Wu Tip Lai

Biography

Wu Tip Lai, originally named Huo Kek Kwai, was from Zhongshan County in Guangdong Province. She was a Chinese film actress in Hong Kong during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1939, she participated in the "Era Troupe" and the "Chinese Art Troupe" in the play "Weeping Flowers", playing the role of Ding Xiang. In September 1946, she was accused of "treason" for allegedly collaborating with the Japanese during the Pacific War in Hong Kong, reportedly participating in fundraising performances for the Japanese "Information Department" and appearing in the film "Light of Hong Kong". On September 10, 1946, she was arrested by the Guangzhou High Prosecutor's Office at Datong Hospital and held in the court jail. On September 14, she appeared in court, and her sister-in-law's lawyer, Guan Xuelin, flew from Hong Kong to assist her. Defense witness Wu Jiading testified that she had moved to Macau during the Pacific War and had not actually participated in the collaboration activities, leading to her acquittal. Her film debut was "Selling Strange Fish and Turtles Causes Disaster" in 1936, and her final film was "Glorious Future" in 1941, where she played the lead role as a singer named Yu Zhen. She appeared in approximately 33 Hong Kong films. Her father was Hu Hongchu, and her younger sister Hu Dieying was also a film actress. She moved to Hawaii in the United States after becoming the concubine of Foshan businessman Huo Zaomian. Her grandson, Dr. Tan Zhongzheng, participated in ATV's "Hong Kong Gentleman" contest in 1999 as contestant number 8, but did not win. On April 9, 2008, the Medical Council held a disciplinary hearing for his conviction on theft and drug possession charges, and he was sentenced to suspension of his medical license for 3 months and 1 month, served concurrently with a two-year probation.