Why you shouldn't eat breakfast on an empty stomach

Singer-actor Leon Lai Ming is well known in local entertainment circles for his quirky, sometimes puzzling sense of humour. Canto-pop fans have even set up message boards and blogs in order to fathom the meaning of his golden quotes, such as: 'The chances of dating someone is like seeing a ghost, it's destined' and 'I'm a generous man, so I don't mind people saying I'm not'.

So when the 43-year-old crooner was reported recently to pronounce: 'Don't eat breakfast on an empty stomach', fans and scribes scratched their heads again.

At Tuesday's Max Factor launch, paparazzi asked Lai's wife, Gaile Lai Kei-yi, for an insight into his wit. The 29-year-old American model looked blank but promised to talk to her husband about the reported advice that night.

The following morning, the paparazzi were all ears at a Hong Kong Polytechnic University fashion event as a triumphant Gaile Lai said: '[Leon] actually means we should drink some water before eating.'

Gaile Lai said the crooner's humour helped her improve her Chinese. Maybe she has learned enough to interpret another classic Leon Lai comment: 'Everyone has difficulties. What matters is there will be a boat waiting for you after you conquer all the difficulties.'