Cantopop diva Anita Mui’s mother dies at 102 after collapsing in flat

The 102-year-old mother of late Cantopop icon Anita Mui Yim-fong passed away on Sunday morning after collapsing at her Hong Kong home. Tam Mei-kam, being fed liquid oatmeal by her domestic helper, suddenly fell unconscious at around 10:30am in her Causeway Bay flat. Emergency services were alerted, and paramedics and police arrived at her Leighton Road residence to find Tam unresponsive.

She was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where doctors attempted resuscitation but could not revive her; she was pronounced dead at 11:27am. A police source confirmed Tam was indeed Mui's mother, noting that she had a history of heart disease and hypertension, which required her to follow a strict liquid diet and take regular medication.

Police inspected her home and found no suspicious circumstances or injuries, deeming the case non-suspicious. The matter has been handed over to the Wan Chai district miscellaneous inquiries subunit for further investigation. Mui, who died of cervical cancer and respiratory complications in December 2003 at the age of 40, was known for her relentless legal battles over her mother's estate.

Despite Mui's will providing a trust for Tam's monthly living allowance, Tam repeatedly challenged the terms in court, seeking lump-sum payouts or full control of the inheritance. These legal disputes lasted for over a decade and led to Tam's bankruptcy after she failed to cover legal fees. Courts consistently supported Mui's will, and now that Tam is deceased, the trust obligations end.

The remaining estate, valued at over HK$100 million (US$12.8 million), will be donated to the Miu King Buddhist Association as per Mui's wishes.