Hong Kong’s highly competitive entertainment industry is seeing a notable trend among rising television stars: carefully guarded clandestine relationships, often reportedly enforced by management to protect perceived career opportunities. This culture of “underground romance” came into sharper focus following reports this week of an alleged split between two high-profile, ascending actors.
Actress Honey Ho Pui-ka, 29, a former beauty pageant contestant who quickly gained prominence on TVB’s flagship magazine program Scoop, has reportedly ended her two-year, unacknowledged romance with actor Ethan Yuen Ho-chung, according to local media reports. Sources suggest the breakup was precipitated not only by limited time together due to demanding schedules but also by a strict “love ban” imposed by the broadcaster to safeguard both stars’ professional trajectories. Ho, reportedly distraught and appearing significantly thin, was recently photographed attending a cinema alone.
The Network’s Push for Singularity
The practice of requiring rising talent to keep romantic partnerships private appears to be a systemic approach adopted by TVB, Hong Kong’s dominant television network, to ensure marketability and flexibility for its leading stable of actors and actresses. By discouraging public relationships, the network aims to maintain the appeal of its stars and ensure they remain available for diverse roles, especially those involving on-screen pairings.
The alleged breakup of Ho and Yuen highlights the precarious position of young stars navigating fame under intense scrutiny. Although both are heavily promoted—Yuen being the grandson of late veteran actress Lily Leung Shun-yin—their commitment to professional advancement allegedly clashed with their personal lives.
This trend extends across the network’s roster of promising talent. Several other pairs who have sparked intense public speculation continue to deflect rumors with blanket statements about “focusing on work”:
- Karl Ting Tsz-long and Kayan Kwok Pui-yan: Despite persistent rumors, both have maintained strict silence regarding their relationship status.
- Kalok Chow and Jeannie Chan: The pair, who appeared together in the drama When a Man Betrays a Woman, have frequently been observed together off-screen. Nevertheless, they remain adamant that they are simply “good friends,” often reducing public interaction at promotional events to manage the gossip.
- Brian Chu Man-hon and Hera Chan Hei-wa: Having played lovers on screen, the two are widely rumored to be dating and possibly cohabiting. Despite reports of an impending wedding in 2021, Chu only characterized their relationship as “getting to know each other,” clearly prioritizing Chan’s soaring career, which has seen her star in several major productions, including the highly anticipated The Queen of News 2.
High Costs of Secrecy
The pressure to conceal relationships is not new, nor is it exclusive to the newest generation. Actress Moon Lau Pui-yu, a current Best Actress nominee who has been starring in an unprecedented number of new dramas, is an example of an actor maintaining a long-term, unconfirmed relationship. Lau has reportedly been secretly seeing actor Adrian Chau Chi-man for over seven years, citing traditional family concerns and the potential impact on her career as reasons for not going public until a marriage consensus is reached.
Similarly, rising host Chen Yee-tak has been linked with actor Law Tin-yoo for a year, a relationship they consistently define as a “good friendship,” even amid seemingly intimate overseas vacations. Chen’s rapid ascent, including hosting major awards shows, suggests the network’s investment in her image requires careful management of her personal life.
The stringent rules underscore the significant sacrifices demanded of stars in modern Asian entertainment markets. While public curiosity about celebrity romance remains high, the ultimate goal for the network is maximizing commercial viability—a priority that often dictates the mandatory secrecy of these partnerships. As these stars continue their rapid rise, their on-screen success may remain tethered to the invisibility of their off-screen lives.
