Wong Cho-lam moved his whole family back to Hong Kong for his daughter, hoping to give her a more stable life; he previously lived in mainland China and moved around frequently.

At 46, Hong Kong entertainer Wong Cho-lam is widely regarded as one of the more successful TVB alumni in recent years. While he doesn’t fit the conventional “idol” image, he has built his career through versatility and strong variety-show skills. After gaining recognition in Hong Kong, he further expanded into mainland China, where he has become a familiar face. In earlier years, Wong relocated with his family to the mainland for career reasons, but in recent years they moved back to Hong Kong—although his professional focus remains largely across the border. In other words, he now lives in Hong Kong and works primarily in mainland China.

Speaking on Chiu Hiu-sun’s program Red Chat Room, Wong explained that the decision to move back was mainly for the stability of his two daughters. During the pandemic, he moved to the mainland with his wife and children because opportunities in Hong Kong were limited at the time, and he had already been building his career in the mainland market. Relocating as a family also helped them stay together and avoid frequent travel and quarantine disruptions.

However, mainland life meant moving from city to city depending on work schedules. While that may be manageable for adults, it can be challenging for children to maintain friendships. Wong shared that he and his wife noticed the impact on their daughters—especially when they saw their child becoming less hopeful about making friends. Concerned about their growth and social environment, the couple decided to return to Hong Kong so their children could enjoy a more stable routine and build lasting friendships. He said he now feels relieved seeing both daughters with their own circles of friends.

Returning to Hong Kong came with trade-offs: the children gained stability, but Wong lost some work convenience. Since his career is still centered in the mainland, he frequently travels back and forth, which is physically demanding but, in his view, a practical compromise. He also revealed that he runs a “cultural industry” business, managing dozens of established artists and, together with trainees, a roster that could reach around 200 people. Monthly salary expenses alone reportedly exceed one million. Beyond that, he has ventured into side businesses such as food and beverage, launching a personal brand with notable success.

Looking back, Wong graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and joined TVB in 2004. Although he was not the typical leading-man type, his talent—particularly his impressions and vocal skills—helped him stand out, leading to more opportunities in TV dramas and entertainment shows. Around 2008 to 2010, his career in Hong Kong peaked, with Fuk Luk Sau helping boost his popularity. He later appeared on the mainland imitation show Your Face Sounds Familiar (Chinese edition), which brought him wider recognition and helped shape his mainland career trajectory.

Wong’s personal life has also been relatively steady. He began dating former Miss Chinese International Leanne Li in 2009. Their height difference became a frequent topic of jokes, but it did not affect their relationship. Wong proposed in 2014, they married in 2015, and the couple later had two daughters. Li has kept a lower profile professionally after marriage, focusing more on family and supporting Wong’s career, allowing him to pursue his work while maintaining a stable home life.