Cash-strapped Kenny sings positive

Kenny Bee is bouncing back from his financial troubles with his first concert in 10 years - and has welcomed his ex-wife Teresa Cheung Siu-wai to watch him perform.

Bee (right) will perform two gigs at the Coliseum, with support from his former bandmates from the Wynners, Hong Kong's most successful band of the 1970s.

The 49-year-old entertainer said the shows, on August 27 and 28, apart from raising money to improve his finances, were to encourage Hong Kong people not to give up in difficult times. 'I want to send a positive message to people that even if you are facing a tough situation you should not give up,' he said. 'You can't just sit there and do nothing. If you still have energy you have to do something.'

Bee said that apart from the Wynners, including veteran Canto-pop singer Alan Tam Wing-lun, other stars such as Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, Andy Hui Chi-on and Hacken Lee would appear as guests. He had no idea how much money the gigs would generate. 'Everyone knows I'm really bad at managing my finances. I let the manager take care of it. I only focus on singing. This is the right time to have my concert. It's been 10 years since I did my last one.'

Bee said the application for bankruptcy he filed last month had not affected his basic lifestyle. 'I just live a simple life,' he said. 'Though many of my friends are willing to help, such as Nat Chan's offer to support my children financially, I'm still okay at this stage. I really appreciate their help.' Comedy star Nat Chan Pak-cheung is the godfather of Bee's son and daughter.

He said he wouldn't mind if Cheung, from whom he was divorced in 1999 and has not been on the best of terms, came along to the gigs.