the confession of edison chen

the many faces of edison chen during his press conference in hong kong on Feb 21, 2008. photo grabbed from tv.







Edison Chen's original statement in English
(taken from SINA English)

Today, I've come back to Hong Kong to stand before you and account for myself. I've never escaped from my responsibility.

During the past a few weeks, I've been with my mother and my family and loved ones to show support and care, and, at the same time, have their support and care for me.

I admit most of the photos being circulated on the Internet were taken by me. But these photos were very private and have not been shown to people, and were never intended to be shown to anyone.

These photos were stolen from me illegally and distributed without my consent. There is no doubt whoever obtained these photos had been uploading them on the Internet with malicious and deliberate intent.

This matter has deteriorated to the extend that the society as a whole has been effected by this, and in this regard, I am deeply saddened.

I would like now to apologise to all the people for all the suffering that has been caused and the problems that have arisen from this.

I would like to apologise to all the ladies and to all their families for any harm or hurt that they've been feeling. I'm sorry.

I would like to also apologise to my mother and my father for the pain and suffering that I cost them during these past few weeks.

Most importantly, I would like to say sorry to all the people in Hong Kong. I give my apology sincerely to you all, unreservedly and with my heart.

I know young people in Hong Kong look up to many figures in our society, and in this regard, I have failed, I have failed as a role model. However, I wish this matter would teach everyone a lesson. To all the young people in our community: let this be a lesson for you all. This is not an example to be set for you.

During my time away, I've made an important decision. I will wholeheartedly fulfill all commitments that I have to take, but after that, I've decided to step away from the Hong Kong entertainment industry.

I've decided to do this to give myself an opportunity to heal myself and to search my soul. I will delicate my time to charity and community work within the next few months. I will be away from Hong Kong entertainment indefinitely; there is no time frame.

I've be assisting the police since the first day that the photos were published, and I will continue to assist them. After this press conf., I've obligations to help them with their investgation, and hope that this case can end soon, as everyone, I think, has the same wish.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank the police for their hard work on this case. Thank you.

I believe everyone's priority now, my priority now, is to stop the suffering and the pain. For not letting this ... we do not want to let this situation become more out of control. We need to protect all the innocent and all the young for matters like this. In this regard, I've been instructing my lawyers to do everything possible within the law to protect all the innocent victims of this case.

I believe that the press statements that are being issued as we speak are what my lawyers had advised me to do.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for coming here today, and listening to what I have to say. I would like to also apologise once again to all the ladies and their families, my family, and to everyone in Hong Kong and everyone in our society. I'm deeply saddened by this, and I apologise to everyone that has to go through this.

I would like to also thank you for giving me this opportunity to say what I've wanted to say all along in my heart. I hope, after today, I can have your forgiveness. With regard to this case, with everything, everything that had happened, I'm deeply sorry.

I hope you all would accept my apology, and give me a chance. Thank you.