By MAGDALENE NG

JUST three days after I got my air tickets to Hong Kong, the territory was put on the list of places affected by the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

The next day, things got worse: Some schools in Hong Kong had to close for two weeks as 12 students had been tested positive for the virus.

Fear set in.

My first thought was to cancel the Hong Kong trip, which I had planned for next month.

However, thoughts of my younger brother, JCH, who is based in the territory, held me back. He was scheduled for an operation on the day before my arrival, and the thought of him having to recuperate on his own worried me.

He is in his 30s, lives alone, and would have few, if any, people around to help him.

With that in mind, I dropped the idea of cancelling the trip.

I visited him in Hong Kong last year, where he has been working since late 2007.

Before that, he was in London, where he had been living since 1997, pursuing a degree in image design and then going on to work there.

My 10-day visit to Hong Kong last year included time for shopping and sightseeing but, best of all, I spent quality time with JCH.

During that visit, he proudly introduced me to his friends, saying: "Mag's been busy raising her two daughters, now teenagers, before and during my decade-long stint in London."

Indeed, I was so busy during those 10 years that I hardly called him, let alone visit him.

Guilt-stricken, I tried to make time for him whenever he came back for his annual three-week holiday.

But those attempts were limited to occasional weekend family meals and short weekday phone chats - again, because of family commitments.

Thinking back, JCH and I had never been close. Nor did we have the chance to be close, because of our seven-year age gap.

I remember being his chaperon for two years, as his school was next to mine, and carrying his school bag whenever we took public transport.

As he was only a Primary 1 pupil then, he was often teased by my classmates, who pinched his cheeks and unbuttoned his shirt, leaving him to sob silently.

Once, I treated him to a Western set lunch and a two-movie marathon. JCH enjoyed it tremendously and still remembers that outing today.

I've not forgotten his text message to me after my return from last year's visit: "We did well considering it's the first time we spent 24/7 together."

The message made me realise that my brother and I never really had the opportunity to know each other because of time, distance and individual priorities.

Now, I won't hesitate to phone JCH - any time - to catch up.

myp@sph.com.sg

The writer is the assistant manager of Focus Publishing, the contract publishing arm of the Chinese Newspaper Division of Singapore Press Holdings.

For more my paper stories click here.