Hong Kong opera actress, 32, weds father's longtime friend, 73, after whirlwind romance

Cantonese opera actress Yemina Yu Chung Yan, 32, has married former Hong Kong lawmaker Lo Wai Kwok, 73, a longtime friend of her father whom she had called "Uncle Lo" for more than two decades.

The couple tied the knot on Oct. 11 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Beas River Country Club in a ceremony attended by around 300 guests.

Lo is 41 years older than his bride and 10 years older than her father, horse racing commentator Yu Pak Lok, 63, according to 8days.sg.

The former lawmaker and Yu's father became friends through their mutual passion for horse racing and traditional arts when Yu was a young girl. She began studying Cantonese opera at the age of five.

Lo first became aware of her talent at an opera competition before discovering she was his friend's daughter.

The two even shared the stage around 2018 in the Cantonese opera "Lan Du Er Shu Lao Po," in which Lo's character repeatedly addressed Yu's character as his "wife."

Their relationship took a romantic turn in May this year, after Yu completed her final veterinary medicine examinations at City University of Hong Kong.

They began exchanging late-night messages about life and their shared love of Cantonese opera, often quoting lines from classic performances.

Within just three weeks, they decided to get married, reserving a wedding venue, ordering rings and arranging the bridal gown.

That same month, Lo, chairman of the Business and Professionals Alliance and a former legislator, publicly introduced Yu as his fiancée at a party meeting.

Despite their 41-year age difference, the couple share interests in Cantonese opera, music and horses.

Lo said their previous relationship, which involved friendship and mentorship, had been "very pure," and that they had only confirmed their romantic feelings three weeks before becoming engaged, AsiaOne reported.

"Deep down, we may have admired each other, but neither of us realised it or ever expressed it," he said, describing their marriage as "fate."

Their wedding celebrated those shared passions. They chose the country club because of their love of horses, while Lo arrived to collect his bride in his red 1994 Ferrari 348 Spider.

In a social media post, he joked that the sports car was manufactured in the same year his wife was born.

During the wedding banquet, Lo also played the saxophone and performed an English duet with Yu.

Yu's father reportedly expressed his support for the marriage, saying he had "no problem with it." He described Lo as someone who values personal relationships and said he believed his daughter had carefully considered her decision.

The newlyweds thanked the public and media for their congratulations, with Lo saying they intended to continue contributing to society.