Hong Kong television stars, including Joe Ma, Alice Chan, Oscar Ng, and Yoyo Yau, gathered today to launch promotion for the highly anticipated legal drama, The Pleading Judge, with cast members committing to a robust promotional drive that will extend through the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Attendees expressed optimism for the series’ success, sharing personal anecdotes and responding to recent industry news during the festive publicity event.
The veteran actor Joe Ma, returning to screens just after his run in Say Hello to My Ex-Husband, confirmed his commitment to the new production, which is scheduled to air across the holiday period. Ma light-heartedly stated he would remain in Hong Kong for promotional duties, joking about the necessity of preparing “a substantial amount of cash packets for lucky money” for the festive season. Co-star Alice Chan offered a memorable, playful promise to viewers, suggesting that if the show achieves high ratings, her wardrobe might become “increasingly abbreviated,” an apparent nod to growing confidence in the series’ drawing power.
The promotional event also touched upon recent industry discussions, including a surprise return to prominence for one of the network’s variety shows. The discussion centered on the program Sisters Seeking Joy, specifically focusing on segments featuring different cast members. Kayan Lam addressed the controversy surrounding her Shanghai-based segment, which was reportedly shelved due to negative feedback and replaced by a segment filmed in Shenzhen featuring Joey Thye and Yoyo Yau. Lam emphasized the full effort put into filming her portion, suggesting that the public debate constituted mere “discussion, not an attack.”
Yoyo Yau stood firmly by the production of the Shanghai segment, praising the crew’s dedication. Joey Thye underscored the network’s responsiveness, stating the company improved its approach after listening to public opinion and hoped the revised episodes would provide positive energy. Thye also shared a humorous anecdote about filming a massage scene with Jinny Ng, highlighting the lighter side of television production.
Yau, who appears in The Pleading Judge, also provided a glimpse into her role, mentioning intimate scenes with co-star Oscar Ng. While she noted the scenes were not overly revealing in scope, the actions were “purposeful,” briefly surprising her during the filming process.
Adding complexity to the drama’s ensemble is Hera Chan, who plays a character infatuated with Kalok Chow’s character. Chan described the acting challenge of portraying such intense emotion, particularly given her real-life amicable relationship with Chow. “He and I are close friends in reality. How can I pretend to be obsessed, maniacally so?” she quipped, asserting her professional commitment to the demanding role.
Kalok Chow discussed his character’s reaction to the obsession, noting that he often had to turn his back on Chan during scenes, limiting his ability to see her nuanced facial expressions of infatuation. During the event, press questions pivoted to recent gossip concerning actor Owen Cheung, Chan’s rumored boyfriend, whom certain online reports recently labeled as “impolite.” Chan quickly defended Cheung, calling the claims “impossible” and a “misunderstanding,” vouching for his consistent courtesy. Chow concurred, reinforcing the perception of Cheung as a polite individual. The launch successfully generated buzz for the new series, positioning it as a major entertainment option for the upcoming holiday season.
