Lede: Hong Kong veteran singer Cheung Wai-man, 73, is at the center of a care scandal after his legal guardian alleged the nursing home he resides in failed to provide basic hygiene and medical care for over a year, leaving him with severe, infected bedsores that have resisted treatment.
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Cheung Wai-man, once celebrated as the “King of Golden Voices,” has seen his health decline sharply in recent years. Now, his manager and legal guardian, Fong Chun, has gone public with serious allegations against the care facility where Cheung has been living. In a series of interviews with local media, Fong detailed what he describes as a pattern of neglect and concealment that has significantly worsened the singer’s condition.
According to Fong, the most alarming discovery was that Cheung had not been bathed or allowed to sit up for a year and a half. Fong explained that despite repeated requests, the nursing home refused to bathe the singer or assist him in sitting up, citing concerns from a community nurse that water might aggravate his wounds. However, when Fong consulted that same nurse, he was told the wounds had actually healed enough for bathing weeks earlier.
“The hardest thing to accept is that they let him lie flat for 18 months without moving or cleaning him,” Fong told reporters. “I asked them to help him bathe, brush his teeth, and sit up to prevent muscle stiffness. They kept refusing until I confronted the nurse myself.”
Upon returning from a trip abroad, Fong visited Cheung and found his legs swollen, bruised, and ulcerated—conditions the home had not reported. A subsequent review of medical photos revealed that a large bedsore on Cheung’s back had likely been present for months, though the facility claimed it had only just been discovered.
Fong noted that the delay in treatment led to recurring infections and fevers, requiring repeated hospitalizations. The wound, which has not healed after 18 months, became resistant to antibiotics. As recently as early last month, about two-thirds of the sore was still draining yellow pus, according to Fong.
“The facility claimed patient privacy when I asked for details about his condition,” Fong said. “But this isn’t about privacy—it’s about basic care and transparency.”
In response, Fong has sent a formal letter of condemnation to the nursing home, stopped payment of fees since May, and is considering legal action. He also plans to file complaints with the Social Welfare Department and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, alleging that the home withheld critical medical information and failed to provide adequate care.
Broader Impact and Next Steps:
The case has drawn public attention to the standards of care in Hong Kong’s elderly homes, a sector already under scrutiny for understaffing and oversight gaps. Advocacy groups say Cheung’s situation highlights the vulnerability of elderly residents, especially those without family nearby to monitor their care.
Fong has vowed to continue fighting for Cheung’s dignity and health. “He can’t speak for himself anymore. I have to be his voice,” he said.
The nursing home has not yet issued a public response to the allegations. Experts urge families to regularly inspect loved ones’ living conditions and to speak up if they notice unexplained changes in health. Resources such as the Social Welfare Department’s hotline and Elderly Services Complaint Mechanism are available for reporting suspected neglect.
As the investigation unfolds, many are left wondering: How many other residents are suffering in silence?
