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Sum Sum

Sylvia Lai Sui-Pun (Chinese: 黎小斌; born 23 June 1951), better known by her Sum Sum (森森), is a semi-retired singer and actress whose career spanned the and 1980s, encompassing music albums in , , and pop genres as well as roles in popular television series and films. Sum Sum began her entertainment career in the late , initially gaining attention through her singing with releases on labels like Regal and , including the 1971 album Midnight Guitar (午夜結他), which featured a mix of and Western-influenced tracks. Her musical style often incorporated and elements, as heard in collaborations like the 1970s track "青春舞曲" with Pan Pan, reflecting the vibrant music scene of the era. Transitioning to acting, Sum Sum appeared in notable productions such as the 1979 TV series Chor Lau-heung (), where she portrayed Princess Peipa, and the 1983 wuxia adaptation (), playing the character Luk Yileung (). These roles established her in Hong Kong's television industry, alongside earlier film credits like Huan le kan sheng man hua tang (1969) and Xiang Gang chao ren (1975). Her work contributed to the golden age of and dramas, though she largely withdrew from the spotlight in later decades.

Early life

Family background

Sylvia Lai Sui-pun, professionally known as Sum Sum, was born on 23 June 1951 in . Her family originated from Meixian in province in . Sum Sum's other stage names include Sylvia Lai and Lai Sui-pun. She has a younger sister, Betty Lai Siu-man, who adopted the stage name Ban Ban and later pursued a in entertainment, occasionally collaborating with Sum Sum. Little is documented about specific early family influences on Sum Sum's path to the entertainment industry.

Entry into entertainment

During her teenage years in the mid-1960s, Sum Sum, born Sylvia Lai Sui-pun in 1951, developed an early interest in and amid Hong Kong's burgeoning landscape. Influenced by her younger , who also aspired to enter the , Sum Sum began exploring performance opportunities, with her mother preparing the stage name Sum Sum based on her own surname for the sister but allowing Sum Sum to use it. In 1966, at age 15, Sum Sum made her debut as a young performer by forming the amateur musical group BumbleBees alongside her sister and four male singers; the band recorded a promotional disc to raise awareness for traffic safety in . This initial venture provided her first taste of professional recording and public engagement. The following year, in 1967, Sum Sum adopted her and entered her breakthrough moment by competing in the inaugural all- public women's singing contest held at the , where she emerged victorious and claimed the title of Hong Kong's Queen of Singing Diva. This achievement, at just 16 years old, quickly propelled her into the spotlight. Building on this success, Sum Sum joined Television Broadcasts Limited () in autumn , becoming one of the station's first signed artists and a host on its pioneering live variety program Enjoy Yourself Tonight (Huan Le Jin Xiao). This formal entry into television marked the solid foundation of her professional career in . She graduated from Hong Kong New Method College.

Professional career

Music career

Following her victory in the 1967 "Hong Kong Song Queen" contest at the Restaurant nightclub's inaugural public female singing competition, Sum Sum launched her solo singing career, performing on early variety programs and establishing herself as a prominent vocalist in Hong Kong's evolving landscape. Her initial performances featured a blend of melodic covers and original songs, drawing influences from Western pop structures and local folk elements that foreshadowed the rise of in the 1970s. In 1973, Sum Sum partnered with her younger sister Ban Ban to form the musical duo Sum Sum Ban Ban, marking a shift toward collaborative singing that became a hallmark of their joint work. The duo quickly gained traction through appearances on TVB's flagship Enjoy Yourself Tonight, where they showcased synchronized vocals and lighthearted duets, appealing to audiences with their sisterly chemistry and accessible pop arrangements. This partnership expanded Sum Sum's reach, allowing her to explore duo dynamics while maintaining her solo identity in parallel performances. The duo's debut album, Star, Moon, Sun (星星.月亮.冇太陽), was released in 1979 by Sun Hing Records, serving as the theme song collection for the popular radio program of the same name. Key tracks included the title song "星星.月亮.冇太陽" ( by with lyrics by Wong Jim), an upbeat duet celebrating companionship; "聽歌好處多" (), highlighting the joys of ; and solo spots like Sum Sum's "夢裡花園" (Dream Garden), which demonstrated her versatile phrasing. The album received favorable reception for its catchy, radio-friendly tunes and harmonious sibling interplay, contributing to the duo's status as pioneers of family-based acts and boosting their popularity in during the late 1970s.

Acting and television career

Sum Sum began her acting career in the late , debuting in the comedy film Huan le kan sheng man hua tang (1969), where she played a supporting role. She continued building her screen presence with an appearance in the action-comedy Xiang Gang chao ren (1975). Concurrently, during her tenure at from 1967 to 1983, she took on hosting duties on the long-running Enjoy Yourself Tonight, contributing to its lively entertainment format alongside other performers. One of her standout dramatic performances came in the 1979 TVB wuxia series Chor Lau-heung, in which she portrayed the character Princess Peipa, showcasing a shift toward more serious roles. In 1983, she played Luk Yileung in the TVB wuxia series The Return of the Condor Heroes. In 1983, Sum Sum transitioned from TVB to ATV to expand her opportunities in acting and related fields. At ATV, she maintained an active presence in television until her final role in 2006, including supporting parts in period dramas that highlighted her versatility in ensemble casts.

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

Sum Sum, born Sylvia Lai Sui-pun, married , a , singer, and younger brother of martial arts legend , in December 1977 in the United States. The union produced a son in 1980, but the couple divorced in 1983 after six years, with Lee later attributing the separation to his own poor choices and bad habits developed in the entertainment industry, including behaviors that led to significant personal regrets. Following her , Sum Sum maintained a low profile in her romantic life for several years before entering her second in to Wong Chung-tak, a Macau-based businessman outside the circle. The couple traveled to , , where they registered their on December 21, 1992. This partnership marked a shift toward a more private existence, with no reported separations since.

Family and residences

Sum Sum has one son, Clarence Lee Ka Ho, born in 1980 from her first marriage to . Little public information is available regarding Clarence's personal or life, reflecting the family's preference for . She maintains a close familial bond with her sister, Betty Lai, professionally known as Ban Ban, who also pursued a career in Hong Kong entertainment; the sisters collaborated on various projects during the and , contributing to their shared legacy in the industry. Post-collaboration, their relationship has remained as supportive , providing personal stability amid Sum Sum's semi-retirement. Following her marriages, Sum Sum experienced relocations that influenced her living arrangements, including a period associated with due to her 1992 marriage, and she has since settled in with her second husband as of 2024. In October 2024, at age 73, she was reported to be in good health and maintaining a low profile.

Later years and legacy

Semi-retirement and notable events

Following her second marriage in 1992, Sum Sum largely withdrew from the entertainment industry, relocating to and limiting her professional engagements to occasional appearances. She has maintained a low-profile in , with occasional travels and social engagements, such as a 2024 trip to with her sister and friends, as of November 2025.

Awards and recognition

In 1967, Sum Sum won the title of Hong Kong's of Singing in a public singing competition organized by the Blue Sky Restaurant nightclub, marking an early pinnacle in her career as a performer. This victory propelled her into the spotlight and led to her signing with shortly thereafter. Throughout the late and , Sum Sum received multiple accolades for her vocal performances, including three consecutive wins of the Top Ten Singers Golden sponsored by the Hong Kong Overseas Chinese Daily. She also earned the Golden Throat from , the Best TV Singer and Most Popular Singer from , and the Golden Statue Singer from Tian Tian Daily. These honors highlighted her prominence during the era of emerging and variety entertainment. Sum Sum's contributions to television, particularly as a founding host on TVB's landmark variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight (歡樂今宵), earned her recognition as one of the program's key early contributors. Her duo performances with her sister Ban Ban (斑斑) further solidified their success in the 1970s, blending music and hosting in ways that influenced Hong Kong's entertainment landscape. As a in 's and television sectors, Sum Sum is acknowledged for her role in popularizing Cantonese-language singing and variety formats during the and , paving the way for subsequent generations of performers. Her enduring impact is evident in her status as an inaugural contract artist and a staple of early multilingual broadcasts.

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    ### Summary for 森森 (Sum Sum)
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