AS she sniffled and coughedon her flight from New York to Hong Kong, Maggie Cheung feared the worst.

Developing flu during such a period has tremendous implications, especially since she had been in New York, which had seen cases of the Influenza A(H1N1) flu.

The 44-year-old multi-award winning actress was supposed to transit to Taiwan to grace an event, but she had to cancel it.

Maggie was scheduled to attend the opening of the first Qeelin jewellery boutique in Taipei yesterday afternoon. Qeelin was started by her ex-boyfriend Guillaume Brochard andher friend Chen Ruilin.

Fortunately, her worries were later unfounded.

She did not get the H1N1 virus.

Through Mr Chen, Maggie refuted reports which said she hadbeen barred. She said through Mr Chen: “I’m fine now, nothing’s wrong. I’m thankful for everyone’s concern. I’ve seen a doctor and he said it’s nothing serious.

“I take responsibility in my actions. Since I wasn’t feeling well, I decided not to go to crowded places.”

Maggie was seen taking full precautionary measures while on her way to seeing a doctor in Hong Kong.

She and her companions were seen in flu masks while heading to a clinic in the Central Building in Central district late on Wednesday morning, reported Oriental Daily.

Maggie was also wearing sunglasses and had a scarf around her neck.

Upon their arrival, the security guard also put on his flu mask.

Maggie’s boyfriend Ole Scheeren helped her out of their vehicle while Maggie’s assistant walked with her.

When reporters asked Maggie if she’s worried of being infected with the H1N1 flu, she kept mum.

Mr Scheeren then tapped the reporter on the shoulder and asked him to stop asking.

Later in the day, Mr Scheeren re-emerged with Maggie’s assistant. Maggie had apparently left by another exit.

Mr Chen told Apple Daily that he was worried earlier when Maggie called to tell him she’s not feeling well.

He said: “She was supposed to transit in Hong Kong to Taiwan, but she called me before that to tell me that she had a running nose and a cough.

“At first, I was very worried as these are sensitive times (to have a flu). But she told me later she had seen a doctor and is resting at home,which putmymindat ease.”

Raining in NY

Maggie’s assistant told Oriental Daily that Maggie caught a cold in New York as it had been raining while they were there.

Although Mr Chen was left without a guest-of-honour about two hours before his event, he said he does not blame Maggie.

Mr Chen reiterated that they have been very good friends, and she had agreed to attend his event without being paid a single cent.

Eventually, Taiwanese model Bianca Bai took Maggie’s place.

Maggie has been on a break from acting.

She had not appeared in a film since 2004’s Clean, which won her a Cannes Best Actress Award.

But she has a small role in Quentin Tarantino film’s Inglourious Basterds, a World War II film set in Nazi- occupied France.

This article was first published in The New Paper