Former Miss Hong Kong champion Halina Tam, once dubbed the “7A Miss Hong Kong” and regarded as a “student sweetheart” during the height of her popularity, has largely stepped away from showbiz in recent years. Now living in Canada with her husband Eric Choi, she has started a new chapter in Toronto’s food and beverage industry.
Tam, who won the Miss Hong Kong crown in 1994, was heavily promoted by TVB following her victory and appeared in dramas including Happy Harmony and The W Files. She later ventured into music, releasing an EP and collaborating with Ekin Cheng on the song If the Sky Wants to Rain. At the height of her fame, her posters and photographs were reportedly popular items at Hong Kong’s Sino Centre.
In 2007, Tam married insurance executive Eric Choi. After completing Forensic Heroes III in 2011, she left TVB following a 17-year association with the broadcaster. At the time, she said she wanted to step away from acting to focus on her health and plans to start a family.
Tam later moved into the food and beverage business with her husband’s support, officially starting her venture in 2014. At its peak, she reportedly operated as many as six outlets and cha chaan teng restaurants in Hong Kong. The businesses were eventually closed, and in 2024, Tam and her husband relocated to Canada, where they restarted their restaurant business in Toronto.
Tam celebrated her 54th birthday on September 6 and shared a recent photo on Instagram, thanking everyone for their birthday wishes and wishing her followers good health and happiness.
In the photo, Tam wore a simple orange T-shirt featuring the logo of her own cha chaan teng and smiled for the camera. Her casual and natural appearance showed a different side of the former beauty queen compared with her years in front of the cameras, drawing attention to her life after moving abroad.
Last year, former entertainment industry worker-turned-KOL Sam also shared a photo with Tam and revealed that she enjoys working at the restaurant. According to Sam, Tam likes being able to meet neighbours and friends every day as they drop by to eat and chat.
Tam’s past relationships also attracted considerable attention. At the height of her career in 1998, she began dating choreographer Sunny Wong, who was known for working with Aaron Kwok. Their relationship lasted around four years before ending in 2002.
Tam later returned to acting before marrying Choi in 2007. Their marriage has faced several challenges over the years. In 2017, Choi was diagnosed with stage-one lung cancer, and Tam remained by his side throughout the difficult period.
The couple have since settled in Canada and are now running a restaurant in Toronto. Although Tam’s life is far more low-key than during her showbiz days, she continues to occasionally share updates about her daily life on social media.
