Media go gaga over new mum Chen's slim figure

They may never be considered Pulitzer Prize-worthy journalists, but you cannot say members of the Chinese-language press are not eagle-eyed in their investigative practice.

The object of their latest probe is singer Kelly Chen Wai-lam's curiously slender physique. The recent mother was photographed with her husband leaving the Canossa Hospital last week. Not soon after, there were murmurs in the media questioning whether Chen actually gave birth to 2.7kg boy Chace Lau Sing.

Wearing a loose black jacket, showing off her bare legs and looking more svelte than anyone should five days after a Caesarean section, the entertainer left the hospital through a gauntlet of photographers. Within a few days, stories began to question if Chen used a surrogate. The suspicion fell not only because the singer appeared unusually stylish while leaving the hospital but, well, nothing on her appeared swollen. Indeed, she was slim enough to warrant the jealousy of any post-natal mum struggling to regain her figure. It did not help that there appears to be no conclusive picture showing Chen as pregnant.

Of course, there is no easy way to prove the truth, so now it is turning into another Michael Jackson-esque showbiz rumour.

It could all be tabloid conspiracy and Chen is naturally stick thin even with a bun in the oven.

We looked at some of our recent pictures of Chen, supposedly at five and seven months, and her pregnancy is barely noticeable. We also submitted the images to our health and beauty expert, Suzanne Harrison, a mother of two. 'It's possible,' she testified. 'But her boobs aren't very big and there's no baby bump at five months.'