It is easy to see why Hong Kong actor-singer Edison Chen is a smooth operator with the ladies.

In town for a Carl's Jr event at Grand Hyatt Hotel on Friday, the 29-year-old was calm and composed when he turned up at 8.15pm as reporters, both local and foreign, went into a mini-frenzy to get his attention.

Surrounded by more than 10 bodyguards, the boyish-looking Chen looked happy and smiled while the camera flashes went into overdrive. He waved graciously at the more than 200 screaming teenage fans waiting outside the heavily guarded hotel.

'It's been a tough year but I've matured and learnt a lot. In the beginning, I had to really spend some time trying to figure out things, see what kind of things I did wrong and try to better those wrongs,' he told the media at the event.

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