Unhappiness over online auction of late Hong Kong star Anita Mui's trophies and lingerie

HONG KONG - Actor Anthony Wong is unhappy about an online auction of personal belongings of the late Cantopop star Anita Mui, which started on Thursday evening.

"Tragic! Anita Mui. Leave her underwear alone. Give a celebrity a little of their last dignity," he wrote on Weibo after about 3,000 lots, including Mui's clothes and lingerie, went on sale on the website of Hong Kong Auctions Ltd.

Fans have up to 6pm, on Dec 22 to bid in the sale called Last But Not Least: Chattels Of Anita Mui Yim Fong. Bids start from HK$100 (S$10) to HK$10,000.

The auction is organised by HSBC Trustee (Hong Kong), the administrator of Mui's estate, said a statement on the auctioneer's Facebook page. It is the last and largest online auction of her personal belongings, the statement added.

Of historical value is the trophy Mui won at the first New Talent Singing Competition organised by TVB in 1982.

The trophy Mui won at the first New Talent Singing Competition organised by TVB in 1982.

That win launched her 20-year show-business career till her death at age 40 from cervical cancer in 2003.

Among the trophies on sale is also one she won for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Behind The Yellow Line at the 1985 Hong Kong Film Awards.

At one point today, it had drawn 14 bids with the last bid at HK$5,500.

A Norma Kamali bra set, with its price tag still attached and a starting bid of HK$500, was also available.

A Norma Kamali bra set, with its price tag still attached.

Other items include her wardrobe, shoes, handbags, accessories such as caps and sunglasses, costume jewellery, stage costumes, CDs, photographs and soft toys.

Her 92-year-old mother Tam Mei Kam told Oriental Daily on Thursday she had never been told of Mui's auctions.

Referring to Mui's 1982 trophy, she lamented: "Her biggest and most valuable trophy was not left for me. Neither were the clothes she wore. Nothing worthy of rememberance."

Celebrities led by entertainer Eric Tsang saved 67 of Mui's award trophies from landing into other people's hands at a sale in 2013 by HSBC Trustee.

A bidder from the singer's fan club bid a total of HK$1.01 million for them on behalf of Tsang and celebrities such as Jacky Cheung, Michael Miu and William So.

The items were taken from her home in Shouson Hill, Deep Water Bay, which had been sold.

This article was first published on Dec 11, 2015.
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