Tsang Wing-han, or simply Wing, who emigrated to New Zealand before the handover, has captivated the imagination of her adopted home since she began crooning melodies to cheer up residents in elderly homes across Auckland.

'I didn't really like nursing,' Wing said. 'But I love to sing. Singing helps you express feelings and overcome your emotions when you are feeling down.'

The jury is still deliberating on whether Wing is a birdbrain or comic genius. But beneath that self-parodying exterior lurks a shrewd business mind that identified her special niche market years before William Hung set foot on the stage of American Idol.

Wing launched her musical career in 2001 with her debut album, Phantom of the Opera, a unique take on musical theatre which she recorded using $50,000 out of her pocket and mailed to shops, rest homes and restaurants throughout New Zealand.

She then took off on a road trip, touring CD outlets across the country in a bid to promote her work. She struck gold in Dunedin, where she met retailer Roy Colbert, whose article in the New Zealand Listener propelled her to instant stardom throughout the antipodes and earned her cult status in the Kiwi student community.

Her fame soon reverberated across the Pacific Ocean when she released her long-anticipated 2005 album Wing sings AC/DC.

Her songs featured in an episode of cult comedy cartoon South Park, in which she played a cameo role, and she has been a guest of honour on numerous television and radio shows in the United States and Britain.

But despite being Hong Kong's most famous export since Hung's She Bangs, she says she remains largely unknown in her home town. 'Even my friends in Hong Kong have no idea that I'm a famous singer. They don't listen to English songs, only Canto-pop,' said Wing.

That's something she's hoping to change: 'It's my dream to record Chinese songs, as soon as I find a market. And I am taking singing lessons to learn how to perform live, so hopefully I can come and play in Hong Kong.'

She attributes her success to her softly lilting voice that mollifies the jarring notes of heavy metal. 'My voice is very soothing. It is very relaxing, when you listen to my music you can forget all your troubles,' she said.

But she has received mixed reviews. 'Her high-speed-drill singing style and English-as-a-third-language delivery have remained a constant,' concludes the blog, music for maniacs. 'Good for scaring your neighbour's cats,' suggests another site.

However, one fan writes on the Sydney Morning Herald blog that Wing has earned a special place in his heart. 'There are many singers I could delete from my iPod, but never Wing. When life gets me down, Wing raises me up.'