Singaporean blogger Dawn Yang caused an uproar earlier this week when she revealed in her blog on The Straits Times' online portal Stomp that she had received an indecent proposal from Edison.
The notorious Chinese-American actor-singer, 27, had made bawdy propositions to her online, suggesting that they "get a nice suite.. and get freeky (sic) all night and day".
Dawn, 24, revealed that she met him through friends while holidaying in Japan in 2004.
She wrote on the blog: "When the pictures first leaked, I seriously thanked God I was not foolish, naive or feeling frisky beyond control."
I WOULDN'T: He is charming. He's got a way with girls but I can see right through it. - MTV VJ Denis Keller
She described Edison as "hard to resist", a "pin-up idol with suave good looks (and a) hot bod" who "can practically get any girl he wants, and he knows it".
And his list of conquests seems to be even longer. Yesterday, Apple Daily reported that police have uncovered more nude photos involving other women, apart from the earlier seven named.
It is said that the women are in their 40s and are influential in Hong Kong's entertainment scene, leading netizens to throw up names like Carina Lau, Rosamund Kwan and Christy Chung.
But are local women - celebrities and otherwise - so enamoured with the Hong Kong heart-throb that they can't say no to his raunchy requests?
Blame it on the sex photos scandal, but the ladies don't seem to be as interested as Dawn suggested.
Australian-Chinese host Jaymee Ong, who used to be based in Hong Kong, apparently had her own personal encounter with Edison at the airport a few years ago.
He was on a charm offensive, but Jaymee, 28, didn't bite.
An industry insider told The New Paper on Sunday: "He approached her and started to talk in rap lingo with all the 'yo yo yo', but she didn't find it impressive."
When contacted, Jaymee said firmly: "He never tried to pick me up. I met him but it was a fleeting thing. I never had a proper conversation with him. The most we said to each other was, 'Hi, how are you, how's it going?'
"I know him from the business and we have mutual friends, that's it."
When asked if she would be able to resist his advances if he did proposition her, she said: "I'm not in a position to comment because I don't really know him. I don't want to talk about it."
HIT ON MODELS AT ZOUK
The source also revealed that Edison is infamous for his one-night stands, adding that he would hang out at Zouk whenever he was in town for promotions, and would woo mostly models and "very chio (slang for pretty) young girls".
The source claimed a photographer actually dumped his girlfriend because "Edison picked her up at Zouk and slept with her".
A model also confided in the source that "Edison keeps texting (her) to meet" and showed the source his SMSes.
But top local model Charmaine Harn, 30, who has worked in Hong Kong, would never fall for his tricks.
She told The New Paper on Sunday that they had attended the same events and she was introduced to him through one of his ex-girlfriends.
The 1.78m-tall stunner of Chinese, Dutch and French parentage said: "I know a few of the girls he was involved with (in the scandal)... I'm not into sloppy seconds.
"It's nothing personal, but I'm just not interested. Also, he's a bit short."
Not that the 1.77m-tall Casanova ever tried making any moves on her.
She joked: "It worked both ways. He was intimidated by me and I wasn't enchanted with him."
She likened the Hong Kong entertainment scene to being on Temptation Island, and you need to have your "head screwed on straight" to stay out of trouble.
She said: "Honestly, in Hong Kong, a lot of people in the business tend to go that way and be in that player role because there's such a wide choice for them. If you're a young, good-looking actor, you'd be silly not to enjoy it."
MTV VJ Denise Keller, who lived in Hong Kong for 41/2 years, said she got to know Edison through friends in the late '90s, before he even became a celebrity.
But their relationship is strictly professional.
She once interviewed him for MTV in Singapore. They've also co-hosted programmes and she has attended his movie premieres, but they've never dated.
She said theirs is more of a "Hi, bye, cool" relationship, and they don't keep in touch.
Denise, 26, said: "He's like my brother... I wouldn't see beyond that. But I'll give you this much: He is charming. He has got a way with the girls but I can see right through it."
Hong Kong-born Debbie Wong has never met Edison, but insists he's not her type.
JUST A KID
The 26-year-old Eurasian actress-host said: "Nothing would ever happen (between us). He's a kid, he's a boy. He just wants to party and pick up chicks."
While she conceded Edison has a "bad boy thing", singer Maia Lee, 24, said: "I'd ignore him... I'm into sporty men and I'm in my angmoh phase now. He's too young too, I like older men."
TV actress Apple Hong, 30, is "okay" with friends arranging for them to go clubbing together and having fun, "but no more than that".
She said: "I'm quite rational so it won't happen. Edison is like this roguish chap and I've heard about his reputation. I'd think twice before going out with him."
Singer Kelly Poon is also just as cautious, insisting she wouldn't go out with him alone unless her friends are also around.
The 24-year-old Project Superstar runner-up said: "I don't go out with people I don't know. He is cute, but I'd only admire (from afar). I won't befriend people based on their looks.
"So if he says 'Hello', I'd say 'Hello'. And that will be the end of it."
Several Singaporean students we spoke to say they wouldn't be tempted by Edison, mostly because they prefer to steer clear of famous suitors.
Janice Huang, 18, said: "The last thing I'd want is paparazzi clogging up my front door."
But there are still girls out there who admitted they would have felt flattered by his attentions and succumbed - had the scandal not exposed his lothario reputation and made him less than desirable.
Jane Auyong, 18, said: "He does have a certain sex appeal and he's a celebrity, it's a great ego boost. But now, he's not hot anymore."
Added Cynthia Chong, 18: "The self-righteous part of me would scream no, but the bimbo in me is just whispering yes."
- Additional reporting by newsroom intern Reena Perumal
This story was first published in The New Paper on Mar 2, 2008.
