Hong Kong Film Awards double winner, actress Carina Lau (Lau Heung-heung) and Julian Cheung (Chilam) have been married for over 20 years and have a son, Lucas Cheung (Mo Tong). Recently, Carina Lau appeared on veteran media personality Yu Jiaqiang’s radio show “Conversations for the Rest of Our Lives” and emotionally spoke about her family and parenting experiences, saying that her proudest “work” in this lifetime is her son, expressing that “so far, he has no major problems and is doing well.”
When talking about her proudest “work,” Carina Lau didn’t hesitate to mention her son. However, as a second-generation celebrity, Lucas Cheung’s every move has been magnified by the public eye, leading him to endure immense public pressure. Carina Lau publicly apologized to her son for the first time, acknowledging the unfair treatment he has faced due to his celebrity parents. She admitted that because of their fame, many times, whatever Lucas does or says gets blown out of proportion by the public. She often tells her son that it’s unavoidable, apologizing to him for depriving him of some of the freedom that an ordinary person should have.
Fortunately, Lucas Cheung has an optimistic personality and doesn’t hold any resentment towards his parents. Instead, he has learned to view his family background from a positive perspective.
Regarding her son’s upbringing, Carina Lau openly admitted to being a “tiger mom.” She disclosed that she used to be quite authoritative at home, which strained her relationship with her son. At one point, Lucas even expressed to Julian Cheung that he wanted a different mother, and the high-pressure control led to emotional issues for him. After a doctor’s diagnosis, Carina Lau realized that the problem lay with her own behavior. Her self-centered approach had placed excessive pressure on her son, affecting his behavior and emotions.
Following the doctor’s advice, Carina Lau made efforts to repair their mother-son relationship. She learned that parents are not always right and began to listen to her son’s inner thoughts. Today, the mother and son are like friends, as Carina Lau puts it in her own words: “So far, he has no major problems and is doing well.”
Speaking about her son’s current situation, Carina Lau said, “He sees things from multiple perspectives and often thinks positively. Sometimes he jokes, saying it’s not bad that his parents are celebrities because it may help him get concert tickets faster.”
As for the public concern about Lucas Cheung growing up handsome and whether he will enter the entertainment industry in the future, Carina Lau straightforwardly stated, “The timing isn’t right yet. It’s not just about being good-looking; it depends on talent, personal charm, and whether he has a strong inner self. If you genuinely love your child, you won’t easily let them enter the entertainment industry, as that path is extremely tough. Unless one day, he writes incredibly amazing songs, then that’s a different story.”
Carina Lau also mentioned that she won’t use her resources to pave the way for her son at this stage. Even if Julian Cheung has a concert and their son wants to play the guitar on stage, he must earn the opportunity through his own efforts and gain approval from professionals. If he doesn’t meet the standards, there’s no way around it.
At 54 years old, Carina Lau rose to fame at a young age, winning the title of Miss Hong Kong at 18 before entering the film industry. She achieved a major accomplishment at the Hong Kong Film Awards early in her career: winning Best New Performer in 1992, Best Actress for “He’s a Woman, She’s a Man” in 1993, and Best Actress for “The Bride with White Hair 2” in 1994.
Having been married to Julian Cheung for over 20 years, Carina Lau and Julian Cheung have always shared a loving relationship. Carina Lau mentioned that Julian Cheung has exceptional emotional intelligence, and the perception of him being a “husband slave” by the public is inaccurate. In her eyes, Julian Cheung excels in communication and always shows his “caring father” side when it comes to parenting their son.