Chen quits film world over porn scandal

Edison Chen, the actor and singer at the centre of an internet porn scandal involving some of Hong Kong's best-known singers and actresses, returned home today to face the music. He admitted to taking most of the widely circulated photos of himself and the women, either engaged in sex acts or in sexually suggestive poses, and announced that he was quitting the entertainment business.

"These photos were very private and have not been shown to people and were never intended to be shown to anyone," Chen (pictured) told a press conference, after arriving from the United States where he had fled to escape the furore. He confirmed that the pictures had been stolen: it is believed they were copied from his personal laptop when he took it in for repairs, and that the repairman is one of several people arrested by Hong Kong police in recent days.

Chen did not identify any of the women in the photos. But as The First Post reported a week ago, they include the Twins singer Gillian Chung and the actress Cecilia Cheung. Two other actress-models identified from the online postings since our report are Bobo Chan and the Hawaiian-born Maggie Q.

Chen, 27, best known for his role in the Infernal Affairs film trilogy, said he would take an indefinite break from the entertainment industry after fulfilling his outstanding contracts and devote himself to charity work.

"I would like to apologise to all the ladies and to all their families for any harm or hurt they have been feeling," he said. "I'm sorry. I hope after today I can have your forgiveness."

It is rumoured that Chen also needs the forgiveness of the Hong Kong underworld, which is heavily involved in the entertainment industry and is upset by the damage he has caused the singers' reputations. On Wednesday, the Apple Daily newspaper reported that a Chinese mafia figure was offering a reward of half a million Hong Kong dollars to anyone who hacks off one of Chen's hands.