Veteran Hong Kong singer Sandy Lam won top honors at the Golden Melody Awards for Asia's best Mandarin chart music in Taipei on Saturday.

Lam http://www.wellboss.net/kd-9-texas-46-qp.html , who was unable to attend the ceremony held in the Taipei Arena, was crowned best female singer for her environment-themed album Gaia, which is named after the goddess of earth in Greek mythology.

"I want to thank the judge... all my teachers and every single musician I have met. I have learned so much from them," Lam said in a statement. The statement was read by the album's producer Chang Shilei, who accepted the award on behalf of Lam.

The 47-year-old held off Taiwan's pop diva Jolin Tsai and fellow Hong Kongers Ellen Joyce Loo and Gloria Tang to win her first Golden Melody best singer title.