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Yupina Ng

Name: Jacky Cheng Pak-lam
Age: 32
Former career: Cheng, also known as “Little Pak-lam”, was one of the most popular child actors in the 1990s with his signature bowl haircut. He collaborated with several award-winning local movie stars, such as Anthony Wong Chau-sang and Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

Current career: After graduating from the University of Hong Kong in 2007, Cheng joined the Hong Kong Police Force to fulfil his childhood dream.He now works as a senior inspector.
Want your children to become stars? Here are 4 things they need
Name: Mary Jean Reimer (also known as Yung Jing-jing)
Age: 53
Former career: Reimer, who was born in Vietnam, recommended herself to a magazine for a modelling job at the age of 12, and a few years later began her acting career with television series The Youth, in which she played a child bride. She left the industry after marrying film director Lau Kar-leung in 1984.

Current career: Reimer is a lawyer in Hong Kong, and also works as an insurance consultant.
Name: Petrina Fung Bo-bo
Age: 62
Former career: Fung started her acting career at the age of two. She had starred in more than 300 films by the age of 14. Fung, the daughter of renowned local movie director Fung Fung, has been compared to Shirley Temple, the late American actress who gained fame as a child. Fung twice won the “Best Supporting Actress” award at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Current career: Fung is still an actress and remains active in the industry.
Name: Yuen Siu-fai
Age: 72
Former career: Yuen entered the film industry when he was nine years old, as poverty forced him to quit school. He appeared in his first film in 1953, and was paid HK$50. From 1953 to 1967, Yuen starred in 80 films.

Current career: Yuen is now a Cantonese opera performer. He started learning the art under the late grandmaster Mak Ping-wing in 1960.


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City Weekend

Hong Kong’s former child stars all grown up and still shining bright

Hong Kong child star Mary Jean Reimer saw her career take off after recommending herself to a magazine for a modelling job at the age of 12. Photo: Handout

FILM DIRECTOR LAU KAR-LEUNG (LEFT), HIS WIFE JEAN REMIER, DAUGHTERS JEANNE AND ROSEMARY (RIGHT) ATTEND THE "PARENTS & CHILDREN SWEARING" CEREMONY AND PUT THEIR HAND PRINT FOR A CERTIFICATE AT SHA TIN. 20 apr 97

Fung Bobo Photo: Handout

Yuen Siu-fai in movie The Parents' Heart issued 21 April 1955 when he was 10 years old performing with Cantonese opera legend Ma Si-zeng (in the rear). Handout picture supplied by Yuen. Photo: Handout

Pictured here is child actor Cheng Pak-lam with his mother.

News

Hong Kong

Education

City Weekend looks at how the careers of four performers have evolved


With the international fame Hong Kong child star Celine Tam has gained from her America’s Got Talent performances, City Weekend looks at four former local child stars and how their careers have evolved.


Celine Tam