HONG KONG, Dec 26 — Legendary Hong Kong singer Anita Mui’s personal effects were recently auctioned online by HSBC Trustee, but a bid by her fans and close friends in the industry led to many awards and personal items being bought by her fan club in an attempt to keep the items together.

Over 3,000 items were offered for auction by HSBC Trustee, the administrator of Mui’s estate, and was billed as the last and largest online auction of her personal items, according to a statement released by the auctioneer. The proceeds of the auction were to go to the living expenses of Mui’s mother Tam Mei Kam.

The auction, billed as ‘The Last Not But Least: Chattels Of Anita Mui Yim Fong’, included clothes, lingerie and trophies won by Mui in her 21-year singing and acting career.

Of particular historical interest was the New Talent Singing Award trophy that Mui won in 1982 that launched her career.

Also on offer were a Norma Kamali bra set with the price tag still attached, an item whose sale reportedly angered many of Mui’s close friend, including actor Eric Tsang and her former protégé singer Andy Hui, who both slammed the sale of her lingerie, according to JayneStars.com.

When attempts to stop the auction failed, a group of Hong Kong stars led by Tsang, Jacky Cheung, Alan Tam, Jackie Chan, along with members of the Anita Mui International Fan Club bought 400 lots offered on a 13-day online auction that ended on December 22, Straits Times wrote.

The stars and Mui’s loyal fans were determined to preserve her dignity by buying the undergarments offered on sale, as well as prevent the scattering of items of commemorative value, according to the Singaporean daily.

The bidding for Mui’s New Talent Singing Award trophy soared to HK$1.55 million (RM858,000) in the last half hour of the auction.

Anita Mui International Fan Club reportedly raised over HK$2 million and succeeded in winning the bid for the trophy on behalf of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild.

The fan club also bought 41 other awards which will be handed over to the guild, as well as her Norma Kamali bra set for HK$24,000, Straits Times reported.

Anita Mui died on December 30, 2003 of cervical cancer. She never married and there has been constant disputes over her will by members of her family, especially her mother.