# Eunice Lam

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Hong Kong writer (1943–2018)

Eunice Lam 林燕妮 Born (1943-01-31)31 January 1943 Japanese Hong Kong Died 31 May 2018(2018-05-31) (aged 75) Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong Other names Lam Yin-nei, Lin Yanni Alma mater University of California, Berkeley University of Hong Kong Occupations Novelist, columnist, businesswoman Years active 1974–2018 Spouse Peter Lee Jung-sum ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1971)​ Partner(s) James Wong Jim (1976–1990) Children 1 Relatives Richard Lam (brother) Chinese name Chinese 林燕妮 Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lín Yànní Wade–Giles Lin Yen-ni Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Lam4 Jin1 Nei4

**Eunice Lam Yin-nei** ([Chinese](/source/Chinese_language): 林燕妮; 31 January 1943 – 31 May 2018), also known as **Lin Yanni**,[1] was a Hong Kong novelist, columnist, businesswoman, and socialite, often called the "prodigal daughter" of Hong Kong.[2] She published more than eighty books, many of which have been adapted into films. She also wrote regular columns for the *[Ming Pao](/source/Ming_Pao)*, and [Jin Yong](/source/Jin_Yong), the famous writer who founded the newspaper, praised her as the "best modern woman essayist".

Lam was married to [Peter Lee](/source/Peter_Lee_Jung-sum), brother of the kung-fu star [Bruce Lee](/source/Bruce_Lee). Her brother [Richard Lam](/source/Richard_Lam) was also a well-known [Cantopop](/source/Cantopop) lyricist. Her lengthy extra-marital relationship with the celebrated songwriter [Wong Jim](/source/Wong_Jim) garnered her media attention.

## Early life and education

Lam was born in Hong Kong on 31 January 1943 into an artistic and literary family.[3] She had a younger sister and two younger brothers, including the [Cantopop](/source/Cantopop) lyricist Richard Lam Chun-keung, a household name in Hong Kong.[4]

At age 17, she was admitted to the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley) in the United States. She returned to Hong Kong after graduating with a bachelor's degree in [genetics](/source/Genetics), and later earned two master's degrees,[3] including one in [Chinese literature](/source/Chinese_literature) from the [University of Hong Kong](/source/University_of_Hong_Kong).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Career

Lam worked as one of Hong Kong's first television weather girls.[3] She began her writing career in 1974, and became a prolific writer in the 1980s.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] She published more than eighty books,[4] including *Crazy* (癡), *Fate* (缘), *Alliance* (盟) and *The Burial of Youth* (青春之葬).[3][5] Many of her novels have been adapted into films.[3] She was also a regular columnist for the Chinese-language newspapers *[Ming Pao](/source/Ming_Pao)* and the *[Hong Kong Daily News](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kong_Daily_News&action=edit&redlink=1)*,[6] praised by [Jin Yong](/source/Jin_Yong) as the "best modern woman essayist".[3][5]

## Personal life

When she was 21, Lam married [Peter Lee Jung-sum](/source/Peter_Lee_Jung-sum), the elder brother of [Bruce Lee](/source/Bruce_Lee), and the couple had a son, Lee Kai-ho (李凯豪). The marriage ended in divorce after about five years.[4][5] Lam found herself in the media spotlight for having maintained a 14-year extra-marital relationship with [Wong Jim](/source/James_Wong_(lyricist)), the celebrated Hong Kong songwriter, which began in 1976 when they were both working for the broadcaster [TVB](/source/TVB); the affair caused the break-up of his first marriage.[4] Together, they started the advertising agency Wong & Lam; it was later bought by [Saatchi & Saatchi](/source/Saatchi_%26_Saatchi).[2][5] The couple planned to marry in 1988, but, according to Lam, Wong lost interest,[4] and they broke up after Wong started an affair with his secretary, whom he later married.[5]

## Death

Lam was diagnosed with lung cancer due to her excessive smoking in 2016. On 31 May 2018,[7][8] she died from the disease at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, aged 75.[2][5] Her three siblings, including Richard, had all died of [lymphoma](/source/Lymphoma).[5] She continued writing throughout her illness; her last column was published in *[Ming Pao](/source/Ming_Pao)* in 6 June 2018.[3]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Lin Yanni"](http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82238216.html). *Library of Congress*. Retrieved 2 July 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-scmp_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-scmp_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-scmp_2-2) Chen, Vivian (5 June 2018). ["Eunice Lam, Bruce Lee's former sister-in-law, dies at age 75"](https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/2149343/late-bruce-lees-former-sister-law-eunice-lam-dies-age). *South China Morning Post*. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-wwp_3-6) ["從天氣女郎到最好散文家──林燕妮病逝"](http://paper.wenweipo.com/2018/06/06/YO1806060012.htm). *[Wen Wei Po](/source/Wen_Wei_Po)* (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 6 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-scmp2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-scmp2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-scmp2_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-scmp2_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-scmp2_4-4) ["Eunice Lam, Hong Kong novelist and former sister-in-law of kung fu legend Bruce Lee, dies at age 75"](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2149409/eunice-lam-hong-kong-novelist-and-former-sister-law-kung-fu). *South China Morning Post*. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sina_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sina_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-sina_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-sina_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-sina_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-sina_5-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-sina_5-6) ["香港著名作家林燕妮因肺癌去世 享年75岁"](http://ent.sina.com.cn/s/h/2018-06-05/doc-ihcqccin5035624.shtml) (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Sina Corp. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Chen, Yuxin (5 June 2018). ["香港才女林燕妮因肺癌逝世 享年75岁"](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20180605-864738). *Zaobao* (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["林燕妮举殡 冯宝宝派林12金句悼亡友"](https://www.zaobao.com.sg/zentertainment/celebs/story20180628-870783). *Zaobao*. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["粉紅輕煙裊裊繞心頭 Sammi送林燕妮：天家見"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180630024952/https://hk.entertainment.appledaily.com/entertainment/daily/article/20180628/20433464). *Apple Daily*. 28 June 2018. Archived from [the original](https://hk.entertainment.appledaily.com/entertainment/daily/article/20180628/20433464) on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Eunice Lam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunice_Lam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunice_Lam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.