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Jet-setting journalist who spent time with regional daily dies aged 73

Mike SimmsA jet-setting journalist whose career took him across the world has died aged 73.

Tributes have been paid to Mike Simms, who spent time at the Sheffield Morning Telegraph as well as newspapers in Australia and Asia.

New Zealand-born Mike began his career in his home country before moving to England where he spent time on the Morning Telegraph and The Guardian.

He later worked for The Age, in Australia and The Monitor, in Singapore, before taking on the editorship of the Honk Kong Standard.

Mike, known to colleagues as Simmsy, retired from the South China Morning Post as chief copy editor in late 2014.

Morning Post editor-in-chief Tammy Tam said: “I was very saddened to hear of Mike’s death. He was a hugely influential and dedicated member of our local news team, and did much to mentor our reporters and sub-editors.

“His knowledge of Hong Kong society, politics and government policies allowed him to speak with authority, whether it was with our most senior editors or cadets. We shall greatly miss his voice of reason.”

Mike fell ill in the Philippines three months ago while on one of his regular visits to see his young granddaughter, Gabriella.

He returned to Hong Kong and was admitted to hospital with a leg infection. He suffered pneumonia in mid-December and died on 13 January.

Mike leaves wife Jean, sons Damon and Anton, grandchildren Paige, Lauren and Gabriella, and brothers Danny and Paddy.

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  • February 12, 2017 at 5:54 am
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    I worked with Mike when he was chief sub on the long defunct Evening Star newspaper in Dunedin, New Zealand in the 1970s. This was a man who knew his business inside out. I am not surprised that he made such a success of his later career in Hong Kong. Great memories of some wild nights at the Leviathan Hotel down the road from the Star office. RIP in peace Simmsy.

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