The Highways Department (HyD) officially commences the investigation for the Northern Metropolis Highway (NMH) and targets to prioritise the completion of works for the NMH San Tin Section in 25 months and its technical readiness fo… read more
In support of the theme “More Than Joy” of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a thematic screening programme, “Laughter Double Bill: Hong Kong Comedy Film Spectacular”, from April 4 to May 11. The programme features 16 classic films spanning the 1940s to 2000s, showcasing the comedic sparks of master comedians from different eras while illustrating the evolution of Hong Kong comedy films.
The opening programme, “Silhouette Resonance x The Banquet (1991)”, will be held on April 4 (Friday) at 3pm at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC), which also marks the grand opening of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025. Renowned musician Ng Cheuk-yin will reimagine beloved songs from classic comedy films with fresh arrangements to be performed live by pop singer Alfred Hui, a cappella choral theatre company Yat Po Singers, and beatboxer Heartgrey (Eric So) with a live band. Following the performance, the 4K digitally restored version of “The Banquet” (1991) will be screened, blending entertainment with cultural artistry to showcase the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s pop culture.
The screening programme presents classic films alongside more contemporary works, reflecting the changes in Hong Kong’s social and cultural landscapes as well as human relationships. “The Banquet” (1991) is adapted from the film “Feast of a Rich Family” (1959), with a star-studded cast coming together to raise funds for flood relief. The story revolves around a couple, played by Eric Tsang and Dodo Cheng, who host a grand banquet in the name of the husband’s father, played by Richard Ng, to please a wealthy man. The performances of the trio are brilliant, and the numerous star cameos, including those of comedic giants Michael Hui and Stephen Chow, legendary artists Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, Wong Ka-kui, and internationally renowned Gong Li, add to the dazzling spectacle.
The 4K digitally restored version of “Feast of a Rich Family” (1959) will be screened at the HKCC Grand Theatre on April 4 at 7.30pm. The film, starring the era’s most popular actors and actresses including Ng Cho-fan, Mui Yee, Cheung Ying, Pak Yin, and Cheung Wood-yau, depicts a series of absurd farces stemming from a nouveau riche ostentatious display of wealth, satirising the ridiculousness of people vying to curry favour with the wealthy. The HKFA has specially conducted a 4K digital restoration of this classic, complete with subtitles. Both the sound and image qualities have been significantly improved, making it highly anticipated.
The film “Black Rose” (1965) (2K Digital Version) pioneered the trend of Cantonese cinema featuring female superheroes. The story revolves around two sisters of a wealthy family, played by Nam Hung and Connie Chan Po-chu, who are masked vigilantes that steal from the rich and give to the poor, with a group of unsuspecting wealthy men falling for the heroines, adding to the comedic effects. In “92 The Legendary la Rose Noire” (1992), a series of chaotic and bizarre adventures are triggered by a note undersigned “Black Rose”. Director Jeff Lau blends classic elements of Cantonese films with unexpected humour, and the hilarious performances by Fung Bo-bo, Wong Wan-sze, Teresa Mo, and Tony Leung Ka-fai make this tribute to Cantonese films a classic of Hong Kong comedy films.
In “The Judge Goes to Pieces” (1948), lawyer Sung Sai-kit, played by renowned Cantonese opera performer Ma Si-tsang, seeks justice for a wronged widow with his wife, who is played by Hung Sin Nui. The humorous and loving interactions of husband and wife are portrayed with impeccable comedic timing. In “Justice, My Foot!” (1992), Stephen Chow and Anita Mui portray the legendary couple. Under Johnnie To’s masterful direction, both stars show off their comedic prowess while Mui displays her stunning talent in martial arts.
“My Intimate Partners” (1960) (2K Digital Version) focuses on friendship, with Patrick Tse Yin and Woo Fung playing characters with contrasting personalities but a deep camaraderie. This humorous and touching story also captures the spirit of Hong Kong’s transitioning society in the 1960s. In “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Father” (1993) (2K Digital Version), Tony Leung Chiu-wai’s character travels through time to meet and befriend his young father, played by Tony Leung Ka-fai, resulting in a heartwarming and laughter-filled tale.
In the 1960s, the trend of young couple comedies emerged in Cantonese films. “The Diary of a Husband” (1964) (2K Digital Version) directed by Chor Yuen is one of the masterpieces, portraying the aspiration of a middle-class lifestyle in the 1960s with witty and humorous dialogue. “The Diary of a Big Man” (1988), also directed by Chor Yuen, has a completely different storyline. Movie superstar Chow Yun-fat plays a stockbroker and philanderer, navigating relationships between characters played by Joey Wang and Sally Yeh. A series of amusing incidents, along with attractive characters and scenic backdrops, reflect Hong Kong’s then socio-economic conditions, showcasing the era’s affluence through glamorous lifestyles.
Chor Yuen’s diverse works include the romantic comedy “The Pregnant Maiden” (1968) (2K Digital Version), in which Connie Chan Po-chu’s character pretends to be pregnant, leading to a series of hilarious situations as she becomes a sparring partner with Lui Kay’s character. “Dummy Mommy, Without a Baby” (2001) is directed by Joe Ma and Mak Kai-kwong, starring Miriam Yeung. While also centering on the theme of a fake pregnancy, this latter work takes a fresh approach with a contemporary twist as well as featuring Chor Yuen’s last big-screen appearance.
“The Private Eyes” (1976), a classic comedy by the Hui brothers, was written and directed by Michael Hui, who also co-starred with his brothers Sam and Ricky. Their series of humorous mishaps and misunderstandings have already become part of the collective memory. “Fantasia” (2004) pays homage to the Hui brothers’ comedy films by recreating many classic scenes, and the performances of Sean Lau and Francis Ng are particularly amazing.
“Wheels on Meals” (1984) (2K Restored Version), starring Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, and Yuen Biao, features the trio creating humorous performances with their agile bodies, perfectly blending action and comedy elements. “Rob-B-Hood” (2006) is also an action comedy, where Jackie Chan, Louis Koo, and Michael Hui play thieves who get entangled in a wealthy family’s feud during a mission. Jackie Chan’s signature spectacular fight scenes, combined with the touching moments of redemption for the three leads, make the film both entertaining and heartwarming.
All films are in Cantonese while some of them are recently digitised. Post-screening talks will be accompanied for designated screening sessions, hosted by Sunny Chan, Mak Kai-kwong, Thomas Shin, Dr Charles Cheung, Grace Ng, Eric Tsang Siu-wang, Shu Kei, Sam Ho and Joyce Yang.
Tickets for the opening programme “Silhouette Resonance x The Banquet (1991)” are priced at $100.
“Feast of a Rich Family”, “Black Rose” and “92 The Legendary la Rose Noire” will be screened at the HKCC, with tickets priced at $70 and a 20 per cent discount for LCSD Museum Pass holders purchasing regular-priced tickets for the films at URBTIX outlets. Other films will be screened at the HKFA, with tickets priced at $60. A 20 per cent discount is also available for every purchase of regular-priced tickets of two or more screenings of this programme.
Tickets will be available from March 7 (Friday) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/comedy-s/pe-event-2025-comedy-s.html) or call 2739 2139.
This year, the LCSD presents the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, themed “More Than Joy”. Humour has been a trend-setter of Hong Kong’s pop culture scene. The Festival features a diverse range of formats including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, library and outreach activities. Offering an insight into the multifaceted development of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”, the Festival brings audiences not only joy and laughter, but also an opportunity to appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.
The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to the World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 (March 4 to 9).
The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (March 3), “The World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 has moved out of the United Kingdom for the very first time. Being held in Hong Kong, its scale and its prize pool have reached new heights. It is the inaugural major event after the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park, which not only helps promote local snooker development but also underlines Hong Kong’s status as the centre for major international sports events.”
The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local National Sports Associations and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be considered for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
​For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk. read more
A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (March 3) that the Post Secondary Colleges (Amendment) Bill 2025 will be published in the Gazette on Friday (March 7).
The spokesman said, “Education is the key to nurturing talent and building a strong nation. The Bill aims to facilitate the healthy and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary education sector as well as support its capacity expansion and quality enhancement, with a view to harnessing the self-financing sector’s advantages in terms of its flexibility and diversity to cultivate talent for the country and Hong Kong, and make more proactive contributions towards Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub.
“Through amending the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320), the Bill reforms the regulatory regime for the self-financing post-secondary education sector to improve governance, ensuring the quality, transparency and accountability of self-financing institutions; removes barriers suitably to enhance efficiency and effectiveness; and forges a unified regulatory framework to promote coherence in quality assurance, governance, positioning and overall co-ordination.”
Specifically, the Bill will enhance the registration requirements for institutions to strengthen the eligibility for registration and gatekeeping mechanism, with an aim of ensuring the quality of registered institutions. In particular, institutions are required to attain and maintain an institutional review status granted by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications to demonstrate their competence in operating post-secondary programmes. At the same time, the Bill will provide for a set of fair and transparent procedures, including the imposition of conditions or restrictions on the registration of underperforming institutions, such that the EDB may support institutions to improve their operations in accordance with the mechanism. Through stringent quality assurance, the Government envisages that the recognition of self-financing post-secondary education would be enhanced locally and internationally, reinforcing the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly funded sectors.
Meanwhile, the Bill will rationalise the arrangements for self-financing institutions to award degrees by delegating the relevant approving authority from the Chief Executive in Council to the Secretary for Education, and also repeal certain provisions that are obsolete or overly prescriptive, with a view to more fully unleashing the advantageous flexibility of the self-financing sector to launch programmes and nurture talent that meets market needs.
In addition, the Bill will make consequential amendments to the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279), alongside with support measures to be introduced by the EDB, to support and facilitate the migration to Cap. 320 of schools registered under Cap. 279 operating sub-degree programmes and self-financing arms of publicly funded institutions, thereby providing for a unified regulatory framework for all institutions operating local self-financing post-secondary education programmes at the degree and sub-degree levels.
The EDB has extensively consulted relevant stakeholders on the legislative amendment proposals, including the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education, the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Education, and the self-financing post-secondary education sector. The views received have been incorporated into the Bill as appropriate. Stakeholders generally support the proposals.
The Bill will be introduced into the LegCo for First Reading and Second Reading on March 19. The Government will fully support the work of the LegCo in scrutinising the Bill and looks forward to the LegCo’s support and passage of the Bill. read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited relating to a fraudulent website and an internet banking login screen, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012. read more