Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi denies she was paid for sex

China's top film star Zhang Ziyi of Rush Hour fame today refuted allegations that she had sexual relationship with disgraced politician Bo Xilai.

Zhang, 32, who became famous with Hollywood movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Rush Hour 2 and Memoirs of Geisha, said she visited Hong Kong this week to prove that she has not been barred from leaving Chinese mainland because of the scandal, the South China Morning Post reported.

The Beijing-born actress has issued an angry rebuttal on her Sina microblog of allegations that she was paid to have sex with Bo under an arrangement made by Xu Ming, a tycoon and one of Bo's close allies.

Zhang said she met her lawyers to discuss possible legal action against a Hong Kong based tabloid, which first published the story based on a report from a news website.

"This news is a complete lie. Both within the article and between the lines, there were contemptuous lies. I met with my lawyers in Hong Kong and clearly expressed my position. Whatever the cost, I will seek legal recourse and pursue this matter to the very end," Zhang said.

Bo remains under investigation by the Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection - for "serious disciplinary violations". He was removed from his post as Chongqing party chief in March. Xu is also thought to be the subject of an investigation by the watchdog.

Beijing is yet to announce its verdict in the Bo investigation.

A report on the website alleged that Zhang began sleeping with Bo in 2007, for which she was paid 10 million yuan, (About USD 1.60 million) and that their relationship lasted until last year.

Zhang is also accused of making 700 million yuan (USD 111 million) by sleeping with senior mainland officials and businessmen, including Xu in the same report.