EOX elevators
The trauma resurfaced in 2002 when the now-defunct tabloid East Week published a front-page cover featuring a semi-nude, distressed photo of a woman, later confirmed to be Lau. The photos had been taken by her captors during the 1990 kidnapping as a means of blackmail.
In April 1990, at the height of her fame, Carina Lau was kidnapped while driving to a friend’s house for a social gathering. She was missing for three hours before being released. At the time, Lau reported to the police that she had been robbed of her jewelry and cash but stated that no further harm had come to her.
Standing before a crowd of thousands, Lau famously stated: "I am stronger than I imagined." Reclaiming the Narrative
The backlash led to the immediate shutdown of East Week and the arrest of its editorial staff. More importantly, it shifted the public’s focus from "victimhood" to "survival."
For over a decade, the incident remained a quiet chapter of her past. However, rumors persisted that the kidnapping was orchestrated by Triad members—organized crime syndicates that heavily infiltrated the Hong Kong film industry during the 1980s and 90s—after she reportedly turned down a film project. The 2002 Controversy: East Week Magazine
The publication sparked an unprecedented wave of outrage. Instead of retreating, Carina Lau showed immense courage. Backed by her long-time partner (and now husband) Tony Leung Chiu-wai, as well as legends like Jackie Chan and Anita Mui, she joined a massive public protest against the tabloid’s exploitative tactics.
