Late actress Kathy Chow remembered by co-stars

Attending a program by Hong Kong broadcaster TVB on Dec. 14, Wong revealed that he first met Chow while filming TVB’s drama series "The Yang’s Saga" in 1985, when Chow had just finished the Miss Hong Kong pageant and just joined the film industry.

The actor described Chow as an innocent and shy woman, partly due to her being put in a new working environment. She would read books or observe others’ conversations when people chatted on set.

The two stars met again in 1989, as they filmed "Looking Back in Anger," another TVB drama series, and their relationship deepened this time. They subsequently co-starred in various other drama series.

After Chow relocated to mainland China in the 2000s while Wong remained in Hong Kong, they saw each other less. Still, Wong always considered Chow a younger sister and wished her well.

The actor said he received the news of Chow’s passing as he was returning to Hong Kong from a trip.

"I was shocked," he said. "It felt like a bolt from the blue."

According to Chinese news site St Headline, Chow was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Her condition was not publicly revealed beforehand.

People suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus also suffer from inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs as their immune system attacks its own tissues. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, and lungs.

A close friend of Chow, director Tin Kai-man, revealed that despite her illness, Chow always maintained a positive attitude and tried her best to enjoy her life.