Hong Kong cinema regular Wong Man Piu, a veteran actor known for his prolific supporting roles, has offered a stark look into the financial precariousness of life on the small screen, revealing that at one point his collective bank balance dipped below HK$100. Piu, 63, who recently gained renewed attention for reprising his iconic role as Tung Wing (滕翼) in the cinematic sequel to the classic TVB series A Step Into the Past, spoke candidly about his nearly four-decade career, his dedication to the craft, and the personal compromises he made along the way.
During a recent interview on Commercial Radio Hong Kong, the actor, often dubbed a “Green Leaf King” or the “Evil Man of the Broadcaster” for his frequent portrayal of villains—from gangsters to robbers—admitted that he never aspired to take the lead. For Piu, the joy lay simply in performing, regardless of the darkness of the character. However, this commitment did not shield him from severe economic hardship.
The Precarious Pay Structure
Joining TVB’s acting classes in 1989 at age 27, Piu enjoyed initial, albeit brief, success with roles in early 1990s sitcoms. Yet, for the subsequent two decades, his career trajectory was defined by decreased screen time and corresponding pay cuts.
Piu disclosed that early in his career, he often reached the maximum contract limit of 120 performance opportunities (shows) per year. As his roles diminished, that figure plummeted.
“Later on, in an 80-episode series, they would only schedule me for one or two scenes. I couldn’t survive on that,” Piu explained. “It went from 120 shows down to 60 a year. Eventually, the company changed the system to one where we had to ‘repay’ shows.”
The financial struggles became acute just before his departure from the network. “It was not enough to live. I once checked, and the combined amount in my two bank accounts was less than 100 Hong Kong dollars. That was a rough period.”
Piu also recounted an incident where a female artist, struggling financially, appealed to management for more work. According to Piu, the colleague was allegedly advised to emulate a male artist by gaining outside employment, suggesting she obtain a taxi license.
“To suggest an artist from such a large company should go and get a taxi license—it’s indefensible. It’s not just insulting to that performer; it insults the entire industry,” he asserted.
Post-TVB Struggles and Lasting Regrets
Piu left TVB in 2012, moving to Ricky Wong’s HKTV. Unfortunately, the broadcaster failed to secure a free-to-air license, leading to a period of unemployment for Piu starting in 2016.
“I was idle for two years and depleted all my savings,” he confessed, noting that attempts to find managerial roles failed as potential employers refused to hire him due to his acting identity.
To pay bills, Piu transitioned to odd jobs, working part-time as a driver delivering seafood for a friend and, more recently, as a formaldehyde removal technician for a renovation company. He emphasized, however, that these are interim measures; his dedication to acting remains absolute, citing the unique thrill of embodying diverse lives, from rich businessmen to criminals.
While he embraces the title “Green Leaf King,” Piu expressed distaste for one moniker: the three Cantonese characters for “extra” or “non-speaking supporting actor.”
“Unless you don’t understand the meaning of that word, I am not a temporary, non-dialogue performer. Calling me that feels like an insult,” he stated.
Beyond financial woes, Piu shared his deepest personal sorrow: the dissolution of his long-term relationship five years ago, which he linked partially to his unstable income during his two years of idleness. This regret is compounded by the fact that he was never able to fulfill his late mother’s wish of seeing him marry.
“My mother always said she would have no regrets if she could just drink a cup of ‘daughter-in-law tea’ from me,” he said, speaking of the traditional wedding gesture. “I couldn’t make her dream come true. That is the one true regret in my life.” Despite the personal costs, Piu remains unwavering in his choice, preferring the challenging life of an artist over a stable career path.
