Joan Tong Lai Kau
Biography
Joan Tong Lai Kau, known as "Bo Bo", is a former Hong Kong entertainer born in 1964. Her family originates from Ningbo, Zhejiang, and she has four siblings; her father was a seaman. She was born in Hong Kong and lived in a traditional building on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. She studied at Georgeite College primary and secondary schools and graduated from Delar Memorial School (Tsim Sha Tsui and Kwun Tong campuses). She excelled in Chinese history but struggled in mathematics, and participated in the school choir, drama team, volleyball, basketball, and debate activities. After graduating in 1981, she studied a two-year public relations diploma at Caritas Bianchi Technical School in Yau Ma Tei. During her studies, she joined Richard Da Silva's modelling centre through a family connection with a classmate, and worked as an advertising model. For several years, she studied while shooting commercials for brands like Horlicks and Cafe de Coral (with Leslie Cheung). In 1984, she was recommended by the modelling company to participate in the Miss Hong Kong Pageant and placed third. That same year, she represented Hong Kong at the Miss World Pageant in the UK after contestant Ma Qian Heng was disqualified for exceeding the age limit. She then signed with TVB and participated in dramas and hosted youth programmes as a youth ambassador. In 1987, she moved to Taiwan to develop her career with talent agent Cheung Kwok Chung after the TV station refused to increase her salary. She returned to Hong Kong in 1989 and joined ATV. She also acted in films and shot drama episodes in Malaysia. In 1990, she opened a beauty shop with a friend in Tsim Sha Tsui. In 1991, she opened a shop specializing in interior design accessories. In 1995, she co-founded a small production company with model agent Mak Connie. She retired from entertainment in the early 2000s after getting married. She remains active in charity activities with the Wai Yin Yat Sun Association. In 2001, she co-managed CMM modelling company with a friend, and also ran food businesses.