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I've always loved Leslie - Mr. Tong's interview at Leslie's house

Yesterday night, at 22.30 pm, at Leslie's home some friends and family members joined Mr. Tong to discuss about Leslie's funeral. At 2.30 am one of them went away without saying a word. At 3.30 pm Tong Tong went out, wearing a white bathrobe and, saying sorry, he said to reporters: "Please, go away". His eyes are red and swollen: it was evident that he cried a lot. Tong Tong kindly accepted an inteview for our magazine, standing behind the gate of his entrance.

R: Mr. Tong, please, tell us something...

Tong: Please, don't take pictures! If you do it, I come back in.

R: Was Leslie's mood unstable lately?

Tong: Lately he was emotionally unstable. Many friends were beside him...

R: Do you know that Leslie had an appointement with a friend at the Mandarine Oriental Hotel?

Tong: At noon he told me he had a meeting with a friend. At 2.00 pm I told the driver to call Leslie just in case he needed to change his clothes. Then about 5 pm I called him to invite him to play baminton together about 7 pm. At that moment everything as normal and he said we wanted to play badminton. After I received a call by Florence Chan: she said she had an appointement with Leslie, but he didn't come yet. At the moment I realised that something was wrong...

R: When did you know about the tragedy?

Tong: Somebody called me. I was so shocked. At first I thought it was an April's fool joke...

R: Could you see Leslie for the last time?

Tong: I saw him for a short time. I wanted to see him longer, but the doctor said me to see him the less as possible.

R: Did you read his last note? What did he write?

Tong: I read it, but I can't tell you the content. Only thing I can tell you is there wasn't any "third person" or so on like rumours say...

R: The feeling between you two hasn't changed?

Tong: The relationship between Leslie and me doesn't change. Tabloids and magazines write what they want. It's unfair!

R: They say in his latest note Leslie wrote: "I didn't do anything bad in my life, why this?" What about that "why this"?

Tong: I know it, but I don't want to say anything.

R: Don't you divulge his latest note? People want to know about Leslie. This would be useful to avoid false rumours.

Tong: I'll take a decision after consulting with his family.

R: Is there something that Leslie couldn't fulfill?

Tong: Don't you know it??? You don't know anthing!!! Leslie has always been confident he could be talented to be a director. It's evident that he strongly longed to direct movies.

R: I heard Leslie couldn't pull away from his character after acting in 'Inner senses' and he suffered from a psychological injury...

Tong: Leslie is very professional. It's impossible that he couldn't pull away from his character...

R: Do you know the reason why he killed himself?

Tong: I can imagine the reason, but I don't want to talk about it. But I can say he wasn't possessed by any evil spirit and there was any "third person" between us. Perhaps it's due to his work.

R: What was wrong?

Tong: He longed to direct his own movie, but this project came to a standstill.

R: Until now have you noticed he wanted to kill himself?

Tong: To tell the truth, last November he tried to kill himself, but he failed.

R: Is this true? This news hasn't be released. What happened?

Tong: I don't want to talk about it.

R: Did Leslie go to see a doctor? Did he take any medicine?

Tong: Leslie was going to see a doctor since a long time. (Mr. Tong didn't reply about medecines).

R: There is a rumour that Leslie suffered from depression syndrome.

Tong: Personally, I think so.

R: Have you already do the list of the members of the committee for the funeral?

Tong: This is not my task. It's up to his family. I think Leslie will be cremated. When he was alive he said he wanted to be cremated.

R: In this moment do you love Leslie?

Tong: In this moment? Why 'in this moment'? I've always loved Leslie. Our sentiment has never changed.

R: Are you going to do something for Leslie today (April 2)?

Tong: For now I will avoid to go out. I couldn't do anything because I know you would follow me.

After 20 minutes from this inteview Tong Tong urged reporters to go away and no wait out, but reporters stayed there in front of the house for the whole day.

from Toohoonippoo - 04.03.2003 - Asia Entertainment Information Center

Translation from Japanese to Italian by my dear friend Soko - thank you very much!