HONG KONG singer and songwriter Ronald Cheng Chung Kei has announced a temporary hiatus from his career, citing health and emotional challenges, Sin Chew Daily reported.
The singer disclosed on social media that he has been struggling with depression and has turned to alcohol to cope.
After fulfilling his current work commitments, Cheng plans to travel to the United States for treatment.
He also apologised to his wife Sammie Yu and their children.
Cheng’s struggles are not new.
He encountered a significant low point in 2000 following a drunken incident on a flight.
In his post, Cheng acknowledged his ongoing battle with alcohol and revealed that despite maintaining a seemingly flawless public persona, he has struggled with stress management and personal growth.
He expressed deep gratitude to Yu, crediting her with helping him to enter a new phase in his life.
The couple have since built a happy family with two children.
Cheng also said it was at the insistence of a friend that he sought medical help, leading to a diagnosis of depression.
Cheng said he is determined to address his personal and professional issues and that his wife will accompany him to the United States where he will undergo a rehabilitation programme.
● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >' sign, it denotes a separate news item.