The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the President of the Legislative Council (LegCo), Mr Andrew Leung, on storming and damage of the LegCo Complex at a media briefing today (July 2):
 
     The LegCo Complex has been stormed and extensively damaged. The Police is now gathering evidence in the Complex. As LegCo President, I strongly condemn the serious violence that undermines the core values of Hong Kong.  
 
     The Secretariat and the Architectural Services Department will conduct in-depth inspection of the damages and then report to the LegCo Commission.

     The repair and rebuilding of the LegCo Complex is expected to take a long time. The remaining two LegCo meetings before the summer recess in mid-July cannot be held as scheduled.

     As the Chairman of the LegCo Commission, I am concerned about the working environment and safety of the colleagues of the Secretariat. No security staff was injured. I am thankful for their dedication and commitment. 

     I believe many Hong Kong people would share the same feeling with me that we are saddened by what happened last night. For the best interest of Hong Kong, I hope that all of us could find the way forward rationally.

     Ten outstanding Hong Kong films comprising martial arts, drama and Hong Kong-style comedy will be screened at the 2019 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) from June 28 to July 14 (New York time) in New York to showcase the many faces of Hong Kong cinema.  
 
     Meanwhile, acclaimed Hong Kong action choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping was presented with the prestigious Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award by the festival organisers on July 1 (New York time)  in recognition of his substantial contribution to contemporary kung-fu and action movies. Following the award presentation, Yuen's latest feature, "Master Z: Ip Man Legacy", was screened to a full house the same evening. His other two classics, "The Miracle Fighters" and "Iron Monkey", will also be screened, on July 2 and 3 (New York time) respectively.
 
     Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY), Ms Joanne Chu, praised Yuen for his tremendous contribution to the development of Hong Kong action cinema, and for bringing the unique Hong Kong kung-fu movies to the world stage. Having served in the film industry for more than 50 years, Yuen has produced countless classic action movies from Hong Kong to Hollywood.
 
     In addition to Yuen, other Hong Kong film talents will also attend the screenings at the NYAFF. Among them, film director Lee Cheuk-pan, along with cast members Hanna Chan and Kyle Li, will attend the US premiere of "G Affairs" on July 9 (New York time). Actress Crisel Consunji, winner of Best New Performer at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards, will attend the New York premiere of "Still Human" on July 14 (New York time).

     Ms Chu said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to supporting the long-term development of the film industry. Two films showcased at this year's festival – "G Affairs" and "Still Human"– are winners of the Third First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI), and received funding support through the Government’s Film Development Fund. The FFFI is one of the Government’s initiatives to help identify and nurture new talent, as well as providing financial support for new directors and their film production teams to make their first feature films.

     The HKETONY has participated in the NYAFF for 11 consecutive years to promote the "Hong Kong Films" brand and showcase its home-grown film talents to the US audience. Other movies featured in the Hong Kong Panorama film series include the international premiere of "The Attorney" and the North American premieres of "The Fatal Raid" and "See You Tomorrow", and "Missbehaviour".

      

Attention TV/radio announcers:

     Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 2) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, the lifesaving services at Golden Beach and â€‹Cafeteria Old Beach in Tuen Mun District have been suspended until further notice.

     First aid services will be maintained at the beaches.

     Performances by the Wenzhou Opera Research Institute will be presented in August to mark the closing of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Chinese Opera Festival 2019. Three full-length productions, "The Legend of the White Snake", "Killing a Dog to Admonish Her Husband" and "Gao Ji and Wu Sanchun", will be staged, and the performers will include two leading lights in Ou opera today, Fang Rujiang, a winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, and Cai Xiaoqiu, a winner of the Lead Actor Award in the Shanghai Magnolia Performing Arts Award.
 
     Ou opera, originally known as "Wenzhou luantan", is one of the regional theatrical genres. It was inscribed onto the second list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China in 2008. The vocal styles are diverse, and the works consist of both civil and martial repertoire, with the former distinguished by delicate singing and the latter having uniquely devised stunts.
 
     "The Legend of the White Snake" is a classic in Ou opera known for a balanced focus on both singing and acting. Fang Rujiang won the first Plum Blossom Award in the history of Ou opera with his portrayal of the male protagonist, Xu Xian, in "The Broken Bridge" from this classic. "Killing a Dog to Admonish Her Husband" is one of the four major "nanxi" (Southern opera) plays of China. Sharing its origin with the "nanxi" of the Song and Yuan periods, Ou opera of Wenzhou retains age-old elements but gives them new adaptations. The staging is also modelled on the old "nanxi" and has impressive effects. "Gao Ji and Wu Sanchun" tells the story of a pair of lovers who, despite social class differences, dare to challenge feudal inhibitions. Their tragic love story has been a folk tale popularly told in the Zhejiang area. Since becoming part of the Ou opera repertoire, the work has won rave responses from audiences all over China.
 
     Details of the performances (with Chinese and English surtitles) are as follows:
 
August 16 (Friday), 7.30pm
"The Legend of the White Snake"
 
August 17 (Saturday), 7:30pm
"Killing a Dog to Admonish Her Husband"
 
August 18 (Sunday), 3pm
"Gao Ji and Wu Sanchun"
 
     All performances will be staged at the Auditorium of the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. Tickets priced at $160, $260 and $340 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) and the Xiqu Centre Ticket Office. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.cof.gov.hk/2019/en/ou.html.
 
     A Meet-the-Artists Session: A Close Encounter of Southern Opera and Ou Opera – On the Traditional Opera of Wenzhou (In Putonghua), with free admission on a first-come, first-served basis will be held. Details are as follows:
 
August 15 (Thursday), 7.30pm
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speakers: Fang Rujiang and Cai Xiaoqiu
Moderator: Elbe Lau

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 2) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach, Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.