In Search of Peter Cheung

1. FADE IN

2. 
   

3. Act 1

4. 
   

5. INT. STUDY - 15:30

6. 
   

7. Surfing the web on his mobile, PETER types "Peter Cheung" in the search bar and scrolls through the results.

8. 
   

9. PETER (V.O): Peter Cheung is a common name - they're mere sounds not for people to remember.

10. 
    

11. His eyes widens as he sees: The Secretariat pays tribute to Mr Peter Cheung.

12. 
    

13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): It can't be me yet.

14. 
    

15. Clicking the link, Peter sees the Federation of Self-financing Tertiary Education (FSTE) and the image of a handsome gentleman.

16. 
    

17. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): OMG, it's Cheung Po Tak.

19. Peter reads on: ...honour his wish of simplicity...

20. 
    

21. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Oh, my namesake passed away in June this year.

22. 
    

23. Peter reads on:... Anyone who had worked with him would find him a legend with a high level of persistency, resiliency, adaptability...multilateral work experience...

24. 
    

25. Act 2

26. 
    

27. FLASHBACK

28. 
    

29. INT. OFFICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS - DAY (1989)

30. 
    

31. Peter (35) is studying his namesake's reports from Geneva.

32. 
    

33. PETER (V.O.): Copied to the Foreign Office, the reports update what's happening during the GATT - TRIPS negotiations in Geneva.

34. 
    

35. Reading negotiating parties' positions.

36. 
    

37. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): As a "developing economy", Hong Kong is playing the bridging role between developed economies and the least developing ones.

38. 
    

39. Reading his namesake's assessment on the way forward.

40. 
    

41. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): On IP matters, I was a "capital expert", advising on what should be the appropriate IP standards for the international community.

42. 
    

43. Peter drafts his comments via a Wang computer.

44. 
    

45. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): I contributed on legal policy, and my namesake would strategize on getting international support in the law-making process.

46. 
    

47. END FLASHBACK

48. 
    

49. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Championed by my namesake, Article 6 (Exhaustion) of the WTO-TRIPS Agreement 1995 was called the "Hong Kong article".

50. 
    

51. Pausing.

52. 
    

53. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): My visible contribution were the Agreement's footnoting format and the interpretation of "nationality" for non-sovereign entities (at footnote#1).

55. INT. RESTAURANT, HONG KONG - DAY

56. 
    

57. Peter and his NAMESAKE are having lunch.

59. PETER: In the IP context, I wonder if people can tell which Peter Cheung they're referring to.

60. 
    

61. PETER (Geneva): Actually, my initials are PT. But people in Geneva call me "Peter", believing "PT" is "Peter"...they name me!

62. 
    

63. END FLASHBACK

64. 
    

65. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): On behalf of Hong Kong, we did create public value at the multilateral level.

66. 
    

67. Recalling.

68. 
    

69. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Personally, my namesake shared with me his wise counsel...

70. 
    

71. Pausing.

72. 
    

73. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): In 1991, when IPD had legal policy vacancies at senior professional and Asst Director levels, I was thinking of applying for both. My namesake remarked that if so, I wouldn't be recruited at the higher rank.

74. 
    

75. Pausing.

76. 
    

77. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Heeding his advice, I just applied for the post of Asst Director and got an accelerated promotion.

78. 
    

79. MONTAGE OF PETER'S MEMORIES OF HIS VISIT TO GENEVA & FRANCE (1993)

80. 
    

81. A. Peter visits his namesake in Hong Kong's Economic & Trade Office in Geneva.

82. 
    

83. B. In a green Mercedes 220E, his namesake drives Peter to his home in France.

85. C. Peter meets his namesake's WIFE and SON and has dinner with the family.

87. END MONTAGE

88. 
    

89. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Peter's last post with Govt in 2008 was Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee.

90. 
    

91. Pausing.

92. 
    

93. PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): From 1998 - 2011, I remained at the Deputy Director level, and I consoled myself with my namesake's wisdom.

94. 
    

95. Smiling.

96. 
    

97. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): He observed that not holding the top position, one didn't have to be held accountable for anything!

98. 
    

99. Breathing out deeply.

100. 
     

101. PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd): Just before Covid, we had a good chat in a social function, I didn't know it was the last one.

102. 
     

103. Act 3

104. 
     

105. INT. STUDY - 23:30

106. 
     

107. Working on his laptop, Peter selects an AI drawing, depicting a handsome Chinese without wearing glasses.

108. 
     

109. PETER (V.O): I know my namesake underwent a laser eye surgery as soon as that was doable. He stretched himself into everything he could become.

110. 
     

111. Pausing.

112. 
     

113. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Whenever I think of myself now, I remember my namesake too. I feel there's a corresponding soul or form.

114. 
     

115. Reflecting.

116. 
     

117. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In search of Peter Cheung, I treasure the bonds I form with others as they not only shape my life but also leave a lasting impact in my heart.

118. 
     

119. FADE OUT

120. 
     

121. THE END