HONG KONG — Veteran Hong Kong actor and martial arts choreographer Willie Lau, publicly known by his stage name Wai Lit, recently confirmed the identity of an estranged son who had taken to social media in a public attempt to reconnect after two decades of separation. The dramatic digital appeal began when a user identified only as “Mic” posted a childhood photograph on Threads, hoping the internet could facilitate a reunion with his biological father, the 73-year-old supporting actor.

Mic, whose full name the actor later revealed to be Lau Ying Fung (English name Michael), posted a plea seeking contact with his father, stating their relationship ceased following his parents’ separation and subsequent intermittent contact. Lau Ying Fung revealed he had lost his father’s only phone number over a decade ago. The post quickly gained traction among local netizens, with some suggesting avenues like seeking assistance from the local program Scoop to aid the search.

The public nature of the search was startling to many, as Wai Lit has maintained a notably private persona concerning his personal life, only once revealing a debilitating period of grief following the death of his late wife years ago.

Actor Confirms Paternity and Shares Background

Contacted by media outlets, Wai Lit confirmed that the young man in the photo, estimated to be around 28 or 29 years old, is indeed his eldest son. “His name is Lau Ying Fung, English name Michael. I gave him both names,” the actor confirmed.

Wai Lit provided a rare glimpse into the circumstances surrounding his separation from his son’s mother, describing her as significantly younger and immature at the time of their relationship. He recounted that his mother’s disapproval of the partner, who allegedly struggled with being “unsettled” after childbirth, ultimately led him to separate from her.

The actor detailed the difficult breakup, noting that his request to retain custody of his son was rejected by the mother. He asserted that the mother only reached out when financially strained, leading him to eventually stop pursuing visits. Wai Lit did, however, recall a brief, unexpected reunion when his son was nine years old; the boy stayed with him for several weeks before his mother retrieved him, marking the last time they saw each other.

Conflicting Narratives Emerge

Lau Ying Fung’s initial social media post mentioned declining a past invitation from his father to a birthday banquet, possibly due to Wai Lit having started a new family. However, the actor vehemently denied extending any such invitation, stressing that he has not had contact with his son since the boy was nine.

Ironically, while his son searched online, Wai Lit revealed that he too had been conducting his own digital search for over a decade. “I searched using his Chinese and English names,” he stated, noting the difficulty of finding a specific individual among numerous “Michael Laus” online without recent photographs.

When asked about potential feelings of guilt regarding his son’s upbringing without him, Wai Lit offered a blunt “No.” Yet, he admitted to an earnest desire to finally reunite. “After all, I’m old now. I want to see my boy again while I’m still alive,” the actor expressed.

Following the media attention, Lau Ying Fung’s original post on Threads was subsequently deleted, leading to speculation about the status of the potential reunion. This public search highlights the complicated, sometimes messy intersection of personal family history and the pervasive reach of digital communication in modern life.