One is a young, introverted local artist. The other is a low-key retired star. But together illustrator Carrie Chau Wun-ying and actress Cherie Chung Chor-hung helped Times Square kick off its Christmas display on Thursday. The mall asked Chau (right in picture) to decorate its public space this year. So icons of hers, such as the black sheep doll, the blind fly and the indigo child, are everywhere.

The appearance of Chung (left), though, was more unexpected. Since the mid-1990s the retired star has mostly stayed out of the limelight, though she made headlines last year when her husband, Mike Chu Ka-ting, died of cancer. Chung said her main reason for being at the ceremony was that she was invited by Chau. It seems the two are good friends.

'I think Chau is a handsome girl and her works are very handsome too,' Chung said. 'Her works are very original. It is hard to live in this hi-tech age filled with all sorts of information but still remain unaffected [like Chau's works]. I like the works she's created from all different stages of her career. I think it reflects her journey of growth. I also do a little drawing but it's just still-life sketches at home.'