IT was his first public appearance since his ex-wife Lydia Sum died.

But as he sat in the front row at a memorial service at the Hong Kong Coliseum, next to his daughter Joyce, Adam Cheng must have wished he was somewhere else.

Known for his heroic swordsman image in various period drama serials, the HongKong actor became a public enemy.

The 6,000-strong audience as well as 500 celebrity guests were mostly shedding quiet tears, until Alan took to the stage.

He blurted out: "It's so strange. Doesn't her daughter have a father?

"Why has the responsibility (of watching over Joyce) fallen on all her aunties and uncles? Why has Adam Cheng only appeared now?"

The crowd finally broke their sullen silence and clapped in agreement.

Since Lydia's death, the Hong Kong media has gone to town with stories about why Adam has not been involved in the funeral.

Egged on by encouragement from the audience, Alan taunted:

"Adam, do you want to explain what you have given Ah Fei (Lydia) and your daughter all these years?"

Adam smiled, got up and invited his 20-year-old daughter along. As they walked towards the stage, he said something to Joyce and she nodded her head.

Then Adam took off his black beret to reveal a half-shaven head and told the audience he had not wanted to say too much so as to "avoid people deliberately writing false things".

He has been filming a remake of his hit TV serial, The Legend of The Book And The Sword, in Hengdian town in Zhejiang province, China, all this while.

He then explained that since his marriage with Lydia failed, and with Joyce being sent to study in Vancouver, he has not had the chance to take good care of his daughter.

But whenever Joyce visited Hong Kong, he would take her out to play with his two other daughters with his wife, former Taiwanese actress Kuan Ching-hua.

"As a father, I must give my love and do my duty," he said. Adam, 61, went on to explain why he couldn't fly to Canada, where Lydia's funeral was held.

He gave a big sigh and said to Joyce: "I can only tell the truth, okay?"

While Joyce nodded, someone in the audience shouted at Adam: "Keep quiet". Adam ignored the remark, and continued his explanation.

He said that around Christmas and New Year, when Lydia was seriously ill, he had called Joyce to ask her out to dinner, to show his support.

"But Joyce said she wanted to keep her mother company and didn't want to leave her alone in the hospital," he added.

He also explained why he did not visit Lydia.

"Joyce says that every time someone visits Fei Fei, she would put on a spirited front but would end up being even more tired after that," he said, as Joyce nodded again.

He added: "Then when Fei Fei was in the intensive care unit, Joyce told me to wait till she was transferred to a normal room."

At that point, many in the crowd shouted: "They're just excuses!"

Adam said in response: "Is it just excuses? Listen to her (Joyce)."

Joyce took over and said "it was all a misunderstanding".

"Today's memorial is to remember my mummy. Let's not be affected by all these rumours and scandals," she said, to applause from the audience impressed by her maturity.

She added: "As long as my family and I understand and we know the truth, it's okay."

In the end, Adam did not get to clarify why he did not fly to Vancouver to attend Lydia's burial last Wednesday.

But in an exclusive interview with Ming Pao Weekly, he said he was merely following Joyce's suggestion.

"She told me that I'm old already and didn't want me to run around and tire myself, so she suggested I attend the memorial service (in Hong Kong) instead," he said.

Despite what Adam has said, most in the audience did not seem to believe him.

A Lydia fan, Ms Cheung Lit Ying, 45, who was still crying at the end of the service, told The New Paper she doesn't think well of Adam.

"He's given me a bad impression because he didn't see Fei Fei off in Vancouver," she said.

Another Hong Konger, Ms Cheung Lai, 60, said: "It's very bad of him. We have seen how Lydia had treated him with sincerity. He's got to where he is today because of her. What he said (on stage) is revolting, I don't believe him."

But Ms Clara Tse, 35, said: "Whatever it is, it's their business. Our opinions are only based on what we read in the papers."

Agreed Mr File Ip, who works in Hong Kong's Celestial Movies and had known Lydia since the 1980s.

He said: "It's hard to say who's right or wrong or to blame anyone.

"I'm sure Fei Fei wouldn't want to see such a situation where everyone is against Adam or to have him bear such a heavy burden."