Update | Shaw studio 'owes late kung fu star millions'
Shaw Brothers Studio owes the late martial arts master and film director Lau Kar-leung millions in bonuses dating back more than 30 years, Lau's widow, Mary Jean Reimer, said at his funeral. Reimer, also known as Yung Jing-jing, gave a short eulogy and pledged HK$1 million to start a charity in Lau's name, to help struggling martial artists and actors
Shaw Brothers Studio owes the late martial arts master and film director Lau Kar-leung millions in bonuses dating back more than 30 years, Lau's widow, Mary Jean Reimer, said at his funeral.
Reimer, also known as Yung Jing-jing, gave a short eulogy and pledged HK$1 million to start a charity in Lau's name, to help struggling martial artists and actors.
He was sick with [cancer] for a long time but he really toughed it out all those years. It is a great loss to the industry
The three-hour service, held at Hung Hom's Universal Funeral Parlour under sombre skies and heavy rain, was attended by a range of celebrities, including actors Lanna Wong Ha-wai and Adam Cheng Siu-chow. Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, who learned kung fu from a disciple of Lau's master, also attended.
Several of Lau's apprentices and disciples, clad in kung fu attire emblazoned with the Chinese character "Lau", provided security as a large press pack formed outside the ground-floor main funeral hall as early as 10am.
Reimer claimed that Shaw Brothers Studio had failed to pay Lau guaranteed bonuses from overseas box offices for more than 30 years and wanted to get the message out to the public. She said the studio had insisted on "investing" the funds for Lau. The statements were confirmed by members of the procession, including lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung.
Reimer said the money could have amounted to "something like HK$10 million now, if not, at least HK$5 million" and added that Lau had never once complained. She urged Sir Run Run Shaw to be generous and to support the charity.