Who is Peter Lai? Renowned Hong Kong lyricist is trending on Chinese social media
Known for his lyrics for songs including Leslie Cheung’s ‘Monica’ and Sam Hui’s ‘Drifter’s Song’, Lai is currently a hot topic on Weibo
Renowned Hong Kong lyricist Peter Lai Bei-dak is trending on Chinese social media platform Weibo after he disclosed that he helped his 37-year-old son – with whom he has a strained relationship – pay off credit card debt worth hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.
Many comments shared on Weibo expressed empathy for the 75-year-old single father, with many users lamenting his situation.
Lai also shared with local media platform HK01 that he is currently looking for a soulmate, which sparked discussion in both Hong Kong and mainland China.
He seemed unfazed by the reaction and claimed that if Hong Kong singer and actor Lee Lung-kay could find love at the age of 74, why couldn’t he?
Renowned for crafting the lyrics for classic songs in Hong Kong including “Monica” (sung by Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing) and “Drifter’s Song” (sung by Sam Hui Koon-kit), the outspoken Lai has also long been familiar to mainland audiences thanks to his role as a comedic private tutor in Stephen Chow Sing-chi’s 1993 movie Flirting Scholar.
Although his fame peaked during the 1970s and ’80s, his lyrics continue to resonate deeply among Chinese pop-culture circles.