Hong Kong tycoon stunned by reaction to marriage bounty

HONG KONG - Real estate tycoon Cecil Chao said he was stunned by the global reaction to his offer of HK$500 million (S$80 million) to any man who could win his daughter's heart.

"All the reaction was very shocking. I really didn't expect this," the 76-year-old told the Sunday Morning Post. "All I want is for my daughter to have a better chance to choose a better path of her life."

He made the offer after his daughter Gigi, 33, apparently married her same-sex partner of seven years in a civil ceremony in France. The news of his marriage reward went viral after it was reported in the South China Morning Post, and marriage proposals flooded in from all over the world.

And now, the story could be hitting the big screen. It was reported that Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen is teaming up with Paramount Pictures to produce The Lesbian, said to be inspired by the story of Mr Chao and his daughter.