Wellington Fung, born in Guangzhou in 1949 to a Panyu family, moved to Hong Kong as an infant. After secondary school he studied medical technology in the United States and earned a professional licence, but gave up hospital work to study film there instead. Returning to Hong Kong in 1978, he worked as a continuity man on RTHK's Below the Lion Rock: The Bridge (1979). He then joined Television Broadcasts Limited, where he coordinated the artiste training classes. In the early 1980s he joined Cinema City, starting in creative work before serving as executive producer and assistant director on Once Upon a Rainbow (1982), staying with the company until it closed. He produced films such as Can't Stop the War (1982) and Aces Go Places III (1984), and from 1979 to 1991 also made cameo appearances in his own productions. He later ran the production department, planning Family Light (1984), Cupid One (1985) and the big-budget The Legend of Wisely (1987). In the mid-1980s he headed the effects unit, was promoted to administration manager, and worked on overseas distribution, selling films at major festivals and opening new markets. After the company split into production groups he worked closely with Karl Maka, planning Easy Money (1987), Undeclared War (1990) and Prison on Fire II (1991), serving as administration coordinator on Triads: The Inside Story (1989) and producing Skinny Tiger, Fatty Dragon (1990). He also co-wrote Cupid One with Ringo Lam and Easy Money with Maka and Tsang Kwok-chee. Through the 1990s and 2000s he co-founded Media Asia Group, serving as general manager and later deputy managing director, and produced or presented films including Comrades (1994), Hong Kong Graffiti (1995), July 13th (1996) and First Option (1996). He then became executive director and chief executive of Big Media Group. In 2007 he was appointed secretary-general of the Film Development Council, retiring in May 2019.
Starting as a producer at Cinema City, Wellington Fung rose to head its production department, overseeing the making and overseas sales of the Aces Go Places series and The Legend of Wisely. He later co-founded Media Asia and, from 2007, ran the Film Development Council as secretary-general, making him one of the few industry figures to move from production into film policy and funding.
Achievements
- 1982 · Joined Cinema City as executive producer and assistant director on Once Upon a Rainbow.
- 1991 · Helped found Media Asia Group, serving as general manager and later deputy managing director.
- 2007 · Was appointed secretary-general of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, serving until his retirement in 2019.