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Profile | How ‘ugly’ Hong Kong star William So overcame a drug scandal and returned to the top
From taking Anita Mui’s fashion tip to rebuilding himself after drug charges, the bespectacled singer and actor’s story is one of resilience
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This is the 59th instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades.
William So Wing-hong occupies a unique space in the pantheon of Cantopop. He is not an idol defined by meteoric fame from the music scene’s golden era, but a respected veteran whose career is a compelling narrative of resilience.
While the hitmaker has earned awards, starred in hit television series and continues to sell out concerts, his story is less about untouchable stardom and more about scandal, redemption and quiet perseverance – a journey that in many ways mirrors the turbulence of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry itself.
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So’s career began in 1985 with a first runner-up placement in the New Talent Singing Awards, a competition co-organised by Hong Kong broadcaster TVB and record label Capital Artists.
That legendary fourth edition was won by Alex To Tak-wai and also introduced future stars Hacken Lee Hak-kan, Vivian Chow Wai-man and Eddie Ng Kwok-king.
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