Hong Kong actor Steve Lee Ka Ding broke down in tears during a recent TVB interview as he recounted the loss of his former spouse, actress Frances Shi Ming. The 81-year-old struggled to maintain composure when describing how he learned of her passing, describing himself as devastated and emotionally shattered by the news.
One of Lee's deepest sources of pain is that he was unable to visit Shi before she died. The actor alleged that his eldest son Augustine, also an accomplished actor, had prevented family members and friends from seeing her throughout the final nine months of her illness. Lee expressed his fury over the situation, saying he had been so angry he nearly acted violently but managed to restrain himself.
Earlier this month, Lee publicly ended his relationship with Augustine, citing serious grievances including the depletion of his financial resources and Augustine's decision to withhold the news of Shi's death for ten days. During the interview, Lee struggled with his emotions as he spoke of his enduring love for Shi, describing her as the first woman he ever truly cared for.
Lee revealed that he had wished to take Shi on a trip to fulfill one of her dreams, but medical professionals determined her health was too fragile to safely undertake air travel. The pair were married from 1977 to 1994 and have two sons together: Augustine and Gregory, who is also an actor.
Reflecting on their divorce, Lee attributed the breakdown of their marriage to a financial misunderstanding that created distance between them. He disclosed that he made eight separate attempts to restore their relationship, including a trip to Los Angeles in July 1998 in hopes of reconciliation.
