SINGAPORE: The urn keeping ashes of Chua Lam, a famous food critic popularly regarded as Hong Kong’s four talents, has arrived in Singapore.

His family would be conducting a prayer on an auspicious day and the urn would be placed in a columbarium here.

Chua Lam’s niece confirmed the arrival with Shin Min Daily News. 

She did not reveal the location of the columbarium according to Chua Lam’s wish to avoid disturbing the temple and the public.

She expressed gratitude for everyone’s love and respect for Chua Lam.

Chua Lam, a prolific writer, passed away at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital on June 25 at the age of 83.

He was cremated without a funeral and news of his passing was announced two days later to avoid disturbing friends and relatives.

In an interview with Hong Kong-based Ming Pao over a year ago, Chua Lam said his family members have bought him a slot in a columbarium in Singapore although he loved Hong Kong.

He expressed his wish to have his ashes scattered at sea after the cremation but his aide reminded him during the interview that littering the sea is illegal in Hong Kong.

After Chua Lam’s passing was reported by the media, two organisations – Georgetown Community Emergency Response Team in Penang and the Ipoh New Town Fire and Rescue Volunteer Group posted on Facebook to express their gratitude to Chua Lam for his donation of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to its HeartSave team in Penang and ambulance for the volunteer group in Ipoh.

“We are using the AED donated by Chua Lam for emergency to save lives and the donation reflects his care and concern for the community,’’ wrote the Georgetown Emergency Response Team in paying tribute to the philanthropist.

The volunteer group in Ipoh also wrote on its Facebook page that the ambulance donated by Chua Lam was a reflection of his low-profile style in caring for the community.

“It’s a testament of his respect for life, care for the society and persistence to deliver good deeds.

“The ambulance is an icon of love and a gesture of good deed from Chua Lam. We promise to make good use of the donation to save every life during emergencies,’’ it said.

Besides the AED and an ambulance, Chua Lam, who held his first calligraphy exhibition in Malaysia in 2023, also donated a truck for the Sang Riang Senior Citizen’s Home in Triang, Pahang last year.

The calligraphy exhibition raised a total of RM756,000.