Hong Kong actor Raymond Lam, who starred in the popular Hong Kong drama “News Queen” alongside Charmaine Sheh and Kenneth Ma, recently posted a video on Weibo with the title “Things Hong Kong artists do in mainland China.” In the video, he shared his experience of getting a tooth extraction in Shenzhen, comparing the prices of dental procedures between Hong Kong and mainland China. The topic quickly trended online.
At 30 years old, Raymond Lam is currently a contracted artist under Hong Kong’s TVB. In the video he shared, he revealed that he needed to get his teeth extracted before getting braces. To save money, he hurriedly went to Shenzhen right after finishing work.
Raymond Lam mentioned that the last time he had two teeth extracted in Shenzhen, the total cost was 630 RMB, while in Hong Kong, extracting just one tooth could cost between 700 and 2500 HKD. Excitedly, he said, “I’m lucky I didn’t need to extract wisdom teeth, as it would be even more expensive in Hong Kong. According to my dental friends, extracting one wisdom tooth in Hong Kong could cost 5,000 HKD, and if surgery is needed, it could go up to 8,000 HKD.” The significant price difference for dental procedures in the two regions made him exclaim, “It’s outrageous!”
In a video posted in March, Raymond Lam shared how it’s challenging to make a living solely as an artist in Hong Kong. He mentioned the high transportation costs, tunnel fees, parking fees, and meal expenses he faced while working part-time and emphasized that relying solely on an artist’s income is insufficient to support oneself.
Reports indicate that due to low salaries, TVB has been experiencing a wave of resignations in recent years. Artists like 54-year-old Dayo Wong have had to take on part-time jobs in restaurants due to insufficient income, while 42-year-old actress Leung Ka-wing sells small accessories in malls. TVB actor Sean Chan, 41, switched to driving for ride-hailing services, and former Miss Hong Kong contestant Chen Sze-ki, 42, recently made headlines for selling chicken feet at a food stall.
Surprisingly, 67-year-old Hong Kong actor Law Chun Shun became emotional during a recent TVB meeting, expressing frustration over the reduced job opportunities and shifts in program focus, resulting in lower pay compared to dishwashing jobs. Despite his years of dedication to the television station, he felt ignored by the senior management’s lack of response. The declining fortunes of TVB have put many Hong Kong artists in difficult situations.
Public information indicates that born in 1994, Raymond Lam graduated from the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong. He is known for his works in dramas such as “Hong Kong Love Story,” “Forensic Heroes 6,” and “News Queen.”