Anita Mui’s mum dies at 102 after choking on food

PUBLISHED ONAugust 30, 20268:22 AMBYYeo Shu Hui

Late Cantopop singer Anita Mui’s mother died at the age of 102 today (Aug 30).

Hong Kong media The Standard reported the emergency services received a report at around 10:48am that an elderly woman had choked while eating and collapsed inside a unit at Leighton Road, Hong Kong.

She was found unconscious when paramedics arrived and rushed to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for emergency treatment, where she was later pronounced dead.

The woman was later identified as Anita’s mum, Tam Mei Kam, and police are currently investigating the cause of death.

According to a report by ST Headlines today, Tam rarely made public appearances since her 100th birthday celebration two years ago and was last seen in February in a Chinese New Year greeting posted on Anita’s international fan club’s Facebook page.

Since Anita died of cervical cancer in 2003, Tam had been embroiled in financial and family disputes with her son Peter.

Besides Anita and Peter, Tam had two children Ann and Tak Ming, who died of uterine cancer in 2000 and throat cancer in 2015 respectively.

In 2012, she declared bankruptcy as she didn’t pay lawyer fees amounting to HK$2.24 million (S$364,000) after losing a legal battle for Anita’s estate. She was discharged from the order in 2016.

She filed for bankruptcy again in 2017 but was ultimately able to pay off her debts.

According to reports then, Anita, who was not close with Tam, had stated in her will that her money would go to a trust after her death that would disburse HK$70,000 to her mother monthly. Through various legal battles, Tam’s monthly allowance was later increased.

In 2022, she and Peter were embroiled in a public feud after he sued the production company behind the biopic Anita (2021) for allegedly infringing trademark rights, where they accused each other of being obsessed with money.

Tam also disowned Peter in the midst of the feud.

In 2024, Tam faced bankruptcy for the second time after she failed to pay legal fees amounting to HK$2.24 million and had a Hong Kong justice minister applied to court to have her assets liquidated.

Peter, who remarried in 2025, told Hong Kong media then that he was looking to patch things up with Tam, but she allegedly chose to severe ties with him as she was dissatisfied with his words and actions.

ST Headlines wrote in a separate report today that Peter was shocked when contacted by the media about Tam’s death.

He reportedly told the media that he was unaware and had lost contact with all his relatives.

He was seen arriving at the hospital at about 3.30pm with a solemn expression.

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