Coco family demands return of gowns from husband

Family of late Hong Kong-American singer Coco Lee said they may call the police to retrieve about 100 sets of gowns from her Canadian billionaire husband, Bruce Rockowitz.

A friend of the singer told The Standard's sister paper Sing Tao Daily that the family only retrieved six to seven gowns of Lee's, including a red cheongsam she wore at the 73rd Academy Awards ceremony in 2001, from Rockowitz's residence in Stanley, with about 100 sets still missing.

Lee, 48, died at Queen Mary Hospital on July 5, three days after she attempted to suicide in the toilet of her sister's home on The Peak.

Lee's friend said the family went to her estranged husband's residence in Stanley earlier this month, but they were obstructed from retrieving the dresses.

Rockowitz's company's employees said he was not in Hong Kong and insisted "not a single piece of gowns" was left in the residence, but the family members believed Lee did not take them with her when she moved out two years ago.

As Lee's performing costumes and gowns were worthy of memory, fans hoped to set up an exhibition showcasing them, and the family worried someone might be keeping them for illegal purposes or selling them, so they requested the dresses to be returned within 48 hours or they would report to the police.

The family received two boxes containing six to seven pieces of gowns subsequently, including the red cheongsam, which came to their mind when selecting the clothes for her funeral to accompany on her final journey.

Lee wore the red dress at the Oscars in 2001 and sang the theme song of Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee's film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

She had told Ang Lee: "I am the first Asian to sing at the Oscars, I must sing my heart out" before going onstage.

It is understood Lee left behind over 100 dresses at the former residence, including a white dress the family wanted to dress her for the funeral, as white was her preferred color.

Her funeral service will be held on Monday at Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point from 4pm, with a public mourning period scheduled from 6pm to 10pm for fans and media.

Livestream will also be available on Lee's elder sister Nancy Lee's YouTube channel, from 4pm to 7pm on Monday and from 9.30am to 10.30am on Tuesday.

There will be eight pallbearers, including Lee's brother-in-law Billy Ho, Macau singer Jenny Tseng, Taiwanese lyricist and author Yao Chien, three close friends, co-president of Warner Music Asia Jonathan Serbin and a fan, Yang Yang. Photographing or filming will not be allowed during the service.

Nancy Lee had earlier said that memorial services will also be held in the mainland and Taiwan next month.