Andy Lau and rumored girlfriend appeared in public hand in hand

Hong Kong star Andy Lau has finally shed some light on his relationship with rumored long-term girlfriend and former Malaysian beauty queen Carol Chu.

After attending the memorial ceremony for Chu's father in Malaysia earlier this week, the couple was spotted holding hands together in the Kuala Lumpur airport before flying back to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Various sources say the couple has been linked for two decades, but Lau has never acknowledged Zhu as his girlfriend and the two have never been spotted together in public.

Lau posted on his fan club's message board Sunday morning, mourning the loss of Chu's father, who died last week, Channel News Asia reports.

Referring to Chu's father as his "ancestor," Lau wrote on the Andy World Club site: "Family members must be very worried. I am okay. My biggest wish is for the ancestor to go on his final journey peacefully. Amitabha! (The Buddha Bless you!)"