She suffered a fall in 2010 after working for more than 10 hours for four consecutive days and was hospitalised. Months later, rumours of her suffering from Parkinson’s disease started circulating, although she quickly denied the rumours.

She has not appeared in public for the last couple of years, and is believed to have mobility issues. Heung Kam was photographed by the paparazzi getting carried onto her wheelchair during one of her recent hospital visits.

Her daughter Siu Ji Wan shared with the media last September that apart from a failing memory, the actress was in good health.

According to the Hongkong media, Heung Kam's health deteriorated rapidly in December, and her family members were asked to prepare themselves for the worst.

Fellow actress Tam Sin Hung shared with the media that Heung Kam had trouble swallowing food for the past couple of days, and that her condition suddenly took a turn for the worse earlier today (Jan 4). She was rushed to the hospital, where she passed away hours later.

Heung Kam dropped out of school to join the opera troupe at 16, and made her big screen debut four years later with How Wong Fei-Hung Thrice Tricked the Lady Security Escort. She shot to fame in 1960 after playing the villain in River Of Mandarin Duck. She later joined TVB where she went on to create more classic characters. 

Photos: PBE Media, Ming Pao