Big White Duel () is a 2019 Hong Kong television medical drama produced by Marco Law and TVB. It stars Roger Kwok, Kenneth Ma, Natalie Tong, Ali Lee and Kelly Cheung as the main leads. The series follows a team of medical practitioners at the fictional Marshall Paxton Hospital, Hong Kong's leading public hospital, with its central plot structuring around the hospital's Deputy C.E., Dr. YT Yeung's (Roger Kwok) attempts in rallying support for a new healthcare plan that would change the landscape of Hong Kong's healthcare system. Big White Duel premiered on TVB Jade in Hong Kong on 10 June 2019, and aired its final episode on 12 July 2019. It aired on Mediacorp's Channel 8 on 18 March 2020 and concluded on 25 May 2020. A second season was released in 2022.
Big White Duel received critical acclaim throughout its broadcast period. It is currently sitting as Hong Kong's second highest-rated television drama of 2019, and garnered multiple awards and nominations at the StarHub Night of Star Awards and TVB Anniversary Awards, including Best Actor and Best TVB Male Artiste for Kenneth Ma, Best TVB Female Artiste for Natalie Tong, Most Improved Female Artiste for Kelly Cheung and Best Drama.
Series overview Hong Kong's leading public hospital, Marshall Paxton, is being used as a trial ground for a radical reform project that could potentially change the future of Hong Kong's healthcare system. As medical practitioners at Marshall Paxton regularly face ethical dilemmas that challenge their professionalism, they are also being put in the middle of a power struggle between Deputy C.E. Dr. YT Yeung, who seeks for healthcare reform and for the spot of C.E., and the hospital's current C.E. Dr. Lui Chung-hok, who wants to keep the status quo. Fictional depictions of the Hospital Authority (known in the series as the Medical Development Authority), the Department of Health, and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) are prominent entities that drive the plot.
Plot It centers on Dr. YT Yeung (Roger Kwok), the Deputy Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton Hospital and his radical proposal to completely change the hospital's bureaucratic model by privatizing the public hospitals and raise capital by the means of public listing to maintain hospital operations, but is met with opposition from Dr. Tong Ming (Kenneth Ma), who was placed by the Chief Executive of Marshal Paxton to be the head of the hospital's cardiology department. Tong Ming believed that YT Yeung's proposed changes could affect the poor's accessibility to healthcare has a totally different ideology compared to YT's. He has fought alongside his apprentice Dr. Max Poon (Matthew Ho) in accordance with the life-saving principle that is to hold human life above the healthcare system, but they are instead dragged into the power struggle initiated by Dr. Lui Chung-hok, CE of Marshal Paxton. In Marshall Paxton Hospital, Tong Ming is reunited with A&E's Dr. Zoe So (Natalie Tong) who is his ex-wife.
Production Big White Duel was first announced in late 2017 as a new installment to Marco Law's Strongmen series, which started with the legal drama Law dis-Order in 2016. Initially produced with the working title White Giants (白色巨人), the new series would follow a similar to theme to Law dis-Order, in which career professionals engage in political games to consolidate power. Law employed the same team behind Law dis-Order for Big White Duel, including scriptwriter Wong Wai-keung.
Moses Chan and Ruco Chan were initially sought out to respectively star as Dr. YT Yeung and Dr. Tong Ming. After turning down the roles, TVB cast Roger Kwok and Kenneth Ma in December 2017. Big White Duel became Kwok's last TVB drama in his management contract. The role of Dr. Patrick Lam was first offered to Jason Chan, and then to Oscar Leung, but both turned down the role due to schedule conflicts. The role ultimately went to Stephen Wong.
In February 2018, Big White Duel held its first costume fitting press conference. Filming commenced that same month in Tuen Mun, and later in Shenzhen, China. Principal photography focused on locations in Tuen Mun's T PARK, Shenzhen's Horizontal Skyscraper, and the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, which were used as backdrops for Marshall Paxton Hospital. Principal photography ended in July 2018 with a wrap-up party held on 2 July 2018.
Cast and characters Marshall Paxton Hospital Name Portrayed by Occupation Dr. Lui Chung-hok David Chiang Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton, Cardiothoracic surgeon and consultant. Appointed as Honorary Advisor of Marshall Paxton after recover from his surgery. Dr. "YT" Yeung Yat-to Roger Kwok Deputy Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton, Head of Surgery Department, Chief of Service (C.O.S.) for the Neuroendovascular Surgery (NES) Department, Neurosurgeon. Become Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton after Dr. Lui's retirement.Dr. Tong Ming Kenneth Ma C.O.S. for the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS), Cardiothoracic surgeon. Become Deputy Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton after Dr. Lui's retirement.Dr. "Samuel" Yu Cham-sum Ram Chiang C.O.S. for the Department of Accident & Emergency (A&E)Dr. "Zoe" So Yee Natalie Tong A&E Associate ConsultantDr. "Kennis" Ching Lok-man Ali Lee CTS Associate Consultant and Cardiothoracic surgeon, later promoted as Cardiothoracic ConsultantDr. "Yan" Lui Ngoi-ling Kelly Cheung NES Resident Specialist and Neurosurgeon, later promoted as NES Associate ConsultantDr. "Max" Poon Wai-tak Matthew Ho CTS Resident Specialist and Cardiothoracic surgeon, later promoted as CTS Associate ConsultantDr. "Ceci" Fong Shu-ting Crystal Fung CTS Resident Specialist Dr. "Patrick" Lam Hok-kei Stephen Wong NES Associate Consultant, NeurosurgeonDr. "Hugo" Ho Bing-kwong Willie Wai CTS Associate Consultant, Cardiothoracic surgeonWong Ching, RN Lily Poon A&E Nurse Consultant"Macy" Wai Man-yi, RN Moss Wu A&E Associate Nurse Consultant
Government officials Name Portrayed by Occupation Kwok Yat-choi Keith Ng Chief Executive of Hong Kong Chung Kin-sing English Tang LegCo President Dr. Cheung Sat-chau Willie Lau Department of Health Secretary Dr. "Ivan" Yau Kwok-tung Timothy Cheng Deputy Health Secretary, Gastroenterologist Dr. "Martin" Wan Ming-cheung Max Cheung Chairman for the Medical Development Authority Lam Hoi-sang Chan Wing-chun LegCo Party chairman Ng Wing-yip Gary Tam LegCo legislator
Senior Management Cast Role DescriptionDavid Chiang 姜大衞 Lui Chung-hok呂仲學 Dr. Lui Marshall Paxton Chief Executive → Honorary Adviser → Health Secretary Father of Lui Ngoi-ling Opposed to the healthcare reform billRoger Kwok 郭晉安 Yeung Yat-to楊逸滔 YT, YT Yeung Marshall Paxton Deputy Chief Executive → Acting Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton → Chief Executive of Marshall Paxton Supporter of the healthcare reform bill, later opposed after found out healthcare reform bill change its ideology. Kenneth Ma 馬國明 Tong Ming 唐明 Marshall Paxton Deputy Chief Executive Opposed to the healthcare reform bill
Neuroendovascular Surgery (NES) Cast Role DescriptionRoger Kwok 郭晉安 Yeung Yat-to楊逸滔 YT, YT Yeung, Dr. Yeung Department Chief of Service & Consultant Stephen Wong 黃嘉樂 Lam Hok-kei 林學祈 Patrick, Dr. Lam Associate Consultant → Consultant Son of Lam Hoi-sang Kelly Cheung 張曦雯 Lui Ngoi-ling 呂靄寧Yan, Dr. Lui Resident Specialist → Associate Consultant Daughter of Lui Chung-hok Best friends with Zoe and Kennis Has a crush on YT
Cardiothoracic Surgery (CTS) Cast Role Description Kenneth Ma 馬國明 Tong Ming 唐明 Dr. Tong Department Chief of Service & Consultant Former Consultant of Chak On Hospital Best friend with Samuel Has a love triangle with Zoe and Kennis Ex-husband of Zoe, later remarried Mentor of Poon Wai-takAli Lee 李佳芯 Ching Lok-man 程洛雯 Kennis, Dr. Ching Associate Consultant → Consultant → Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Best friends with Zoe and Yan Has a crush on Tong Ming Underwent Cardiac Auto-transplantation by Tong Ming in episode 24 Became a Doctor Without Borders in episode 25 Shot in episode 25, fate unknownWillie Wai 韋家雄 Ho Bing-kwong 何秉光 Hugo, Dr. Ho Associate Consultant Mean to everyone in the Cardiothoracic Surgery department Jealous of Kennis’ skills and admiration by YT Wife involved in accident and later dies with organs donated Hard working doctor after the death of his wife Matthew Ho 何廣沛 Poon Wai-tak 潘懷德 Max, Dr. Poon Resident Specialist → Associate Consultant Boyfriend of Fong Shu-ting Crystal Fung 馮盈盈 Fong Shu-ting 方書婷 Ceci, Dr. Fong Resident Specialist Girlfriend of Poon Wai-tak
Accident & Emergency (A & E) Cast Role DescriptionRam Chiang蔣志光 Yu Cham-sum 余湛琛 Samuel, Dr. Yu Department Chief of Service & Consultant Best friend with Tong Ming Has a crush on ZoeNatalie Tong 唐詩詠 So Yee 蘇怡 Zoe, Dr. So Associate Consultant Best friends with Kennis and Yan Ex-wife of Tong Ming, later remarried
Nursing Cast Role Description Lily Poon 潘芳芳 Wong Ching 汪澄 Deputy Head nurse Advanced Practice Nurse A & E Nurse Moss Wu 吳沚默 Wai Man-yi 韋文意 Macy Registered Nurse A & E Nurse Has a crush on Poon Wai-tak
Other cast Cast Role Description Ashley Chu 朱智賢 Hong Kiu 康橋 Eugene TNN producer Wife of Martin, later divorced Has a crush on YT Supporter of the healthcare reform bill, later opposed Max Cheung 張達倫 Wan Ming-cheung 溫銘章 Martin, Dr. Wan Medical Development Authority Chairman Husband of Eugene, later divorced Supporter of the healthcare reform bill, later opposed Timothy Cheng 鄭子誠 Yau Kwok-tung 游國棟Ivan, Dr. Yau Deputy Health Secretary → Health Secretary → Resigned after healthcare reform bill did not pass Supporter of the healthcare reform bill Threatened Kennis using her cardiac health history Chan Wing-chun 陳榮峻 Lam Hoi-sang 林海生 Ruling Legislative Council Party Chairman Father of Lam Hok-kei Supporter of the healthcare reform bill for business gain. Gary Tam 譚偉權 Ng Wing-yip 吳榮業 Councillor Ng Legislative Council Opposition Member Opposed to the healthcare reform bill Keith Ng 吳瑞庭 Kwok Yat-choi 郭逸材 Hong Kong Chief Executive Leo Lo 盧海鷹 Chui Tse-go 徐子高 Trading company salesman Mental Patient Gunman
Viewership ratings TVB Jade # Timeslot (HKT) Week Episode(s) Average points Peaking points 1 Mon – Fri 21:30 10 — 14 June 2019 1 — 5 28 29 2 17 — 21 June 2019 6 — 10 28 29 3 24 — 28 June 2019 11 — 15 28 — 4 1 — 5 July 2019 16 — 20 28 — 5 8 — 12 July 2019 21 — 25 31 32 Total average 29 30
International broadcast
Region Network Notes 8TV VV Drama & MediaCorp Channel 8 Dubbed With Mandarin PNN TV Dubbed With Khmer