Alumni recall the good old, but tough times, at China Drama Academy

The China Drama Academy has been responsible for teaching some of the most famous martial arts actors of our time, including (from left) Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Jackie Chan, Yuan Biao (real name Ha Ling-chun), and Yuen Wah (real name Yung Kai-chi, not pictured). Under late founder Yu Zhanyuan, it was known as much for the talent it produced as the harshness of his methods. To mark the school's 50th anniversary, Harbour City has erected a photo display of the school and its famous graduates. For the auspicious occasion, all the former members of the famous Seven Little Fortunes troupe - which is a misnomer since there were 24 of them - arrived on Wednesday afternoon to recall the good old (but tough) times.

'I remember at supper time, dishes were always put in front of the senior students like [Sammo Hung] and we, the younger ones, would have 10 seconds to take our food,' Chan said.

'If we weren't fast enough, he would spit on them and we would have nothing but steamed rice to eat.' Hung just smiled and called him a liar.

However, they both agreed that Yu's training was gruelling but they now appreciated the discipline.

'I used to think, if I had a child, I would never let him enter a school like that,' Chan said. 'But now I have changed my mind. Children these days are too spoiled. They cannot handle any pressure. Instead, they should learn from our never-give-up spirit.'

Is that a veiled slap at his son Jaycee Fong Cho-ming?