shen Bao in Shanghai that he met Raymond Chow. Coming to Hong Kong from Guangzhou in 1949, he continued in journalism as editor-in-chief, vice-president and literary editor of several newspapers before becoming editor-in-chief of a Bangkok daily. In 1958, at Raymond Chow's invitation, he joined Shaw Brothers, editing the studio's Southern Screen magazine and running its publicity, and founded a weekly entertainment paper, building up the company's magazine and publicity system. In 1970 he left Shaw with Chow and Leonard Ho to found Golden Harvest, serving as executive director and business manager in charge of distribution and publicity and founding its own publication. He chaired the Hong Kong and Kowloon film and theatre free association and was a skilled publicist and distributor who helped Golden Harvest open up markets; as the studio made its name with films such as The Big Boss, its distribution network spread across Southeast Asia and overseas. He was married to the fiction writer Wong Oi-na. He died in Canada on 2 May 1987.
Moving from journalism into film, Leung Fung long ran publicity and distribution for both Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest and was one of Golden Harvest's founders; the magazines and publicity he organised helped both companies build their brands and left a mark on local film distribution and the opening of overseas markets.
Achievements
- 1943 · Graduated from the Central Cadre School in Chongqing and later served as a lieutenant-colonel in charge of a news bulletin
- 1958 · Joined Shaw Brothers at Raymond Chow's invitation, editing Southern Screen and running publicity
- 1970 · Co-founded Golden Harvest with Raymond Chow and Leonard Ho as executive director and business manager