Archived Notes from 1997:

Chow Yun Fat is invited to play 007?

Chow Yun Fat on the night of the 3rd was in Singapore, receiving Cine Asia's Star of the Decade award. The sponsors invited Fat Jai's manager Terence Chang (Cheung Ka Chun) to be the guest presenter.

More than a hundred members of the press from all over Asia were present. Because the ceremony lasted 3 hours, there were plenty of quiet scenes. Luckily Fat Jai was the finale which attracted many fans and reporters.

Cheung Ka Chun revealed earlier when MGM chief, the director and producer of James Bond came to Hong Kong, they invited Michelle Yeoh (Yeung Chi King) and Chow Yun Fat to dinner. The head of MGM revealed optimism toward the future development of the Asian film market and hoped to have Fat Jai to play a Chinese version of James Bond which will target the Asian audience.

Reporters asked if Fat Jai is interested in playing James Bond. "Sing Jai earlier has made Gok Chan Ling Ling Chut (From China with Love), then I have to be Chinese 007, I don't think so!"

Is Fat Jai confident about being comparing to Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan? "There is no comparison, the skin color alone is different. The film company said it is targeting the Asian market, I believe the production will be different."

He pointed out the dinner was just initial discussion. Since going to Hollywood, he understood that many plans are not fit for discussion until they are solidified. He will talk again when the management agency and the film company have further planning.

As when the chief of Columbia Pictures met with Fat Jai in Singapore seemed very confident about his new film The Replacement Killer, planned to invest in Hong Kong movies to gradually open the Asian market and asked Fat Jai, his wife and Terence Chang to manage the project. Fat Jai after considering declined the offer. "Although there is support, a film company takes too much energy. When I made Peace Hotel I already knew running a company would involve a lot of executive and distribution problems. It's not easy."

He expressed currently he is focusing on his career in America and doesn't have time to concern himself with film production. Mrs. Chow has been too busy to breath just for his business alone. He didn't want his wife to have another burden.

Mrs. Simon Yam Tat Wa and Mrs. Chow Yun Fat get along like buddies

Simon Yam Tat Wa and Kei Kei would hold their wedding banquet on the 29th, inviting his friends in the business for the celebration. Among those invited was Chow Yun Fat, unfortunately he would be overseas promoting Replacement Killer, thus he instead invited Wa Jai and Kei Kei to dinner, as Mr. and Mrs. Chow even greeted them with a wedding cake to congratulate the new couple.

Although Kei Kei and Len Nui (Fat Gor's nickname for Mrs. Chow) met for the first time, they got along like buddies. Wa Jai and Fat Gor talked about a lot of things, like jogging, exercising, and movies.

During the meal, Fat Gor and Len Nui were like glue. Wa Jai joked that they looked more like the newlyweds and immediately asked them for marriage advice.

Earlier, Wa Jai and Kei Kei registered their marriage in Vienna. During their trip, they went to a casino. Kei Kei said her husband had good luck. When he played roulette, he won three times in a row and over HK$10,000.

Wa Jai admitted he has noticed some gamblers and learned from them. He even started teaching Fat Gor. Kei Kei said to Wa Jai, "Fat Gor is the God of Gamblers!" Fat Gor laughed, "You don't know when I was losing like mad!" Kei Kei then reminded Fat Gor, "Did you have any chocolate?"

Before the dinner was over, they made another appointment to meet again after the Lunar New Year. Kei Kei however grabbed Len Nui's hand, making her promise that she would attend her wedding with Fat Gor, but Len Nui only said, "I have to see what my husband is going to do. I will come if he will!"