Flora Chan Supports Family Amidst Husband’s Bankruptcy; Counts Pennies At Supermarket
Flora Chan’s (陳慧珊) husband and manager, Mike Chung (鍾家鴻), filed for bankruptcy at the the High Court several days ago. Aside from being extremely frugal on household expenses, Flora had to take care of the living expenses of her husband and their daughter, Mira. After dropping off Mira at her school in her Audi car, Flora was spotted grocery shopping at a supermarket the other day. Due to the financial burden of having to support the entire family, Flora appeared haggard, lacking her past liveliness.
Graduating from Boston University with a degree in Journalism, Flora Chan returned to Hong Kong to pursue a career and was once a top fadan at TVB. Since marrying her second husband, Mike Chung, in 2007 and giving birth to their daughter, Mira, Flora significantly decreased her acting output. Occasionally, Flora filmed commercials, had cameo appearances in mainland dramas, and returned to film TVB series, Suspects In Love <搜下留情> in 2009. With her husband’s bankruptcy, Flora’s semi-retired and leisurely lifestyle underwent a dramatic shake-up.
Flora Chan Actively Seeking Work to Help Pay Bills
Earlier, Mike Chung stressed that his bankruptcy filing did not involve his wife, Flora Chan, and will not affect the lives of his family. However, with Mike’s bankruptcy, Flora naturally became the family’s economic pillar, shouldering immense pressure. In fact, Flora actively accepted numerous jobs to earn more money, while continuing to take her daughter to Stubbs Road ESF International Kindergarten school and shop for groceries.
Extremely Price Conscious
At 1 PM the day before, Flora Chan wore a quilted jacket, jeans, and no makeup, appearing at a City Super store in Times Square, Causeway Bay. Flora selected fish, frozen meat, pasta, bread and biscuits. For each item that she selected, Flora would first look at the price sticker and then the expiration date, carefully planning her purchases. Staying for only 15 minutes at the supermarket, Flora left in a hurry.
Moving From a Large to Smaller House
Earlier, Flora’s family of three resided in luxury 1,000 square feet apartment, which cost several tens of thousands (HKD) in monthly rent. Due to Mike’s bankruptcy, the family has moved into a smaller establishment. The Audi car that Flora was currently driving was purchased for $290,000 HKD in 2003, under the name of her own company, Talent and Hues Management Limited. Mike did not possess any shares in Flora’s company.
It was rumored that Ricky Wong’s (王維基) City Telecom (CT) was interested in recruiting Flora to film for them. The rumored project resembled TVB series, Triumph in the Skies <衝 上雲霄>. However, Flora still had an outstanding contract with TVB. In a telephone interview, Mike noted, “Actually, we possess the inclination to work [with TVB] again, but the timing did not work out earlier.”
Excerpt from Apple Daily
Jayne: Flora Chan still has market value, so she should not have trouble finding work. There may be cutbacks required in their lifestyle, but hopefully the bankruptcy will not induce too many disruptions in their lives. In their case, it is fortunate that one spouse still has considerable earning power.
It sounds pretty sad but the media may be blowing it out of proportion hopefully. Call me shallow..but really what did she see in her current husband?
Looks? er no
Money? er looks like no
Why were they only renting the apartment btw? I figured with their ages..they would already he property owners (Yeah I know about the crazy prices in HK) but she was really popular in the past and I assumed she made quite a bit.
Well, He used to be well off before this bankruptcy,right? Perhaps, this man is better looking than GIGI LAI’s current husband LOL
not sure how well off if he was her manager?
Haha but Gigi Lai’s husband is like very LOADED lol
I really wonder if Gigi would stick with her husband through tough times if he ever went bankrupt?? I guess she would because they do have 2 daughters together.
I wonder the same thing. I heard that Julian and Anita were both renting a really expensive apartment for a high price. I was shocked since with that amount and the amount that they were making, wouldn’t they already be property owners?? Why did they have to pay so much just to rent??
really? I’m surprised that they are not already property owners ..that’s news for me 🙂
City’s Super is pretty high-end and expensive, isn’t it? Definitely a cut above Wellcome or Park n Shop. And in Times Square, Causeway Bay? It’s like shopping at Whole Foods, no?
Thewong,
True, when I travelled to Hong Kong, I happened to have visited the same City Super location in Times Sq. It is like Whole Foods, minus the emphasis on organic foods, but moderate to high end. Wouldn’t call it gourmet.
Maybe buying groceries to cook instead of dining out is already saving money for Flora? She may still have significant personal savings. I wonder if her talent management company represents any other artists other than herself?
True. Maybe they also had an a-yi before to do the grocery shopping and cooking. So, yeah, maybe personally shopping for groceries at City Super can be considered cutting back for a celebrity.
I wont be surprise if she’s going to sell some of her assets to offset some expenses.
Feel very sad for her.
Larry,
To me, this is better news than to hear Flora’s husband have some incurable illness. Flora is a smart and strong woman, so I think the family may struggle a bit in the short term, but they still have each other and their health.
Money lost can be made again.
100% agree
well said
Totally agree and health, love and other things are WAY more important than money. I think IF you really love your husband/wife, you will stick with them through thick and thin since that is what true love is. It is good that Flora did not just become a stay at home mom. If she did, I really wonder how they would be able to survive economically at a time like this…
@Larry 3,
I do feel bad for her, but not really because who doesn’t struggle at some time in their lives??? Like Jayne said, at least they have each other and their health which is a lot more important than money or living the high life. I am glad that Flora did not just rely on her husband and give up her career completely to be a stay at home mom. Which is why I feel that a woman should still try to hold onto her career even after she marries and becomes a mom… It is hard to be a mom and work, but you can do both if you really want to…
…she sounds to be…very normal! haha
Just saying…I am sure that Kenneth Ma is more frugal than her normally than she is now with a bankrupt husband.
Is Kenneth superfrugal? No wonder he is having a hard time attracting the opposite sex since he wants to split the dining bill 🙂
Oh, actually, I don’t know. lol I was just making fun of him 🙂
Kenneth is a traditional guy so he’ll probably still pay the bill. But he may take the girl to cafes instead of nice restaurants.
I was kinda joking as well he might actually buy the raw materials at the supermarket and demand the girl to make him dinner, LOL
haha u guys are nice
at lease she is till shopping at causeway bay supermarket and not the wet markets at north point.
Correction: She graduated from Boston College.
And maybe this means we’ll get to see Flora onscreen? I miss her presence. Basically, I just miss the old TVB. :/
It is a problem but not a big one for sure.
Her family only has 3 members, she should be able to keep many assets and have saving amount in her account. Moreover, she can come back to film series.
I agree and Flora should not have a hard time finding work since she was once a TVB fadan. I am sure that she will be able to get out of this sooner or later so the problem is not as big as it seems.
we’ve often hear bankcrupty cases but this involve an artiste so basically it’s no big deal. donald trump was a bancrupty before.
Oh please!!!!!! She was probably shopping at the supermarket just like everybody else!!!!!!!!!!! How come all the time, when celebs do shopping at the supermarket, they assume they are “penny pinching”? Ridiculous.
Agree! And can’t she be looking at the nutritional label instead? How on earth do these reporters know she’s looking at the price and expiration date! They got cameras attached to flora’s forehead???
This is no news sort of slow news. So she shops; she checks out the price; she chooses a cheaper product. So what?
Nothing wrong! Everyone check the price anyway. I bet even when Flora’s husband was wealthy, she still check the price. She wasn’t exactly frivolous or bimbo.
Agree but ofcourse the media has to make it like she is having financial difficulties now since she has to check the price, LOL
Im sure her husband before seeking bankruptcy has trasferred all the assets to another account for some time already.
I think this would be a good opportunity for TVB to try persuade Flora to film TITS 2, would be awesome to have her join the cast!
That would be a great idea! She and francis ng could have a better storyline this time w/o zoe ruining it.
Josie,
But Zoe and Sam got married at the end of “Triumph in the Eyes,” so if Flora were to be added back in, she will become the 3rd party? Or we’ll get that Triangle lore thrown at us again, that Flora’s true love was Sam?
I’ll rather they focus on something with less angst… Give Flora a new man to love after Joe Ma’s character died!
I think this “sequel” might not be a direct continuation of part 1.
But yes, I still think belle was supposed to be Sam’s true love. Haha… I would’ve been happy if zoe died f/ heart failure.
I think it might not be a direct sequel too. Most of the leads are new cast besides Myolie, Francis, Ron and Kenneth. Bosco, Sammul, Michelle and Joe aren’t returning and no news about Flora.
The new lineup:
Francis, Ron, Kenneth
Myolie, Fala, Kate
Supporting:
Rebecca Zhu
ok not most. Only Fala and Kate are added to the leads. If only Chilam can join and Flora too
I salute Flora. What a wonderful spouse & person she is….! Not leave someone in a lurch. I admire her. I wish i know more folks like her.( I am not from Boston but from Texas, US.)
Flora still owes TVB one more series on her contract. 620 wants her on “T.I.T.S. II”. Can someone verify this?
link: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/topic/750936-upcomingtvb-triumph-in-the-skies-ii-%26%2334909%3B%26%2319978%3B%26%2338642%3B%26%2338660%3Bii/page__view__findpost__p__7052557
Flora clarified that she’ll be filming for TVB in second half of the year, but for what series is unknown.
According to this morning’s news abstract, Flora did not officially agree to film “Triumph in the Skies 2” yet. She was at a Neutrogena event and she stated that she is still in discussion. Please check my latest news on the topic which I just posted.