A long-running contract dispute involving 12.76 million HKD between Cecilia Cheung and her former manager Yu Yuk-hing took an unexpected turn when Cheung revealed in court that she suffers from a “numerical phobia.” During the December 5 hearing at the High Court in Hong Kong, she testified that she becomes anxious when dealing with numbers, saying she can count from 1 to 7, but feels fear once she reaches 8. She even admitted she cannot remember her own phone number.
Cheung explained that all number-related tasks in her daily life—from utility bills to her children’s matters—are handled entirely by her current manager, Chow Ching-yee. She noted she can recite Chow’s phone number only because the two “share a bond through hardships.” The revelation became a key contextual point in her defense.
Yu Yuk-hing claims that Cheung signed an exclusive global management contract between 2011 and 2012, received over 40 million HKD in advance payments for two films, yet failed to fulfill her obligation to complete six additional movies. He is now seeking 12.76 million HKD in damages.
Cheung’s team, however, countered with a series of allegations: Yu’s company was ordered to liquidate in 2013, he was accused of forging company seals in 2014 to sign her onto a variety show, and he allegedly fled with funds in 2018. By 2019, he had been listed as a defaulter by mainland courts, reportedly owing nearly 60 million RMB in unpaid debts. These claims escalate the dispute into a broader challenge of Yu’s credibility and legitimacy.
The case has grown far beyond a simple breach-of-contract argument. On one side, Cheung cites psychological limitations as part of why she relied heavily on others for financial and contractual matters; on the other, her former manager faces sweeping accusations of dishonesty. Ultimately, what the court must decide goes beyond the 12.76 million HKD—it is now a deeper examination of trust, responsibility, and integrity.
