With the passing of Wu Mengda, or Ng Man-Tat (吳孟達), netizens have been sharing their fond memories of him. It’s not just tributes to his many roles on screen, some of these memories are from seeing him personally on the street.
One common factor in most of these photos and videos is his current wife. Wu often went on dates with his wife, Hou Shanyan. Their visible love for one another has moved many netizens.
Wu Mengda met his Malaysian-born wife in 1993 when he was filming “All’s Well, Ends Well Too” in Singapore. They married in 1996 and have been happily married for 20 years with two children, a daughter (25) and a son (18).
In the photos, Wu and his wife look like any ordinary long-time couple enjoying time together. In one video, Wu is wandering the mall with his wife, dressed comfortably in a striped shirt. The duo were talking and laughing as they walked. Another netizen shared a photo from when they saw the couple in a restaurant. Hou is sitting by Wu, looking rather pretty with her hair in a bun while playing with her phone. Wu is on the phone beside her. The two give off the feeling of having been in a relationship for a long time.
The netizen who shared the picture mentioned they had seen the couple dating on many occasions, but had never dared to ask for a photo with Wu Mengda. Now, they can only post clips from the past to mourn him.
Wu loved his wife and showed it, not just by accompanying her on shopping trips. After marrying Hou, Johor Bharu became his new home for over two decades. The former beauty queen was initially from Segamat, Johor. According to Oriental Daily, a close relative disclosed that Ng rarely left Johor Bharu, unless he had filming engagements overseas.
He was admitted to a hospital in China for treatment, but was later brought back to Hong Kong as per his wishes. On 27th February, he succumbed to the cancer that ravaged his body. Wu Mengda’s funeral will be held on 7th March, with a one-hour public memorial for the public to pay tribute.
Sources: China Press, Malay Mail
