Internationally acclaimed Hong Kong singer-actor Andy Lau would have never expected that admitting he has been a Hepatitis B virus carrier since childhood would cause him problems.

Hong Kong singer-actor Andy Lau. [AFP]

The news media hailed Lau's move when he served as a publicity ambassador in a promotion program designated by the Chinese Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control in an effort to raise people's awareness of liver protection and diseases.

Lau says he stays healthy by following his family doctor's advice and undergoing regular physical checkups.

But fans have targeted his sincerity, saying that he still does kissing scenes in movies, the Chongqing Evening News reported on September 4.

"One can only contract the virus through kissing if there is an abundance of saliva. Therefore, I am not afraid to shoot kissing scenes and will do more," Hong Kong media reports cited Lau as saying.

His words draw sharp criticism from fans.

"Lau has lots of kissing scenes with actresses," a fan who was not identified says.

"Didn't he think of his disease before shooting these hot scenes?" says the fan.

Lau, who is regarded as a handsome on-screen, has attached great importance to kissing in his films.

In Feng Xiaogang's 'A world without thieves ', Lau kissed his partner on a train in 40-degree heat, according to the paper.

In Zhang Yimou's 'House of Flying Daggers', Lau smooched Zhang Ziyi.

The virus is not likely to be spread through kissing, an emergency doctor surnamed Xiang told the paper

"If there is a wound in one's mouth, there is a possibility of contracting the virus through kissing," Xiang said, adding that if the virus is not active in the body of the carrier, the possibility is slim.

There are about 120 million people who carry the virus, of which 30 million have full-blown Hepatitis B, according to media reports.