ASK Alex Fong about his ex-squeeze, singer-actress Gillian Chung and instead of avoiding the topic, the Hong Kong actor-singer remained unflappably cool and refreshingly candid.

The 30-year-old told The New Paper with a chuckle: "After all the hoo-ha about us (referring to Chung and himself), I'm sure audiences would be really excited to catch us onscreen."

He was speaking from Hong Kong, where he and 29-year-old Chung, together with director Jeffrey Lau, were promoting their new comedy, The Fantastic Water Babes.

The film opens next Thursday in local theatres.

Fong, a former national swimmer who represented Hong Kong at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, plays swimming champion Chi, who is kidnapped by Chung's sassy character, Gill.

Forced to train her in time for a swimming meet where she aims to defeat an arch rival in love, the two gradually develop feelings for each other.

Shot in 2007 and originally slated for release the following year, the movie was held back by distributors indefinitely following the Edison Chen sex photos scandal.

Raunchy nude pictures of Chung and Chen were leaked online in January 2008, forcing Chung to stay out of the limelight. She returned to showbiz early this year.

In 2005, there was widespread speculation in the Hong Kong tabloids that Fong and Chung were dating and that the "couple" had even gone on a holiday to Switzerland together.

Both denied the rumours, explaining that the trip was with a big group of friends.

Fong clarified that till today, he and Chung are "still good friends who chat from time to time".

Said the tanned, muscular actor who holds a degree in business administration from the University of Hong Kong: "When the film's release date was pushed back, I felt it was quite a pity, as I knew a lot of people were dying to watch it.

"Before The Fantastic Water Babes, I never thought I'd be able to work with her (Chung).

"We belong to different management companies. Plus there was so much previous gossip about us. This came as a rare opportunity, not only for us, but for viewers to see us collaborate on the same project."

Fong is signed under Gold Label Entertaiment, while Chung, one-half of popular Canto pop duo Twins, is among the stable of artistes in Emperor Entertainment Group.

'Pretender'

Fong praised his co-star for "being a great pretender".

"In real life, she doesn't swim well. In fact, she swims rather slowly and is always afraid of water going into her eyes," he explained.

"But somehow, she can imitate the movements of the different swimming strokes closely and make them look realistic on the big screen."

He jokingly lamented that his experience in swimming" wasn't put to good use".

"I thought director Jeff had approached me for the role of Chi because he needed someone who was especially good in the water," said Fong, who still holds the Hong Kong national record for the 200m backstroke and the 400m individual medley.

"It was till much later, after reading the script, that I realised I had only two swimming scenes...even fewer than Ah Gill (Chung's nickname)."

Although it has been nearly five years since the rumours about the pair, Fong said he is "still wary" of the Hong Kong paparazzi.

"I'd actually discussed with Ah Gill before we began publicity on this film...(that) we'd deliberately cut down slightly on our interaction during promotional events (and) be careful when we talk to each other so that we don't appear too close," he said.

"I guess we just don't want to make things too easy for the Hong Kong paparazzi. They'll realise it's harder to write about us now."

This article was first published in The New Paper.