SHE stands just 1.59m tall and weighs in at 53.5kg, but when it comes to a fight, there are few to beat movie stuntwoman and international wushu champion Li Fai.
Contemporary action pictures, car chases, kung fu costume dramas, Li Fai has done them all, standing in for actresses who don't know how to fight or are too scared to jump off buildings.
The 24-year-old is one of only four stuntwomen in Hong Kong. ''It's a very tough job. There's not much money in it and there are few future prospects,'' she said.
Injury is also a constant worry. When she first started out four years ago, she was too slow in fight scenes, she said, pointing to the faint scars on her face.
''There are three points to remember when doing stunts,'' she said. ''It is easy to get hurt if you are not quick enough. Secondly, you must always remain calm when jumping off a building. Thirdly, you must constantly improve your technique.'' Li finds such work an exciting challenge. ''Working on stunts I have not done before helps increase my confidence. I encourage myself by saying: 'If you can do these stunts, you can do many other things besides'.'' Her dual careers as sports champion and stuntwoman have always been entwined.
Born in Guilin, Li came to Hong Kong when she was 15. Having studied Peking Opera in China, she got a job as a traditional dancer at the Sung Dynasty Village when she moved here.
