Fallen stars down but not out
THE last year of the 1990s can be summed up with one word: couples. Some stars settled down to domestic bliss, such as singer William So Wing-hong, actress Chingmy Yau Suk-ching and kung fu star Jet Li Lienjie. The happy news, however, was overshadowed by the most scandalously spectacular un-couplings in years.
Scandal 1: No other break-up kept the public as fascinated as the high-profile one between socialite Teresa Po Wing-kam, right, and former DJ Hung Chiu-fung. For weeks, Hung kept his audience hanging on like soap opera junkies as he spilled the beans on his relationship with Po - right down to wanting his leopard-skin print underwear back, to his 'sexual services'. No dirty laundry went unaired as Hung insulted everyone from Po, to her friends and her ex-husband. Her friends retaliated by revealing Hung's erratic behaviour during mahjong games.
Scandal 2: Although the Jackie Chan-Elaine Ng Yi-lei illegitimate baby scandal broke after they allegedly parted, it seems Ng was persuaded to reveal that Chan, left, was the father because of their break-up. The news sent ripples through the community not only because of Chan's standing as an upright citizen but because the action star initially went into hiding. He finally appeared for a press conference where he berated media members. Since then, his relationship with the press has deteriorated. Ng has since given birth to a baby girl, Etta.
Scandal 3: Canto-pop idol Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, right, was technically not involved with the Australian woman he was secretly filmed allegedly putting the moves on. David Lin, the woman's boyfriend, shot the video and sold it to a Hong Kong magazine. Kwok denied he had any salacious intentions. A legal battle is now under way in Hong Kong to prevent any further publication, despite it already appearing on the Internet and in a number of Southeast Asian countries. One thing that has not been prevented is Kwok's heart-throb status taking a denting.
Scandal 4: From the heights to the depths . . . the star of Ekin Cheng, left, was shining brighter than ever in the wake of his starring roles in two of the most expensive local films in years: Storm Riders and A Man Called Hero. Then the press caught wind that his romance with TVB actress Maggie Siu Mei-kei was on the rocks and suspected he was already involved with singer Gigi Leung Wing-kei. Although Cheng denied his new romance he was forced to admit to it when he and Leung were seen strolling hand in hand and smooching on the streets of Tokyo.
Scandal 5: Former Mrs Kenny Bee, Teresa Cheung Siu-wai, right, started the year off with a bang by publicly claiming her paramour, businessman Chan Wai-man, had raised his fists to her and that they were through. Coincidentally, ex-husband Bee and friends were having a party when the news broke. A tearful week ensued; Chan even came banging on her door demanding to be let in (she refused). Despite the big brouhaha, he is still Cheung's regular escort these days.