Profile | How Hacken Lee, once snubbed by fans and Manchester United, thrives as a Cantopop star
The singer has made his mark on Cantopop despite once being told by superstar Anita Mui that she wanted to ‘slap you upside the head’
Hacken Lee Hak-kan, a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry since the 1980s, is not only a celebrated singer but a multifaceted performer, actor and television host.
His career, however, has not always been smooth sailing.
Born in 1967, Lee grew up in Hong Kong during the golden era of Cantopop. After graduating from secondary school in 1985, he entered Hong Kong broadcaster TVB’s New Talent Singing Awards show – but was unable to make the top 15 finalists.
In an interview on TVB show Be My Guest, Lee recalled his hesitation when his family arranged for him to study overseas. “My family was supportive and respected my decision. So I asked them to give me two years, to see if I can make it as an artist.”
