Little Dragon's items go under the hammer

Almost 40 years after the death of kung fu legend Bruce Lee Siu-lung, 13 items associated with him will be auctioned this weekend in a total estimated value of more than HK$1 million.

The auction will run for three days starting on Saturday. Each item has been verified as authentic by experts and comes with a certificate. The items will be on display at Hong Kong City Hall until the auction. Most are from collectors who bought them from Lee's relatives.

The rarest item is a letter he wrote in English to his close Japanese friend Taky Kimura in 1966. In the 21/2-page letter, Bruce Lee discussed shooting The Green Hornet TV series, in which he co-starred at the time and his wish to popularise martial arts.

He also mentions that some Hollywood stars had become his students, including Steve McQueen, James Garner and Paul Newman. The letter has an estimated value of HK$300,000.

Another item under the hammer, estimated at HK$150,000, is a blue Chinese coat Lee wore when he shot the movie Game of Death.

The coat was originally owned by Lee's brother Robert Lee Chun-fai, who later sold it. He said that whenever he saw his coat, he felt a connection with his late brother.

Other items include the martial arts master's name card and a membership card of a martial arts school he owned with his signature on it.