HONG KONG - HONG KONG singer and actor Edison Chen said on Thursday that he would step away from the Hong Kong entertainment industry, in his first public appearance since a nude picture scandal broke in January.

'I've decided to step away from the Hong Kong entertainment industry,' Chen told reporters, while apologising to Hong Kong for the scandal which has drawn blanket media coverage over several weeks.

He said in a brief statement he would fulfil existing commitments before stepping down 'indefinitely'.

It has been reported in China Press that Chen attempted suicide after the nude photos of him and several Hong Kong starlets started circulating the Internet.

The 28-year-old singer and actor fled to the United States after the controversy erupted. It is also reported that he refused to eat and have confined himself to his home.

Several companies have terminated their contracts with the star after the scandal came to light. The photos started appearing on the Internet after Chen sent his computer in for repairs.

Hong Kong triads were said to want actor Chen dead after the scandal spread, with racy photos of more starlets including Bobo Chan and Twins singer Gillian Chang were posted on the Net.

Word has it that an underworld figure has offered a HK$500,000 (S$128,000) reward to hack off one of his hands, reported Apple Daily Hong Kong.

Apple Daily HK, quoting a police source, reported that someone is planning to harm Chen when he returns.

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My Opinion? It's a waste as he's really got talent n the charisma. Remember the suave Ryosuke Takahashi he acted as in HK movie Initial D(2005)? I was hoping for a sequel, but I think maybe not after this incident. Let's just say this whole incident is down to technological ignorance.

Handsome looking he may be, but I guess he know nuts about computers. As a man, I take my hat off him for being able to bed so many different female celebrities. But as a computer/technology enthusiast, I have to laugh at him for being so careless.

Yeah, take all the "artistic" photos u want, keep as many as u like since u like to browse through them during ur free time or occasionally view them as ur trophies. But when ur computer spoils, deleting the pictures wun render them unrecoverable. Didn't he hear of data recovery services?? Juz too bad for him if he hadn't heard of such a service. Then this is the price he has to pay.

Goodbye Edison, I hope u can continue with ur life in the West after this. Hopefully there won't be any news of your arm getting hacked off in the future. Good luck to u..