Ms Yiu Wing Yan, a reporter from Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao, thinks so. 'We all feel that Edison had indeed capitalised on Lydia's death and had chosen to come back now, hoping that it will help lessen the impact of his scandal,' she told The New Paper in a phone interview.

NO CHOICE

Mr Ngiam KH, managing director of Rock Records, which was supposed to release Edison's new Cantonese album, $$$, after Chinese New Year, said: 'Edison has no choice.

'He must speak up or the matter will never be put to rest.

'This is the best time because the impact (of the scandal) could be diluted by (Lydia's ) death.'

An entertainment editor from a Hong Kong tabloid said that Edison had touched down at around 10am yesterday, but no one saw him as 'he must have been escorted out by the police via other exits'.

She added that he had flown in from Los Angeles and had made a transit at Manila, the Philippines.

This was contrary to previous reports speculating that he would fly to Thailand to seek the advice of well-known celebrity fortune-teller Bai Longwang before heading to Hong Kong.

Edison has been the talking point in Hong Kong, as well as Asia, recently.

He's embroiled in a nude photo scandal involving Gillian Chung, Cecilia Cheung and a string of other actresses.

The Hong Kong reporters that The New Paper spoke to were not surprised by Edison's sudden arrival. Wen Wei Po's entertainment editor, Ms Shirley Hon, said: 'We know he's going to return, it's just a matter of when.'

Still, he kept the eager press guessing. He was supposed to have returned for a press conference on Sunday, but that didn't happen.

Then, reports surfaced that the triads had dangled a HK$500,000 ($91,000) reward for one of Edison's hands.

After three weeks of playing hide and seek with the media, Edison finally stepped forward to face some 300 reporters at the Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre.

Online reports added that outside the venue, as many as 100 policemen surrounded Edison's car and formed a human chain to keep Edison away from the public and the media.

Inside, more reporters and photographers craned their necks to catch a glimpse of him in the crowded room.

Four or five of his bodyguards as well as around 10 security personnel tried their best to keep order.

Just after 3pm, the man appeared.

Dressed in a sombre black jacket, striped shirt and jeans, a sullen Edison, who spoke in English, apologised for the scandal he had caused and then announced that he was quitting Hong Kong showbiz 'indefinitely'.

'I will wholeheartedly fulfil all commitments I have to date, but after that I have decided to step away from the Hong Kong entertainment industry,' he said.

'I have decided to do this to give myself an opportunity to heal myself and to search my soul. I will dedicate my time to charity and community work within the next few months.

'With regards to this case, with everything that has happened, I am deeply sorry.'

After some six or seven minutes delivering his speech, Edison left the stage.

MASSIVE CROWD

But thanks to the massive crowd outside the centre, he managed to leave the place only at 5pm.

Most of the Hong Kong press does not seem to know what will happen to him next.

Ms Yiu said: 'His manager didn't say where he is going.'

But one Hong Kong media personnel, who did not want to be named, said Edison should be staying in Hong Kong for a few more days before he returns to the US.

Is it a pity for Edison to quit the Hong Kong scene over the scandal?

Ms Yiu said: 'Most of the Hong Kong citizens we interviewed expected that he would quit showbiz because the audience wouldn't be able to accept him after this scandal.

'I don't think it's a pity (that he's quitting). There are plenty of cute guys in showbiz and it's not like he acts or sings much better than others.'