感謝我們出色的主持人麥家邦！感謝他美妙的歌聲，以及多年來在舊金山灣區組織歌會和卡拉OK派對的熱情。這份社區凝聚力，正是我們今晚相聚的重要理由。

但今晚，我最想首先感謝的是我生命中最重要的夥伴: 我的妻子Carmen。她不僅是我的愛人，更是我人生旅途中最堅實的依靠。 （微笑看向(Carmen）

今晚的主題是“感謝”，而貫穿我人生的一個深刻感悟是：危機 = 機會。正是幾次重大的危機，塑造了今天的我，並讓我有幸認識在座的絕大多數人。

第一次危機：1973，從天堂跌落

（故事更連貫，細節更聚焦，突顯轉折）

我的前18年可謂一帆風順。我們住在銅鑼灣歌頓道維多利亞公園對面的三層大宅，十多個房間，十多個工人。爺爺是太古船澳的退休總工程師，爸爸在香港最老牌的律師行希仕庭工作。我讀私立學校，車接車送。爸爸還是南華會球員，代表香港參加亞運會。那時的我，不知「危機」為何物，因為天塌下來，總有爺爺和爸爸頂著。

直到1973年，我快18歲那年。媽媽炒股，遇上了香港股災，股票暴跌九成！當時我毫不知情。直到爸爸沉重地告訴我：「今年畢業，可能沒辦法送你出國了。媽媽把家裡現金都輸光了，還欠下巨債。」1973 年的幾十萬，是天文數字。爸爸說，靠律師收入，也要一、兩年才能還清。

同年五月，中學會考放榜。我興沖衝回校，拿到成績單：BCDEFFFF！只有四科合格！感覺「玩完」了！我飛奔回家，哀求爸爸：「我必須出國！」爸爸看著我，只說了句：「好。」他立刻找了蔡叔叔幫我拿到擔保信。第二天，我衝到加拿大領事館，人山人海，都是搶申請表的人。幸運的是，我拿到了。第三天去交錶時，發現領事館已停止發放申請！幾天後接到面試通知。簽證官問我：「是不是會考不合格才想出國？」 又問我：「加拿大有親人嗎？」我天真地回答：「有五個哥哥姐姐在那邊。」他看了我一眼（模仿審視的眼神）：「那你畢業後，不打算回香港了？」我趕緊說：「我會, 香港是我家！」他想了想地說，去體檢吧，意味著出國讀書已經通過.

就這樣，我到了加拿大一所寄宿學校。 **人生第一次，真切感受到危機帶來的冰冷現實。 ** 開學第二天早餐，就有白人同學用粵語髒話「問候」我們。我非常氣憤，質問他們哪裡學的？他們得意地說：「學校的中國學生教的，說這是『早安』！」學校食物又少，餐點吃不飽。我認識了另外三位同病相憐的香港新生，決定「造反」。其中一位認識80英里外另一所學校的朋友，透過他聯絡上那所學校的校長。校長說：「轉學過來吧！」 我們四人找到學監神父要求退學。他嚇唬我們：「移民局不會批准你們轉學的！」 他不知道，那所新學校校長的堂弟，正是移民局長！我們堅持：「請退還學費。」 最終，我們拿回了九成學費。 **第一次危機，靠勇氣和一點點運氣，化解了。 **

十月，加拿大開始下雪。前兩天很興奮，人生初見雪景！第三天，新鮮感沒了。到了十二月，氣溫驟降到零下四十度，苦不堪言。當時，有兩位在香港的好友中學同班同學正在夏威夷大學就讀。他們得知我的慘狀，竟直接去找大學校長了！在那個年代，香港學生平均學分高達3.8以上，聲譽極佳。校長特批：發給我I-20表格，並且豁免托福考試！就這樣，我從冰天雪地的加拿大，逃到了陽光明媚的夏威夷！ **第二次危機，靠朋友的熱心相助，再次轉化為機會。 **

離開香港時，我向爸爸承諾：四年畢業就回來。但在加拿大浪費了一個學期，怎麼辦？為了兌現承諾，我決定：**第一學期修滿30學分（相當於十門課）！ ** 其中三門可以免修考試拿學分。註冊辦公室驚呆了：「不允許超過21個學分！」我搬出校長的話：「校長說香港學生學分無上限！」他們將信將疑，打電話核實後，黑著臉說：「好吧。」 **又一次，危機逼出了我的潛力，守住了對父親的承諾。 **

第二次危機：2008，太太遠走他鄉尋生機

（更簡潔，突顯關鍵人物和轉折）

時間跳到2008年，金融風暴席捲全球。當時太太Carmen在夏威夷一家託管公司(Escrow)擔任財務官，公司卻決定關門。這場危機，迫使Carmen離開夏威夷，到舊金山找工作機會。幸運的是，幾年前從夏威夷搬到舊金山的前同事Mei Lui伸出了援手，讓Carmen在她家暫住，度過了找工作的艱難時期。我一直沒有機會正式向Mei道謝。 Mei，還有妳的丈夫Sunny，謝謝你們！ **雪中送炭的情誼，比什麼都珍貴。 ** 這個世界，錦上添花易，雪中送炭難；落井下石的人，倒是不少。舊金山的薪水比夏威夷高出40-60%，這次危機，**再次為我們打開了新局面。 **

第三次危機：尋找安身立命之所

（更清晰點明當前處境和選擇）

我們面臨的第三個危機，是如何安全舒適地退休。我們深感，美國已無法提供我們所期望的安全感和生活品質。經過深思熟慮，我們認定：**回到香港或中國大陸，是最佳選擇。 ** 我們已經行動，計劃六年後離開美國。

過去六年，我發現一個令人深思的現象：我大約30%的客戶和朋友，都有類似的計畫──離開美國，回到中國（包括香港）退休。許多人已經在那邊購置了房產。 1973年離開香港時，我從來沒想到自己會留在美國，更沒想到會在幾十年後選擇回去香港退休。是美國日益嚴重的反華情緒和不安全的社會環境，**促使我們下定決心，將這「危機」轉化為人生下半場的「機會」。 **

危機帶來的珍貴禮物：你們
（自然過渡到感謝名單，將名單分類整合，更有條理）

正是因為這幾次危機帶來的遷徙，我們才得以搬到舊金山，並因此認識並結識了在座的各位！試想，如果我們一直留在夏威夷 – 今天的夏威夷，也已充斥著無家可歸者和毒品問題，不復當年純淨 – 我們**幾乎不可能認識今晚95%的朋友！ **

這份因「危機」而收穫的友誼和緣分，是我最珍惜的財富。請容許我藉此機會，由衷地感謝一些特別的朋友（排名不分先後）：

• 引路人與事業夥伴： Pat Chin, Cynthia Yee。還記得我們和夏威夷大學旅遊管理學院院長Chuck Gee一起去香港嗎？在他80歲壽宴那晚，我們共同為夏威夷大學在香港的獎學金計畫籌集了25萬美元！
• 慈善楷模： Nancy 和 Peter Lee（UCSF退休科學家/醫生）。你們過去14年堅持在四川做慈善，自費資助了100多名貧困高中生完成學業，其中近100人考上了大學！令人敬佩。
• 品味生活的伴侶： Paul Gee（納帕谷Gee Vineyard莊主）。我們多次結伴到中國大陸和香港購物、享受美食、參觀酒展。 Paul，謝謝你總是讓Carmen點菜，「價格不是問題」的氣度！和你一起，我們真正體驗了有品味的生活。
• 才藝出眾的朋友們：
• Michelle Au：夏威夷K-2卡拉OK的最佳DJ！重逢真好。你的寵物、你製作的那些漂亮又美味的蛋糕甜點，常為我們的Facebook帶來歡樂。
• Ken Ho：我的夏威夷大學同學（1977年畢業）！舊金山唐人街Grant Plaza飯店的老闆，畢業後就來舊金山「淘金」了。
• David 和 Binnie Wong：David，你在中國專業院校打下的音樂功底令人讚嘆，在美國房地產投資又如此成功。謝謝你們常常邀請我們去家裡享受美妙的卡拉OK之夜。
• 民記 (Min Kee)：你家裡的專業級卡拉OK系統、你的好歌喉、你的精湛廚藝（還有那個商用廚房！）都堪稱一絕。 （幽默地）你要還是單身，簡直是女孩子們完美人選了！
• Vincent, 瑤瑤, 雁子, Ken Ken, Albert：你們是Carmen最棒的歌唱夥伴和卡拉OK搭檔！
• 家人與親情紐帶： Shan Cheng (Carmen的堂兄，成功的進口商，常駐舊金山)；Kitty 和你的先生（Kitty的媽媽和Carmen的媽媽是老相識，謝謝你們經常的聚餐和聚會）。
• 值得銘記的友人：
• Howell Kiung 和 Ling Ling：Ling Ling，很高興你現在在中國與家人團聚。
• Julie Xie：Carmen前老闆的高中同學，在Carmen 2018年擔任上海公司財務總監期間多有交集。
• Lucy, Yunice, Kevin：Carmen在東北醫療(Northeast Medical)的前同事，也是我們打麻將和旅行的好夥伴。
• Ray 和 Barbara Hing：Ray，你身為BP駐華主管的經驗一定充滿故事。
• Jenny Chan：謝謝你致力於教育人們關於二戰期間日本的反人類罪行（南京大屠殺、731部隊），這是非常重要的歷史記憶也是一個不忘記自己的中國根的愛國人士。
• 上個月「探索中國之旅」中那位學生的母親Yvonne，很高興認識你。
• 上週認識的Paul（又名Laughing Gor），謝謝你邀請我們去你在聖馬特奧的海邊房子，玩得很開心！
• 特別再次鳴謝： Mei Lui 和 Sunny！ 2008年那次援手，永誌不忘。

（結尾點題昇華）
（更精煉有力，呼應開頭）

如果我遺漏了誰，請一定原諒我！心頭的感激，實在難以用言語盡述。

朋友們，回望我的歷程，從1973年股災的富家少年，到被迫遠走他鄉的留學生，再到2008年金融危機後的遷徙，直至今日為安享晚年而做的規劃——每一次看似沉重的“危機”，最終都奇妙地轉化為了珍貴的“機會”。它讓我成長，讓我突破，更重要的是，它引領我遇見了你們──我生命中最寶貴的財富。

**危機，是人生的轉捩點，更是新篇章的起點。 ** 感謝你們成為我新篇章中不可或缺的一部分！

謝謝大家！

The computer translation:

Sharing with you the speech from the birthday party on Saturday, July 12⬇️

Thanks to our wonderful host, Mike Mak! Thank you for your beautiful singing voice and your passion for organizing singing parties and karaoke parties in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. This sense of community is an important reason why we are gathered here tonight.

But tonight, I want to thank the most important partner in my life: my wife Carmen. She is not only my lover, but also the most solid support in my life journey. (*Smile and look at (Carmen*)

The theme of tonight is “Thanks”, and a profound feeling throughout my life is: **Crisis = Opportunity**. It is several major crises that have shaped me into who I am today and given me the opportunity to meet most of the people present here.

**First crisis: 1973, fall from heaven**

(*The story is more coherent, the details are more focused, and the twists and turns are highlighted*)

My first 18 years were smooth sailing. We lived in a three-storey house opposite Victoria Park on Gordon Road in Causeway Bay, with more than ten rooms and more than ten workers. My grandfather was the retired chief engineer of Swire Shipping, and my father worked at the oldest law firm in Hong Kong, Heathrow. I went to a private school and was picked up and dropped off by car. My father was also a South China Club player, representing Hong Kong in the Asian Games. At that time, I didn’t know what “crisis” was, because even if the sky fell, my grandfather and father would always hold it up.

Until 1973, when I was almost 18 years old. My mother was speculating in stocks and encountered the Hong Kong stock market crash. The stock market plummeted by 90%! I had no idea at the time. Until my father told me solemnly: “You will graduate this year, and I may not be able to send you abroad. Mom lost all the cash in the family and owed a huge debt.” Hundreds of thousands in 1973 were astronomical figures. My father said that with the income of a lawyer, it would take one or two years to pay it off.

In May of the same year, the results of the Secondary School Certificate Examination were released. I returned to school excitedly and got the transcript: BCDEFFFF! Only four subjects passed! I felt “finished”! I rushed home and begged my father: “I must go abroad!” My father looked at me and just said, “Okay.” He immediately asked Uncle Cai to help me get a guarantee letter. The next day, I rushed to the Canadian Consulate. There were crowds of people, all scrambling for application forms. Fortunately, I got it. When I went to submit the form on the third day, I found that the consulate had stopped issuing applications! A few days later, I received an interview notice. The visa officer asked me: “Is it because you failed the certificate examination that you want to go abroad?” He asked me again: “Do you have relatives in Canada?” I naively answered: “I have five brothers and sisters there.” He looked at me (*imitation of scrutiny*): “Then after graduation, you don’t plan to return to Hong Kong?” I quickly said: “I will, Hong Kong is my home!” He thought for a while and said, go for a physical examination, which means that you have passed the study abroad.

That’s how I ended up at a boarding school in Canada. **For the first time in my life, I felt the cold reality brought on by the crisis. **At breakfast on the second day of school, a white classmate “greeted” us with Cantonese swear words. I was very angry and asked them where they learned it. They proudly said, “The Chinese students in the school taught us that this is ‘good morning’!” The school also had little food and we couldn’t get enough food. I met three other freshmen from Hong Kong who were in the same boat and decided to “rebel.” One of them knew a friend from another school 80 miles away, and through him, he contacted the principal of that school. The principal said, “Transfer here!” The four of us found the school supervisor and asked to drop out. He threatened us, “The Immigration Department will not approve your transfer!” He didn’t know that the cousin of the principal of the new school was the director of the Immigration Department! We insisted, “Please refund the tuition.” In the end, we got back 90% of the tuition. **The first crisis was resolved with courage and a little bit of luck. **

In October, it started snowing in Canada. I was very excited for the first two days, as it was my first time seeing snow! On the third day, the novelty wore off. In December, the temperature plummeted to minus 40 degrees Celsius, and it was miserable. At the time, two of my good friends and high school classmates in Hong Kong were studying at the University of Hawaii. When they learned of my plight, they actually went straight to the president of the university! In that era, the average credit score of Hong Kong students was as high as 3.8 and their reputation was excellent. The president gave special approval: send me an I-20 form and **exempt me from the TOEFL test**! Just like that, I escaped from the snowy Canada to the sunny Hawaii! **The second crisis was once again transformed into an opportunity with the enthusiastic help of my friends. **

When I left Hong Kong, I promised my father that I would come back after graduating in four years. But I wasted a semester in Canada, what should I do? In order to fulfill my promise, I decided: **Take 30 credits (equivalent to ten courses) in the first semester! ** Three of them can be exempted from exams and get credits. The registration office was shocked: “No more than 21 credits are allowed!” I quoted the principal’s words: “The principal said that there is no upper limit on the credits for Hong Kong students!” They were skeptical, called to verify, and said with a dark face: “Okay.” **Once again, the crisis forced out my potential and kept my promise to my father. **

**Second crisis: 2008, my wife left home to seek a living**

(*More concise, highlighting key characters and turning points*)

Time jumps to 2008, when the financial crisis swept the world. At that time, my wife Carmen worked as a financial officer at an escrow company (Escrow) in Hawaii, but the company decided to close down. This crisis forced Carmen to leave Hawaii and look for job opportunities in San Francisco. Fortunately, my former colleague Mei Lui, who moved from Hawaii to San Francisco a few years ago, lent a hand and let Carmen stay temporarily at her home to get through the difficult period of job hunting. I have never had the opportunity to formally thank Mei. Mei, and your husband Sunny, thank you! **Friendship that helps in times of need is more precious than anything else. ** In this world, it is easy to add icing on the cake, but it is difficult to help in times of need; there are many people who take advantage of others’ misfortunes. Salaries in San Francisco are 40-60% higher than those in Hawaii. This crisis has **opened up a new situation for us again. **

THE THIRD CRISIS: SEARCHING FOR A SUSTAINABLE POSITION

(*More clearly point out the current situation and choices*)

The third crisis we face is how to retire safely and comfortably. We feel that the United States can no longer provide the sense of security and quality of life we ​​expect. After careful consideration, we have determined that returning to Hong Kong or mainland China is the best option. We have already taken action and plan to leave the United States in six years.

Over the past six years, I have discovered a thought-provoking phenomenon: about 30% of my clients and friends have similar plans – leaving the United States and returning to China (including Hong Kong) to retire. Many have already purchased properties there. When I left Hong Kong in 1973, I never thought that I would stay in the United States, let alone choose to retire in Hong Kong decades later. It is the increasingly serious anti-China sentiment and unsafe social environment in the United States that has prompted us to make up our minds to turn this “crisis” into an “opportunity” for the second half of our lives.

A precious gift from crisis: you
(*Naturally transition to the thank you list, classify and integrate the list to make it more organized*)

It was because of these crises that we were able to move to San Francisco and get to know everyone here! Imagine if we had stayed in Hawaii – Hawaii today is full of homelessness and drug problems, and is no longer pure – we would have **never been able to meet 95% of the friends tonight! **

The friendships and connections I have made through this crisis are my most cherished treasures. Please allow me to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to some special friends (in no particular order):

* **Guide and Business Partner:** Pat Chin, Cynthia Yee. Remember when we went to Hong Kong with Chuck Gee, Dean of the University of Hawaii College of Tourism Management? At his 80th birthday party, we raised $250,000 for the University of Hawaii’s scholarship program in Hong Kong!

* **Charity role model:** Nancy and Peter Lee (retired scientists/doctors from UCSF). You have been doing charity work in Sichuan for the past 14 years, and have funded more than 100 poor high school students to complete their studies at your own expense, and nearly 100 of them have been admitted to universities! It is admirable.

* **Partner of a tasteful life:** Paul Gee (owner of Gee Vineyard in Napa Valley). We have been to China and Hong Kong together for shopping, food, and wine exhibitions. Paul, thank you for always letting Carmen order the dishes and for your generosity of “price is not an issue”! With you, we truly experience a tasteful life.

* **Friends with outstanding talents:**
* Michelle Au: The best DJ at K-2 Karaoke in Hawaii! It’s great to see you again. Your pets and the beautiful and delicious cakes and desserts you make always bring joy to our Facebook.

* Ken Ho: My classmate from the University of Hawaii (graduated in 1977)! The owner of the Grant Plaza Hotel in San Francisco’s Chinatown, he came to San Francisco to “strike gold” after graduation.

* David and Binnie Wong: David, your music skills acquired in a professional college in China are amazing, and you have also been so successful in real estate investment in the United States. Thank you for often inviting us to your home to enjoy wonderful karaoke nights.

* Min Kee: Your professional karaoke system at home, your singing voice, and your cooking skills (and that commercial kitchen!) are all amazing. (*humorously*) If you were still single, you’d be perfect for the girls!

* Vincent, Yaoyao, Yanzi, Ken Ken, Albert: You are Carmen’s best singing and karaoke partners!

* **Family and kinship ties:** Shan Cheng (Carmen’s cousin, a successful importer, based in San Francisco); Kitty and your husband (Kitty’s mom and Carmen’s mom are old acquaintances, thank you for your frequent dinners and gatherings).

* **Friends worth remembering:**
* Howell Kiung and Ling Ling: Ling Ling, we are glad that you are reunited with your family in China now.

* Julie Xie: A high school classmate of Carmen’s former boss. They had many interactions when Carmen was the CFO of a Shanghai company in 2018.

* Lucy, Yunice, Kevin: Carmen’s former colleagues at Northeast Medical, and our good mahjong playing and traveling partners.

* Ray and Barbara Hing: Ray, your experience as BP’s head of China must be full of stories.

* Jenny Chan: Thank you for your dedication to educating people about Japan’s crimes against humanity during World War II (Nanjing Massacre, Unit 731). This is a very important historical memory and a patriotic person who does not forget his or her Chinese roots.

* Yvonne, the mother of the student on last month’s “Explore China Trip”, it was nice to meet you.

* Paul (aka Laughing Gor), whom I met last week, thank you for inviting us to your beach house in San Mateo, we had a great time!

* **Special thanks again:** Mei Lui and Sunny! I will never forget their help in 2008.

(The ending sublimates the topic)
(*More concise and powerful, echoing the beginning*)

If I have missed anyone, please forgive me! I can’t express my gratitude in words.

Friends, looking back on my journey, from being a rich boy in the 1973 stock market crash, to being an overseas student forced to leave home, to migrating after the 2008 financial crisis, to planning for a comfortable retirement today – **every seemingly heavy “crisis” has miraculously transformed into a precious “opportunity”**. It has made me grow, made me break through, and more importantly, it has led me to meet you – the most precious treasure in my life.

**Crisis is a turning point in life and the starting point of a new chapter. ** Thank you for being an indispensable part of my new chapter!

Thank you everyone!