Stephen Chow, Andy Lau and Sandra Ng attend Ng Man Tat’s wake

They had collaborated with great success in comedies such as Fight school (1991) and Justice, my foot! (1992) but they hadn’t worked together since shaolin football in 2001.

Since the death of actor Ng Man Tat about two weeks ago, many Hong Kong media have wondered if his frequent collaborator, actor-director Stephen Chow, would appear at his wake.

On Sunday (March 7), Chow, 58, showed up to pay his respects to Ng, 70, who died on February 27 of liver cancer.

He showed up with his older sister Kelly Chow around 4 in the afternoon, wearing a cap and a black dress. He was at the wake for about nine minutes and left without speaking to the media.

Ng’s younger brother, Ng Lee Tat, told Hong Kong media that Chow had offered his condolences to the family at the wake.

“My brother had always said that he and Stephen were good friends,” said Ng Lee Tat.

But earlier there had been indications that Chow and Ng Man Tat were less friendly than before. In past interviews, Ng said that he did not get into a fight with Chow, but admitted that their friendship was not like before.

Chow also did not visit Ng when the latter was in the hospital for treatment.

Ng’s wake was attended by other Hong Kong celebrities, including “Heavenly King” Andy Lau, actress Sandra Ng, and director Johnnie To.

Some other celebrities sent flower crowns, including the other three “Heavenly Kings”: Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, and Leon Lai, as well as actors Chow Yun Fat, Louis Koo, Sean Lau, and Donnie Yen.

Sandra Ng, who has acted in several films with Ng Man Tat as All for the winner (1990) and Real tramp (1992), told Hong Kong media after attending the wake that she had wanted to work with Ng on films for the past few years, but were unable to do so due to her busy schedule.

The 55-year-old actress said she didn’t look at him one last time because she wanted to remember his look when he was alive.

More than 100 fans also said goodbye to Ng after the wake opened to the public around 6 p.m. Sunday.

His body was cremated on Monday after his funeral, as his family said they would take his ashes to Malaysia for burial according to his wish.

Ng was married to Malaysian Hou Shan Yan and they have two children: a 24-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son.

He had a pair of twin daughters, 42, with his first wife Mak Lee Lee. He also had a daughter, who is in her 30s, with former Hong Kong actress Lo Siu Chi. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network