{
  "id": 4572146,
  "title": "Mother of late Cantopop star Anita Mui dies at 102 after reportedly choking on food at Hong Kong home",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/mother-of-late-cantopop-star-anita-mui-dies-at-102-after-reportedly",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T04:45:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/08/31/mother-of-late-cantopop-star-anita-mui-dies-at-102-after-reportedly-choking-on-food-at-hong-kong-home/233362"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tam Mei Kam, the 102-year-old mother of renowned Cantopop star Anita Mui, passed away on August 31 after reportedly choking on food at her home in Hong Kong. Emergency responders were alerted to her collapse around 10:48am, and she was found unconscious and transported to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, where she was pronounced dead. Police are currently investigating the details of her death. Anita Mui was a prominent figure in Hong Kong's entertainment industry, earning the nickname “Madonna of the East” for her exceptional vocal talents, captivating stage presence, and critically acclaimed film roles. The star attained widespread fame following her victory in the New Talent Singing Awards during the early 1980s, and she went on to star in movies such as Rouge, The Heroic Trio, and Drunken Master II before succumbing to cervical cancer in 2003 at the tender age of 40. Tam had not been seen in public for years following her 100th birthday celebration, with the last public appearance documented in February during a Chinese New Year greeting shared by Anita's global fan club. The latter part of her life was marred by financial disagreements with her son, Peter Mui Kai Ming, stemming from conflicts over Anita's estate post her demise. Tam had four offspring — Anita, Peter, Ann, and Tak Ming; Ann succumbed to uterine cancer in 2000, while Tak Ming died from throat cancer in 2015. She filed for bankruptcy twice, in 2012 and 2017, but ultimately resolved her financial matters. Anita, who was estranged from her mother, had included a provision in her will to financially support Tam with HK$70,000 monthly through a trust, an amount later augmented following legal disputes. In 2022, both mother and son publicly feuded when Peter filed a lawsuit against the production company behind the biopic Anita (2021), alleging trademark infringement, with both parties claiming financial motivations. Tam subsequently disowned Peter during the ongoing dispute. In 2024, Tam encountered another round of bankruptcy proceedings due to unpaid legal costs, leading the Hong Kong justice minister to request the liquidation of her assets. Peter, who remarried in 2025, expressed hope for reconciliation with his late mother, but reportedly severed all ties with her due to dissatisfaction with his actions. ST Headlines reported that Peter was taken aback by the news of his mother's passing and was seen arriving at the hospital around 3:30pm with a somber demeanor.",
  "summary": "HONG KONG, Aug 31 — Tam Mei Kam, the mother of late Cantopop star Anita Mui, died yesterday at the age of 102 afte...",
  "key_points": [
    "Tam Mei Kam, 102, dies from choking at Hong Kong home",
    "Anita Mui, Cantopop star, passed in 2003 at 40",
    "Financial disputes between mother and son Peter Mui"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The passing of Tam Mei Kam closes a chapter on a life marked by both fame through her daughter and later financial and family disputes that played out in public.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}