A Happy Man Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin Him Collections - May 2003

Interesting that people think that Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin appears to be passionate about technology, at the same time he also loves to be out in nature. Specially water sports. This year he took the time to really learn to dive.

Speaking of technology and diving, there was a piece of news when Ekin installed a fingerprint lock on the front door of his new home, but he had one day when he returned to his house after diving and could not get in because he had cut his finger on the dive. The injury to his finger meant that he could not select the lock.

EKIN:

Ha Ha! Correct! First I have to await a family member to come back to open the front door. Sometimes technology is not necessarily good. After this I took off the fingerprint lock. Originally I thought it was good, it was easy to come and go and need not carry a key.

Yet although he searches for an easy going life, he is a person who realizes that deep ocean dives are only achieved through hard work and experience.

Before SARS was really serious everywhere Ekin was in Shanghai, for an entire month, filming To Make a Girlfriend. He originally got the news about the seriousness of SARS in Hong Kong and also about the American offensive in Iraq from hearing people talking on the street. These two things made Ekin extremely concerned.

EKIN:

Actually, I already knew about the SARS rumors on the mainland before I set out. At that time all the film crew had a great fear that they would catch the disease in Shanghai, but I think that the disease was worse in Hong Kong. Finally I was able to make a phonecall to Hong Kong to tell them that I knew about the seriousness, but everyone believed I was too nervous. They didn't acknowledge my concern only said "No Problem! No Problem". However, I was not convinced and I secretly left Shanghai and returned to Hong Kong to see for myself how serious. Add on to this the start of the war and my mood was very heavy. I was vexed to be in Shanghai for a whole month.

Ekin spoke frankly that he merely worked in Shanghai and didn't spend time around the city. However, the changes in the city caused him a great deal of surprise.

EKIN:

Several years ago I filmed A Man Called Hero here. Compared to then there have been really big changes. This time the place where we filmed was very much like Japan, new malls, and the business area is almost identical. Certainly the city has made a lot of progress.

Ekin said that Shanghai has always been the best place to eat, and also many people praise the beautiful buildings. The weather in Shanghai is very changeable, but he mostly accepts that. Unfortunately there are not many places to get out of the city to indulge his passion for exercise. Did this make him depressed?

EKIN:

Not depressed, I am working. I am very happy to be filming, but you cannot avoid the two bad pieces of news and this influenced my mood.

Mentioning that Ekin start to work as an ambassador to publicize the protection of the ocean area ecosystem. Ekin revealed that he was very satisfied with the launch of this work.

EKIN:

You may think that I started this work because last year I had not much film work, but on the contrary I participated in many activities. Notably among these was a publicised dive for a wristwatch advertisment. Also perhaps this welcome appearance allowed everyone to know that I also dive. I can publicize the related situation of ocean pollution.

I have always enjoyed the ocean. When I was young, on Saturdays and holidays I used to take the number 91 bus to Clear Water Bay to go swimming. For me there is no place more beautiful than Clear Water Bay. Recently I return there but to work at Telivision City. Unfortunately, along with city development, many ocean areas around Hong Kong have become polluted. When I was a small child it was easy to find places where the ocean was clean and clear, but the situation was already changing. Even though the city actually wants progress it has cost the ocean in pollution. I am very interested in this.

Ekin is full of enthusiasm and finds the ocean world very friendly. Ekin is a very friendly person in life and maybe this is among the reasons.

EKIN:

Hong Kong people are city people and everywhere they are somewhat cold and unfeeling toward each other. Everyone is driving a vehicle and the only way they can greet each other is to wave through the window as they speed by. On the ocean it is different. On the ocean in Sai Kung regardless of your nationality, whether you have a large or a small boat, everyone is very enthusiastic to say " Hello" you no longer feel nervous. If you possess a big boat you will invite everone aboard to chat. Also if someone's boat engine dies, people will offer to help. The Hong Kong ocean is really like a small place.

How do you feel about deep ocean diving?

EKIN:

The most intriguing part about diving is the sense of distance, everything becomes 3 dimensional. You don't get this intense visual effect on land. For example if you stand in front of me actual distance is very small but under the ocean perhaps appears more than 10 or 20 feet difference. Furthermore all things are enlarged, causes people to be afraid, a small fish looks much bigger. You feel the image is moving back and forth with an illusion in between, it is abstract but very charming. Many people don't know this, they should go investigate.

Understand that where the ocean is very clean and clear it is thrilling to dive, but the water around Hong Kong is not clear. Ekin only seeks an acceptable place to explore and he feels very satisfied by the ocean near his home.

EKIN:

I don't know what called me to dive but it is an activity that allows me to thoroughly relax. Currently can see that sometimes not very good, the water is grey, also it doesn't matter on the whole the dive is acceptable. Unfortunately, a few of my diving friends have died. Perhaps they were excessively lax, only knew the sense of how beautiful, very beautiful and exhaust their supply of compressed air, and then have no method to return to the surface. I hold this image when I learn early rank degree. These circumstances mean must listen and heed the detailed instructions of your coaches commands. Ha Ha! Mostly I don't like to listen to commands. But in the water you must be attentive and cooperate, even if only a few instructions. If you don't listen to the commands a mistake can occur and the result may be very serious.

Sai Kung is Ekin's home, the biggest reason to live there is precisely because it is near to the ocean. Already have a small outboard boat and is in the process of purchasing a bigger power boat. Currently he spends much of his leisure time on the ocean. His home has a convenient place to moor a small boat. According to Ekin, he is only happy driving a small boat on the ocean, feeling the wind blowing on you is the biggest enjoyment.

Ekin says the ideal life is found precisely by the way you see the world. In the modern era can travel from city to city,to areas where people still herd animals, other countries, everywhere.

EKIN:

I don't worry where I live, I can live anywhere. I only live in this city part time then go to another nation or another city live a while, recognize that move in all directions, my whole life is not living in Hong Kong. I haven't planned where I will live when I am an old man, but I think I want the same kind of life...live a little here and live a little there. Everyday also new business offers are discovered.

I feel that some ancient saying is correct. It says that humans originally have a kind of very strong power. But we appear to trust technology too much and it leads to our losing the ability to protect our power. At the same time humans brains have advanced, their bodies have become more and more weak. This means that I don't identify with all technology products because I admire the inventions. I should separate between the useful and frivolous inventions. Although I like to seek knowlege, I finally still lean toward the natural side. I know can finally simply use wind force maybe get a sailboat, even a battery is not needed. However, although you moor the boat have to constantly adjust the lines because of the wind.

Ekin simultaneously say interested in both technology and nature, but he makes the implication that wind sailing would make him very happy. But how does he plan to continue this strategy?

EKIN:

Does technology create a happy person? I have a few items nevertheless. I don't really enjoy air-conditioning but because of the air temperature the whole city become hot. The view outside is very beautiful but the buildings are closed so that the hot air doesn't sneak inside. But in the middle of the air-conditioning a bacteria is present, can make people sick. Very strange, takes the appearance of safety but it's not. We must resist the appearance of technology, it's a real contradiction.

Earlier when I put the finger print lock on my front door, then my fingers changed, I couldn't get inside. While I await my family, I considered why one believes you can welcome technology? But this is a toy. Always there is not much support for the lock, you need to trust. But I still go after some technology products, you just need to first recognize these things.

In recent years you no longer make Hero movies. It's correct that some people find it easy to take on another character. It seems as if by observing afresh that most people don't like that, have you yourself listened to what people like?

EKIN:

Passive! As an actor I am always very passive. Others look for me to film. I went from television to movies. People all look at me, in some people's eyes the character is a hero, it's an old confusion, on occasions I may choose, gives everyone the impression that I can always choose. Presently I am happy, discard this hero burden. This so-called burden is already previously achieved, yet it brings a lot of pressure, image, long hair. Before, however, I stick to my old way of doing things. One is happy but want to negotiate success. Important to completely change, stop the long hair, but it is difficult because the pattern is set. Everyone thinks I film hero parts best. I believe should change only if seems the right way to improve. Like Bad Boys had same inferior critiques, I need to heed the tide of opinion. It causes you even more to not dare to test opinion. Now I think it would be a mistake to try to return to that image, it is finished. It is just most important to keep best appearance. I know this is necessary to again have success one day. The image as a singer is also about appearance. I assume will see this accomplished, but for now it is not complete, providing that an oportune moment arrives, then I will challenge myself.