HONG KONG - THE owner of Bruce Lee's family mansion in Hong Kong has abandoned his plan to sell the property and will consider turning it into a museum celebrating the kung fu film legend, a report said on Thursday.

Millionaire philanthropist Yu Panglin, who bought the house for HK$850,000 (S$148,042) in the 1960s, had invited bidders for the property, the South China Morning Post said.

But he decided to withdraw from the sale, following calls from fans of the star to preserve Lee's former home.

'I will consider the views of the community and different parties. I may consider donating the property if the majority thinks we should preserve it,' he told the newspaper.

His original plan was to have part of the proceeds donated to the Sichuan earthquake victims, the newspaper said.

Yu said the sale of the house, which until five years ago was used as a seedy 'love hotel", had attracted many bidders including one who offered US$105 million for the house, according to the report.

The US-born Lee died at the age of 32 in 1973, after a brief but bright career as the high-kicking hero of Hong Kong movies like Big Boss and Fist of Fury, which remain hugely popular across the world. -- AFP