Hong Kong - Gone was her distinctive square jaw. In its place, a V-shaped face.

Ming Pao Daily News, in its report yesterday, noted Bernice Liu's facial transformation when the Hong Kong actress attended a watch exhibition on Tuesday where she modelled timepieces.

Liu was expected to respond to a report in Oriental Sunday magazine that she had facial surgery to improve her fortunes.

She had suffered a series of setbacks, it had alleged, after splitting with her boyfriend, actor Moses Chan.

Her TVB contract was not renewed after reports said she was joining City Telecom's upcoming free-to-air TV station, and she had gone to China to work, it added.

On Tuesday, the 33-year-old told reporters: "I'm happy that you've noticed I'm thinner and prettier. It was very hard filming in China's 38-degree weather. I'm also older now and have lost baby fat. This is proof of my hard work."

She now resembles Chan's current girlfriend, the sharp-chinned actress Aimee Chan, 31, and she had been texting Moses Chan, 41, to try and win him back, Oriental Sunday alleged.

But Liu said: "I have no more links with Mr and Miss Chan. His number is no longer in my phone."

She added that she now has a new suitor and they are "developing their relationship".

Denying that she had pleaded with TVB executive Virginia Lok to return to the station, she said her calendar was full till next year with filming on the mainland.

Earlier this year, Ricky Wong, head of City Telecom, denied asking her to get her "pizza" face - as is described in the media - Botoxed. Liu herself said then: "A chubby face gives more fortune."

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