Jacky Cheung, ex-alcoholic gambler

24 Jun - Veteran Hong Kong singer-songwriter Jacky Cheung said that he turned alcoholic after hitting a career low some years ago, according to a report by May Daily website.

"I could firmly control my work, be it recording albums or doing concerts. But I couldn't control drinking. I don't like that feeling," the 49-year-old said during a recent TV interview.

As luck would have it, with support and advice from his fellow peers and girlfriend, who is now his wife, May Lo, Jacky re-emerged and has been doing well.

After all, he's known as the 'God of Songs' and one of the 'Four Heavenly Kings'.

Jacky was rumoured to have helped his older brother repay a huge gambling debt in 1993 but it turned out that Jacky had an even bigger gambling problem than his brother.

"It is not reliable to make money by gambling. So after I started working, I stopped gambling," he said.