HONG KONG: Veteran Hong Kong actress Snowy, 77, whose real name is Li Chaochun, passed away on July 3 after losing the battle to pancreatic cancer. Her renowned martial arts instructor husband, Tang Jia, 88, also tragically died in a fall from a building last week. The couple departed within 10 days of each other, leaving their family devastated. The relatives announced on July 4 that a joint funeral for the two will be held on July 14.
Tang Jia, the well-known martial arts instructor in Hong Kong, fell to his death on June 23, with no suicide note found at the scene. However, it is speculated that he was deeply concerned about Snowy’s illness, which drove him to take drastic actions. It is reported that he expressed his emotional distress to his son, expressing his desire to reunite with his wife in the afterlife. On the day of the incident, Tang Jia was supposed to visit the lawyer’s office to draft a will but chose to end his life in an extreme way before leaving. The heartbreaking news of Snowy’s death due to cancer on July 3 only adds to the family’s sorrow. The relatives issued a statement on July 4, announcing the joint funeral on July 14 and the cremation the next morning.
Snowy entered the entertainment industry at the age of 18, starring in over 40 films during her peak over a span of seven years. She gained fame as the leading martial arts actress in Cantonese films through her role in the adaptation of Ni Kuang’s novel “Heroic Heroine Mulan”. In 1969, she married Tang Jia and temporarily retired from the silver screen to focus on family life, later moving to Canada with their two sons before returning to Hong Kong after the boys grew up.
After retiring in 2020, Snowy rarely appeared in public. In recent years, she had been suffering from hearing problems and deteriorating health. Following her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, she required long-term hospitalization, and the cancer recurrence earlier this year caused a significant loss of weight. Despite her physical decline, she remained mentally stable. In August last year, the couple attended a gathering with friends from the industry, still radiating happiness and contentment.
Snowy and Tang Jia, married for 56 years, were a beloved couple known for their deep affection for each other in the entertainment industry. Whether working or traveling, they were inseparable. Snowy described her husband as her bodyguard, manager, and assistant, admitting her fiery temperament often led to disputes in their marriage. However, Tang Jia always conceded in arguments, taking care of Snowy by personally driving her to filming locations and preparing soup for her. An anecdote that lingers till now is when Tang Jia waited on the street for three hours to pick up Snowy after she finished filming on an outdoor set. The passing of both within 10 days of each other has left many in deep sorrow and reflection.