Last word on romance: 'when it's gone, it's gone'
While some couples can have an amicable relationship after they call it quits (take Deborah Li and Patrick Tse Yin, for example) others prefer the 'all or nothing' approach. CitySeen talked to showbiz veteran Kam Kwok-leung (right), 56, about his latest book and his former relationship with Carol 'Dodo' Cheng Yu-ling (inset). After sharing a 10-year relationship that ended more than a decade ago, Kam and Cheng (like many ex-couples) rarely stay in touch. Kam explained that this is not because they have hard feelings towards each other, but because he finds it hard to take a 10-year relationship back to the three- or four-year mark.
'My romantic relationship with Carol lasted 10 years. Now that it's over, I don't know how to pretend to be platonic, or rewind our relationship back to the friendship stage. Why should we act for the press or for anyone else? It's just easier this way. We touch base when we need to.'
Recently, Kam published the compilation of Vapour Trail, a fictional serial that ran for 43 weeks in Ming Pao Weekly in 1983. Cheng's career was on the rise at the time and she participated in photo shoots each week that accompanied the stories. Kam says 1983 was the best year of their relationship.
On the subject of marriage, Kam believes a couple should wed during the prime years. 'Everything peaks,' he explained, 'and the best thing is to ride that peak and make the best out of it. Get hitched when you're most in love. Don't worry about buying a house or waiting for the right time between careers. Sometimes if you wait too long, the moment passes, and when it's gone, it's gone.'
