HONG KONG — A 73-year-old legendary Cantopop singer known as the “Voice King” is at the center of a deepening care crisis, with his legal guardian publicly accusing a Hong Kong nursing home of severe neglect that left the bedridden performer with gaping bedsores, a bloodstream infection, and no bath for 18 months.
Fong Chun, the singer’s manager and court-appointed guardian, has released graphic images of the wounds and is now working with Hong Kong’s Social Welfare Department to relocate Cheung Wai-man to a new facility. The case has ignited widespread public concern over the quality of residential care for elderly patients with dementia.
Chronic Neglect Alleged Over 18 Months
Cheung, who suffers from cognitive decline and is confined to bed, has been living at an undisclosed nursing home since 2021, after exhausting his savings on three spinal surgeries. According to Fong, the facility first alerted him in January 2022 about a pressure ulcer near Cheung’s hip. The wound quickly deteriorated, becoming infected and developing into three pits deep enough to expose bone.
Fong told the Ming Pao Daily that despite spending five-figure sums on specialist consultations and pressure-relief cushions, Cheung’s condition worsened. The singer developed antibiotic resistance and was rushed to hospital at least twice a week, with doctors warning Fong to prepare for the worst. While the sores have since shown slow improvement—new tissue has grown over the bone—they remain unhealed and continue to ooze.
Bathing Ban Raises Questions
The facility repeatedly refused to bathe Cheung, citing a “no water on wounds” policy. Fong said a visiting community nurse later told him the singer could safely shower if waterproof dressings were applied. “It’s completely unacceptable,” Fong said. “I only want him to receive reasonable care, not to blame anyone.” The home has not publicly responded to the allegations. A staff member told reporters the matter would need to be handled by a supervisor who was unavailable; an emailed inquiry went unanswered.
Further inspection revealed Cheung had severe fungal nail infections and multiple cuts on his feet, the guardian said. When Fong pressed for details, the facility cited patient privacy—a claim he rejected, stating, “As his legal guardian, I have every right to know.”
Financial Strain, Personal Sacrifice
Fong, who now lives in Shenzhen caring for his 93-year-old mother, hired an assistant to visit Cheung daily, bringing homemade soups and food. He stopped paying the nursing home’s fees in May, and said staff threatened to report him for fraud over government subsidies. Fong countered that he had already notified the Social Welfare Department and returned the subsidy funds.
Cheung’s finances are severely depleted. He qualified for government assistance in 2021 only after a strict asset assessment showed he had less than HK$50,000. His earlier savings—hundreds of thousands of dollars—were wiped out by three spinal operations. Fong and a fan each contributed HK$50,000 for the latest surgery.
“For years, I never asked the entertainment industry or the演藝人協會 for help, nor did I launch a public appeal,” Fong said. “This is a promise between him and me. I must take care of him.”
Power of Attorney, Not a Will
Fong confirmed that Cheung signed a power of attorney in July 2018, while still mentally competent and witnessed by a fellow singer. The document grants Fong authority to handle financial and living arrangements but is not a will, he stressed. “He has no assets left anyway,” Fong added.
Next Steps: New Home Sought
Fong is now in active discussions with the Social Welfare Department to find an appropriate new facility. He had considered moving Cheung to a Shenzhen nursing home but shelved the plan due to cross-border commuting challenges. “I want him to have dignity and proper care as soon as possible,” Fong said.
The case highlights systemic gaps in Hong Kong’s elderly care sector, where oversight of private homes remains inconsistent. Advocacy groups have called for stricter monitoring and mandatory reporting of neglect. For Cheung, a former star who once filled concert halls, the fight now is for something far more basic: a clean bed, a bath, and a life free from preventable pain.
