Eunice Lam facts for kids

Eunice Lam Yin-nei (Chinese: 林燕妮; born January 31, 1943 – died May 31, 2018) was a famous writer, columnist, and businesswoman from Hong Kong. She was also known as Lin Yanni. People often called her the "prodigal daughter" of Hong Kong because of her unique style.

Eunice Lam wrote over eighty books. Many of these books were later made into movies. She also wrote regular articles for the Ming Pao newspaper. A very famous writer named Jin Yong, who started Ming Pao, said she was the "best modern woman essayist."

Eunice Lam was married to Peter Lee Jung-sum, who was the brother of the kung-fu star Bruce Lee. Her own brother, Richard Lam, was also very well-known for writing Cantopop song lyrics.

Early Life and Education

Eunice Lam was born in Hong Kong on January 31, 1943. She grew up in a family that loved art and books. She had a younger sister and two younger brothers. One of her brothers was Richard Lam, who became a very famous lyricist in Hong Kong.

When she was 17, Eunice Lam went to college in the United States. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley. After earning her first degree in genetics, she came back to Hong Kong. She then earned two more advanced degrees, including one in Chinese literature from the University of Hong Kong.

Career Highlights

Eunice Lam started her career as one of the first television weather girls in Hong Kong. She began writing in 1974. By the 1980s, she was writing a lot of books and articles.

She published more than eighty books during her career. Some of her popular books include Crazy (癡), Fate (缘), Alliance (盟), and The Burial of Youth (青春之葬). Many of her stories were turned into films. She also wrote regular columns for newspapers like Ming Pao and the Hong Kong Daily News. The famous writer Jin Yong praised her writing very highly.

Family Life

When she was 21, Eunice Lam married Peter Lee Jung-sum. He was the older brother of the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. Eunice and Peter had a son named Lee Kai-ho. Their marriage lasted for about five years before they divorced.

Later, Eunice Lam worked with Wong Jim, a celebrated songwriter from Hong Kong. They started an advertising company together called Wong & Lam. This company was later bought by a larger advertising group.

Later Years and Passing

In 2016, Eunice Lam was diagnosed with lung cancer. She continued to write even while she was ill. Her last newspaper column was published in Ming Pao on June 6, 2018.

Eunice Lam passed away on May 31, 2018, at the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. She was 75 years old. Sadly, all three of her siblings, including her brother Richard, had also passed away from a different illness called lymphoma.