- Title: CHINA: Hong Kong starlet apologises to the public for nude photo scandal
- Date: 14th February 2008
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (FEBRUARY 11, 2008) (REUTERS) FANS HOLDING PLACARDS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT TO "TWINS" SOUNDBITE (Cantonese) GILLIAN CHUNG, ACTRESS INVOLVED IN THE NUDE PHOTO SCANDAL SAYING: "I admit that I was naive and very silly, but I've grown up now. I want to thank my company, family and friends for their concern. As for the influence this incident has had on societ
- Embargoed: 29th February 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAEU8ISPISDY8OS28OY8UX494VY
- Story Text: Gillian Chung, 27, previously known for her squeaky-clean image, made her eagerly awaited statement before a mass of reporters and video cameras, flanked by her singing partner, Charlene Choi of the female pop duo "Twins".
"I admit that I was naive and very silly, but I've grown up now," Chung said, without explicitly saying she was in the photos.
"I want to thank my company, family and friends for their concern," she said in her first public comments since the erotic images trickled onto the internet a fortnight ago.
The photographs, which appear to show Chung in bed nude with male star Edison Chen, and erotic images purportedly of around half a dozen other celebrities including Cecilia Cheung, were recently posted online, provoking blanket tabloid coverage in the celebrity-mad former British colony.
Edison Chen, 27, apologised last week in a video statement, and called the postings of the photographs "intentionally hurtful and malicious".
Hong Kong police said some 1,300 private shots of celebrities had been stolen from a faulty personal computer, which local media have reported belonged to Chen.
A police investigation across the territory has so far led to eight arrests for infringement of obscene material laws, and the seizure of over 1,000 images.
"As for the influence this incident has had on society, I apologise. In the coming days I will continue to focus on my work and face up to my life," Chung added amid cheering from her fans.
Emperor Entertainment Group, which manages Chung, had initially said in a statement that the photographs were digitally altered fakes.
Hong Kong's police commissioner, Tang King-shing earlier warned that possession and distribution of such images might be illegal. But hundreds of internet users held a protest march on Sunday, saying the police's handling of the case was a violation of rights, with the force giving the case being treated in a privileged manner given the involvement of celebrities. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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