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New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: HK actress Lana Wong, 94, lives on RM2k monthly legal aid
HONG KONG: Veteran Hong Kong actress Lana Wong once enjoyed a life of considerable luxury during her past relationship with the late lawyer Woo Pak-Chuen, which began when she was 18. Although they never married, she had six children with him and was reportedly lavishly cared for, receiving a monthly allowance of HK$300,000 (RM162,467). The couple later separated after a tumultuous period marked by numerous trials and tribulations. Wong, now 94, subsequently married former racer Albert Poon in 1983. In a recent interview with Hong Kong's East Week magazine, Wong revealed that she is currently struggling financially, with her savings having dwindled to less than HK$10,000 (RM5,415). "Some unscrupulous individuals took advantage of me and tricked me into surrendering the deed to my Sai Kung home," she explained. "I lost all my possessions and ended up homeless. Fortunately, a friend took me in, but I've been living under someone else's roof for years." The actress added that she has since applied for legal aid and now relies solely on a monthly old-age allowance of HK$4,195 (RM2,271) to survive. Wong had previously announced her intention to relocate to the United States with her husband in 2022. However, she decided to return to Hong Kong two years later and currently resides in a small 14.8-square metre housing unit. "At least I have a roof over my head and no longer need to live in someone else's home. That's comforting enough for someone my age," she said. "All I need is a bed and Wi-Fi for calls."
The Star
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
HK star Lana Wong, 94, lives on RM2K monthly allowance as savings dip below RM5K
Hong Kong actress Lana Wong now lives in a small 160sq ft (14.8sq m) temporary housing unit. Photo: China Press Veteran Hong Kong actress Lana Wong once lived a life of luxury during her past relationship with the late lawyer Woo Pak-chuen when she was 18. Although they never married, she had six children with him and was said to be lavishly cared for, receiving a monthly allowance of HK$300,000 (RM162,467). The pair later broke up after a tumultous journey filled with trials and tribulations. Wong, 94, then went on to marry former racer Albert Poon in 1983. In a recent interview with Hong Kong's East Week magazine, Wong revealed that she's struggling financially, with her savings dwindling to less than HK$10,000 (RM5,415). 'Some unscrupulous people took advantage and tricked me into giving up the deed to my Sai Kung home. 'I lost all my belongings and ended up homeless... Luckily, a friend took me in, but I've just been living under someone else's roof for years,' she said. The actress added that she has since applied for legal aid and now survives solely on a monthly old age allowance of HK$4,195 (RM2,271). According to reports, Wong had previously announced plans to relocate to the United States with her husband in 2022. However, she decided to return to Hong Kong two years later and currently lives in a small 160sq ft (14.8sq m) temporary housing unit. 'At least I have a roof over my head and no longer need to live in someone else's home. That's comforting enough for someone my age… All I need is a bed and Wi-Fi for calls,' she said.
AsiaOne
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Ronald Cheng and wife in court over divorce and child support, Entertainment News
Hong Kong actor-singer Ronald Cheng and his wife of over 13 years, Sammie Yu, are reportedly divorcing. Both were spotted at Wan Chai Family Court on April 15, further fuelling rumours of separation after Sammie, 45, made a cryptic Instagram Story during her birthday in March where she wrote she was starting "a new chapter". She posted a photo with only their two children, but no Ronald. The former couple have also unfollowed each other on Instagram. [embed] Ronald, 53, and Sammie, a former TV news anchor, married in 2011 while the latter was pregnant with their daughter Emma, now 13. They also have a son, Evan, who was born in 2015. Hong Kong magazine East Week reported on April 22 that Ronald and Sammie were in court after the former offered HK$8,000 (S$1,350) per child as monthly child support. Sammie allegedly complained to friends that the children's school fees alone were HK$10,000 and that the amount would not be enough to cover the additional tuition classes and extracurricular activities they attended. According to East Week, an insider claimed Ronald's father, record company CEO Norman Cheng, wishes for his grandchildren to remain within the Cheng family and for Ronald to gain custody. "And in order to win the custody rights, Ronald proposed child support which was extremely unsatisfactory and refused to concede," they told the magazine. [[nid:715739]] drimac@
The Standard
21-04-2025
- The Standard
Kidnap and murder of Filipino-Chinese steel tycoon shows an alarming trend in Philippine abductions
Staff reporter The Philippines is witnessing an alarming increase in the number of foreigners - particularly wealthy Chinese businessmen - being kidnapped, with some observers suspecting police complicity in these crimes. The allegations come after the abduction and murder of Anson Que, a Filipino-Chinese businessman known as the "Steel King," along with his driver, according to an investigative story by East Week magazine,a sister publication of The Standard. Following the arrest of two Filipinos on April 18 in connection with Que's case, authorities apprehended a Chinese national the following day, who is suspected of being a key member of various local organizations and is believed to be involved in at least five other kidnappings. Reports indicate that Que was lured to a meeting with a Chinese woman in Bulacan province, where he was subsequently abducted. Despite the payment of a total ransom of HK$29 million in cryptocurrency across three transactions on March 30, both Que and his driver were murdered, with their bodies discovered in Rodriguez, Rizal, on April 9. The 58-year-old businessman - originally from Yongchun, Fujian province - immigrated to the Philippines in 1985 and started his steel trading business in 1990. Over the years, he expanded his ventures into real estate, agriculture, and the restaurant industry, actively engaging in various Chinese community organizations in the Philippines. He was the founding president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and was the former president of a Yongchun County general association in the country. The Philippine police said that they are pursuing two additional suspects of Chinese nationality, who are believed to be the masterminds behind the kidnapping and murder. Kidnappings on the rise Que's tragedy is not an isolated incident in the Philippines, where 92 kidnappings were recorded in 2023. Over 20 percent of the victims were killed, indicating that it is not uncommon for kidnappers to execute their victims following ransom payments. Wealthy foreigners in the country are increasingly hiring bodyguards to ensure their safety, and local commentators says that kidnapping has become a "business" for local gangs, with potential involvement from terrorist organizations and international crime syndicates. The Abu Sayyaf Group, an anti-government armed organization, infamously engaged in kidnappings of tourists and locals in the early 2000s, demanding ransoms in excess of HK$18 million and also pressured the Philippine government to withdraw its military from the Jolo areas. There have also been incidents involving collaborations between kidnappers and expatriates in the Philippines. A notable case involved a Japanese individual living in Manila who allegedly invited a Japanese friend to the Philippines, subsequently conspiring with two Filipino accomplices to carry out the kidnapping in 2018. An anti-kidnapping unit was established by the Philippine police in 2012 to investigate kidnapping groups and pursue suspects. However, the rising number of cases has fueled suspicions of possible complicity within law enforcement agencies. Li Kaisheng, vice president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, has accused the Philippine government of incompetence and corruption, suggesting that some police officers may be involved in kidnapping operations. In one of the cases, in which a South Korean businessman was kidnapped and killed in 2016, it was revealed that three police officers were among the kidnappers. Chinese increasingly targeted With the number of Chinese businessmen in the Philippines on the rise, kidnappers have recently shifted their focus toward the Chinese community, recognizing that these families are more likely to pay ransoms as they often distrust local law enforcement. According to the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, cases involving Chinese nationals constituted 30 percent of all kidnapping incidents in 2023, affecting both tourists and individuals working in the Philippines. Some emphasize the necessity for enhanced oversight of law enforcement agencies to combat corruption and address the ongoing issue of kidnapping in the Philippines. Senator Joel Villanueva has voiced his concern regarding the alarming rise in abduction cases, noting the issue affects not only the Chinese community but the entire nation. He has urged authorities to take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
