Actress Elaine Ng denies Jackie Chan, father of her daughter, had sought paternity test
Lim Ruey Yan
The Straits Times
July 17, 2026
Hong Kong actress Elaine Ng has hit back at a rumour that has been circulating for 27 years.
Ng, now 53, made headlines in 1999 when she disclosed that she was pregnant with action star Jackie Chan’s child. She gave birth to daughter Etta in November that same year.
For years, it had been widely rumoured that Chan, now 72, had been reluctant to acknowledge Etta, now 26, because Ng refused to allow her daughter to undergo a paternity test.
Ng, a former beauty queen, set the record straight during a live-streaming session on Chinese social media platform Douyin on July 15.
“I think that no matter what era it is, if a couple decide to go their separate ways – regardless of whether the woman is pregnant or not – what business is it of the man’s if she decides to keep the child?” she said.
“We should all respect each other’s decisions. I don’t understand why my own daughter would have to undergo a paternity test – and no one has ever asked me about it.”
Chan had famously said, “I made a mistake that every man in the world makes” when he admitted his indiscretion with Ng at a press conference in 1999.
Chan is married to former Taiwanese screen idol Joan Lin, 73, and they have a 43-year-old son, actor Jaycee.
Ng has raised Etta alone since her daughter was born. Hong Kong media said Chan has not provided the actress with any financial support, and she has also not requested child support.
Etta, who runs a design studio, has hardly interacted with Chan, but Hong Kong media said in January that her studio was invited to design the posters for his new film. She disclosed during a live-streaming session then that Chan had been looking at the posters she made.
Ng’s tumultuous relationship with Etta also looks to have improved in recent years. She said during a live stream in May that Etta had sent her messages during Mother’s Day and her birthday.
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