Jack-of-all-trades a one-stop investor

Film and pop star has stood by one stock - HSBC

When it comes to his career, multiple award-winning actor-singer-filmmaker Andy Lau Tak-wah is nothing if not versatile, having portrayed an emperor, a general, an undercover policeman, a kung-fu monk, a boxer, a drug dealer and many charming princes. But when it comes to his role as an investor, he's pretty typecast - property and one stock, HSBC, the only one he's ever owned.

In the 28 years since his first big paycheck for Boat People in 1982, HSBC's share price has multiplied 27 times - it was about HK$5 in 1986 and HK$136.30 at the stock market close on Friday - while property prices have increased about sixfold, according to data from Centaline Property Agency.

Lau, often called 'Wah Chai'' (Little Wah), also invests some of his own money in films and pays part of his concert production expenses, which he considers to be an investment in his stardom.

Having appeared in more than 120 films, he was given the title of the highest grossing movie star at the Hong Kong Blockbuster Awards, chalking up HK$1.7 billion at the box office. He's won best actor awards twice at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his roles in Running Out of Time in 2000 and Running On Karma in 2004. Last month, he won best supporting actor for his role in The Protege.

Why did you get into show business and how much did you earn in your first job?

I entered the TVB artist training class when I was about 17 and joined the industry after training at about 19. That was in 1980. I finished Form Six but I did not want to continue my studies, as I was not good at academics. I decided to go into show business because I liked drama and wrote a screenplay when I was in Form Two or Form Three.