The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (December 27) that the Financial Secretary, on the advice of the Governance Sub-Committee of… read more
The Lunar New Year is just around the corner and it is time for families to be together for festival celebrations. The Hong Kong Film Archive of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has prepared the programme “May Good Fortune Knock at Your Door” to be presented on January 27 and February 1 next year, screening four films which deliver warmth and love that are sure to help audiences embark on a joyful 2020.
In “Sail Before the Wind” (1965), jewellery shop owner Tang Kei-chen promises his entire fortune to the son who first bears him a grandson. Upon learning that the youngest son’s wife Ho Lan is pregnant, the wives of the two eldest sons, Tam Lan-hing and Lee Hong-kum, compete for the family fortune by faking their own pregnancies. As the family tension soars, youngest son Woo Fung tries hard to avoid conflicts with his siblings Cheng Kwan-min and Yu Ming by coming up with an extraordinary solution to restore harmony at home.
“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Father” (1993) follows Tony Leung Ka-fai, who goes to absurd lengths to help his needy friends, causing his wife, Carina Lau, much work to make ends meet. His son, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, is unable to study medicine as he wishes, causing him to dislike his father. By a strange quirk, an accident pulls the resentful son back in time to the days when his father was young, helping him understand and embrace the selfless moral beliefs of his elders.
Featuring a star-studded cast from the Shaw Brothers Studio, “Hong Kong 73” (1974) is set in the Hong Kong of the 1970s, where the economy has taken off and everyone dreams of becoming rich. Here, the motto of the characters switches from “all for one and one for all” to “all for the money”. Not until an accident occurs do they realise that helping each other is the best way. While satirically portraying the multifaceted social setting of Hong Kong at the time, the film also highlights the city’s indomitable Lion Rock spirit.
In “A Family Affair” (1984), Sam Hui and Olivia Cheng are on the verge of a divorce due to personality clashes. Their children, Ben Ben and Helen Chan, each live with an estranged parent and miss each other. Together, they try every possible way to bring their family back together.
All of the films are in Cantonese. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Father” and “Hong Kong 73” are with Chinese and English subtitles, while the other films are without subtitles.
Tickets priced at $45 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/programmes/2020cny/index.html.
A photo exhibition on Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH) themed “I SEE HONG KONG”, featuring the work of 20 aspiring young photographers, will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre foyer from January 4 to 11, 2020.
The exhibition aims to arouse public interest in Hong Kong’s unique ICH by showcasing the work of the young photographers who took part in the inaugural National Geographic (NatGeo) photo camp in the city earlier this year.
Curated by NatGeo’s professional photographers, the exhibition features six ICH items: Cantonese opera, Hakka unicorn dance, Cheongsam (qipao) making, Chinese betrothal cake making, birdcage making, and paper crafting.
The NatGeo Photo Camp was held in April this year. It was co-organised by NatGeo, The Hong Kong Award for Young People (AYP) and Brand Hong Kong.
During the camp, 20 talented youth selected by AYP explored Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage, guided and mentored by NatGeo professionals. The budding photojournalists documented interesting stories about how the community keeps various forms of ICH alive.
The exhibition also underscores the Government’s commitment to collaborate with ICH practitioners and related organisations to enhance community engagement in the preservation, promotion and transmission of Hong Kong’s precious cultural heritage.
The exhibition will be open from 1pm to 9pm on January 4 and from 9am to 9pm from January 5 to 11. Admission is free.
The “I SEE HONG KONG” exhibition will also be held from March 12 to 21 at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum in Central.
Photos, articles introducing Hong Kong’s ICH and a video on the photo camp can be viewed at the “I See Hong Kong” content hub (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/iseehongkong). read more
The Government today (December 27) announced the appointment of six new members and the re-appointment of six incumbent members to the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee (BLPSC). Six new members and five incumbent members a… read more
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 27) released the latest grading of water quality for four gazetted beaches that are open all year round for swimming.
Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
Grade 1 beaches are:
| Clear Water Bay Second Beach | |
| Deep Water Bay Beach | |
| Golden Beach | |
| Silverstrand Beach |