The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, will depart for Beijing tomorrow afternoon (February 27) to attend the press conference on the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater B… read more
The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the fourth instalment of the “Early Cinematic Treasures Rediscovered” series from March 23 to May 19 at the HKFA Cinema. Twenty-five rare archival titles of Hong Kong early productions will be screened including six long-lost cinematic works, namely “The Goddess Helps the Bridge Builder” (1940), “Changing Hearts” (1943), “Cuckoo’s Spirit in March” (1947), “Long Live the Wife” (1948), “Never Too Late to Meet” (1949) and “Fishermen’s Song of the South Sea” (1950). Post-screening talks will be arranged for some of the screenings.
In the 1930s, filmmakers started to invite opera practitioners to perform onscreen after seeing the big box office success of “The White Gold Dragon” (1933), a Cantonese film (with sound) involving producer Runje Shaw and the then towering figure of Cantonese opera, Sit Kok-sin. Later, after the negative of “The White Gold Dragon” was destroyed in a fire, Shaw teamed up with Sit in the sequel “The White Gold Dragon, Part Two” (1937), enabling Sit to play the romantic and charming and rich heir Pak Kam-lung again and to excel in his signature artistry. “The Blood-stained Peach Blossom Fan” (1940) is the last and only existing work of the veteran scriptwriter and composer of Cantonese opera, Mak Siu-ha, and which also documents an invaluable scene of northern school sword dancing by Cheang Mang-ha. Another Cantonese opera master, Ma Si-tsang, used his operatic masterpiece’s title for the film “Bitter Phoenix, Sorrowful Oriole’ (1947), in which he flaunted his signature “beggar” singing style to perform an excerpt of the original play. “Cuckoo’s Spirit in March” is an adaptation of the Cantonese opera written by popular playwright Lee Siu-wan. Though the version to be shown is incomplete, it captures an early yet moving performance on screen by Yu Lai-zhen. During the Second World War, the founder of the Grandview Film Company, Joseph Sunn Jue continued to make films in the US by collaborating with Cantonese opera practitioners who fled overseas during the war. Shot in California, “White Powder and Neon Lights” (1947) is the first 16mm colour Cantonese film to feature opera performer Wong Hok-sing, who is also the director and scriptwriter of the film.
Films based on folklore and ghost stories, which were popular in the 30s and 40s, demonstrated the unlimited possibilities of constructing an unimaginable fantasy world for audiences. “The Ghost Catcher” (1939) is a hybrid of old and new horror films from both West and East, and which uses special effects like freeze-frame and step-printing to create a spectacular visual adventure. Based on a folktale, “The Goddess Helps the Bridge Builder” was filmed with extraordinary special effects, including a hand-drawn two-plus-minute animation illustrating the bridge’s construction. “The Birth of Kiddy Stone” (1949), which blends elements of martial arts, musicals and fantasy, features a lively performance by Cantonese opera prodigy Yu Kai, and was a box office hit.
Literary adaptation has been a staple of film creation, among which those works adapted from down-to-earth novels were particularly well-received by audience in the 30s and 40s. Starring Cheung Wood-yau and Lo Ming, “The Rich House” (1942) was adapted from Lui Lun’s novel “Clara”, and showcases Hong Kong’s unique cosmopolitan blend of romance and westernisation. “The Evil Mind” (1947) depicts urban relationships and human degradation in a complicated plot derived from the novel by Ling Siu-sang. An adaptation of Yi Hung-sang’s serialised novel published in Sing Pao, “The Crazy Matchmaker” (1948), features wanton relationships between men and women fueled by lust and deception, uncovering the dark side of post-war society. Adapted from a popular novel by Mong Wan, “A Poor Lover’s Tears” (1948) portrays Pak Yin as an unrestrained and materialistic woman.
During the war of resistance against Japanese aggression, Hong Kong filmmakers echoed aspects of “National Defence” campaign in the Mainland, producing patriotic films to show similar sentiments. Directed, scripted and acted in by Hou Yao, “Fortress of Flesh and Blood” (1938) depicts Hou’s unwavering stance on resistance and also his disregard for cowardly behaviour. “Ten Thousand Li Ahead” (1941) is directed by Cai Chusheng, who co-founded the National Salvation Association of Cinema, and voices his decision to support his country. “Song of Retribution” (1941) describes in detail the Japanese soldiers’ hatred of the war, transcending the “us versus them” duality commonly seen in national defence films. “Roar of the People” (1941) centres on the hardships endured by common people during wartime and is intercut with real footage from the war, increasing the anti-war sentiment of the film and imbuing it with genuine concern for the poor.
Largely influenced by Western ideologies and caught in a clash between old and new cultures, intellectuals in the 30s and 40s used cinema to vigorously expose injustices in society and reveal the ugliness of elites. The restored version of “Follow Your Dream” (1941) portrays a warm neighbourliness among refugees before the Japanese occupation and their quest to keep personal pride and courage intact, and is regarded as a leading Hong Kong left-wing film. Due to Hong Kong’s geographical location and the prevalence of realism in post-war films, the industry saw a minor surge of fishing village films at this time. Shot on location, “Fishing Village in the War” (1948) and “Fishermen’s Song of the South Sea” tell of life in fishing villages and the oppression faced by fishermen. The Nanguo Film Company’s debut title, “Dawn Must Come” (1950), is a tragedy about farmers in Guangdong who are oppressed by treacherous and greedy landlords, touching the audience with a realist approach. “Old Memories of Canton” (1951) chronicles corruption in a government official’s family in Guangzhou during the pre- and post-war period, through which director Lo Duen delivers an angry indictment against corrupt elites.
With feminism on the rise after the May Fourth Movement, filmmakers began to review the value of patriarchy in their works. “The Light of Women” (1937) follows a mother played by Lee Yi-nin who starts a new life with her daughter in the fight against gender oppression, while also reflecting on the lifelong battle for women to gain independence in a male-dominated society. “Changing Hearts” explores the institution of marriage and the power relationship between husband and wife in a light-hearted way, in which the female lead, Nancy Chan, seduces her husband in bed, suggesting the possibility of female domination. “Long Live the Wife” tells of a love triangle revolving around Pak Yin, Siu Yin Fei and Cheung Ying, which poses an acute challenge to male-centred social values and orthodox masculinity. “Never Too Late to Meet” centres on the issues raised by the system of concubinage in several families, effectively criticising the outdated concept of male privilege.
To complement the screenings, six seminars will be hosted by numerous film critics and researchers including Sam Ho, Lau Yam, Shu Kei, Dr Yau Ching, Dr Stephanie Ng, Law Kar, Lam Kee-to and Tsang Siu-wang. The seminars are entitled “The Art of Left-wing Cinema in Post-war Hong Kong” (March 30); “Sexuality and Gender in Early Cinema” (April 14); “Cantonese Opera Tangos with Movie” (April 20) ; “Fanfare and Controversy around Patriotic Films in the 1930s and 40s” (April 27); “The Adventure of Hong Kong Fantasy Film” (May 12) and “Between Money and Love: Adaptations of Early Hong Kong Novels” (May 18), which will be conducted at the Cinema of the HKFA in Cantonese with free admission.
“Ten Thousand Li Ahead” is in Mandarin and Cantonese, “Changing Hearts” and “Song of Retribution” are in Mandarin and all of the other films are in Cantonese. “The Rich House” and “Follow Your Dream” have Chinese and English subtitles; and 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 details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/2019ect4/index.html.
The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about the work accident that happened at Mai Po, New Territories, yesterday (February 25), in which a male worker, while inflating a tyre of a container truck, was hit by a blast of air when the tyre burst suddenly. He was sent to hospital and passed away later. The LD is saddened by the death of the worker and has expressed its deepest sympathy to the victim’s family.
The LD’s spokesman said, “We commenced immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and issued a suspension notice to the employer involved, suspending the tyre inflation work. The employer cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that measures to abate the relevant risk have been taken.”
The spokesman added, “We will complete investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation.”
The general duty provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, safe plant and safe systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the above provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for six months.
In regard to yesterday’s accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers’ unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees’ compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees’ compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.
For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers. read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
(Approved for Issue by the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee on January 31)
Report on Currency Board Operations (October 9 – December 31, 2018)
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The Sub-Committee noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) exchange rate traded within a range of 7.8062 – 7.8459 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD firmed against the USD since November, due to unwinding of interest carry positions as liquidity conditions tightened amid year-end funding demand. Towards the year-end, the HKD eased again, partly associated with repatriation of proceeds raised in initial public offerings, note-issuance activities ahead of holidays, and some re-building of interest carry positions. During the review period, the HKD interbank interest rates generally picked up, reflecting the expectation of US rate hikes and anticipated funding needs towards the year-end.
The Sub-Committee noted that the Aggregate Balance remained little changed during the review period. The Monetary Base increased to HK$1,632.87 billion, mainly driven by an increase in the Certificates of Indebtedness.
The Sub-Committee further noted that, in accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
The Report on Currency Board Operations for the period under review is at the Annex.
Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities
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The Sub-Committee noted that in the US, uncertainties over the monetary policy outlook and US-China trade tensions could point to heightened financial market volatility ahead.
The Sub-Committee noted that in Europe, economic policy and political uncertainties (e.g. Brexit) could aggravate the region’s waning cyclical growth momentum to increase the risks of a sharper-than-expected economic slowdown.
The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the renminbi rebounded following the US-China agreement to step back from additional tariffs. However, its growth momentum weakened and outlook became more uncertain.
The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, the economy slowed further in recent months amid heightened uncertainty stemming from the US-China trade tensions and the pace of US interest rate normalisation. The property market declined during the period and could face a number of headwinds in the near term.
An Event Study on the Linked Exchange Rate System (LERS) Operations
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The Sub-Committee noted a study which investigated the effects of the triggering of the weak-side Convertibility Undertaking and the additional issuances of Exchange Fund Bills on the HKD exchange rate and interest rates. The study provided empirical support that the LERS had been functioning according to its design. read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 26) the external merchandise trade statistics for January 2019. In January 2019, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year decreases, at 0.4% and 6.0% respectively.
In January 2019, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 0.4% over a year earlier to $348.7 billion, after a year-on-year decrease of 5.8% in December 2018. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods decreased by 6.0% over a year earlier to $359.0 billion in January 2019, after a year-on-year decrease of 7.0% in December 2018. A visible trade deficit of $10.3 billion, equivalent to 2.9% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in January 2019.
Comparing the three-month period ending January 2019 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods decreased by 5.9%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods decreased by 7.3%.
Analysis by country/territory
Comparing January 2019 with January 2018, total exports to Asia as a whole dropped by 3.6%. In this region, decreases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular India (-35.2%), Taiwan (-18.6%), Vietnam (-7.9%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (-3.9%). On the other hand, increases were recorded in the values of total exports to Malaysia (+25.6%), the Philippines (+24.4%), Singapore (+17.9%) and Thailand (+14.5%).
Apart from destinations in Asia, decreases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular the USA (-5.8%) and Germany (-1.1%). Concurrently, an increase was registered in the value of total exports to the United Kingdom (+10.7%).
Over the same period of comparison, decreases were registered in the values of imports from most major suppliers, in particular Korea (-36.0%), India (-34.6%), Switzerland (-17.5%), Japan (-14.2%), Taiwan (-11.0%) and the USA (-9.5%). The value of imports from the Mainland also went down by 1.6%.
Comparing the three months ending January 2019 with the three months ending January 2018, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular India (-34.6%), Vietnam (-10.1%), Taiwan (-8.0%), the Mainland (-5.9%) and Germany (-5.9%). However, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports to Singapore (+22.8%) and the Netherlands (+21.8%).
Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular Korea (-28.5%), India (-24.0%), Taiwan (-19.1%), Japan (-10.2%), Thailand (-8.6%) and the Mainland (-1.6%). On the other hand, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports from Malaysia (+13.0%) and Singapore (+6.3%).
Analysis by major commodity
Comparing January 2019 with January 2018, decreases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $4.1 billion or -23.9%), “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $3.1 billion or -8.0%) and “articles of apparel and clothing accessories” (by $0.1 billion or -1.3%).
Over the same period of comparison, decreases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $14.8 billion or -10.8%), “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $3.6 billion or -21.4%) and “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $3.1 billion or -4.9%).
Comparing the three months ending January 2019 with the three months ending January 2018, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $17.6 billion or -31.5%), “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $6.6 billion or -1.7%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $5.4 billion or -4.6%). However, a year-on-year increase was registered in the value of total exports of “power generating machinery and equipment” (by $2.9 billion or 20.8%).
Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year decreases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $32.5 billion or -7.5%), “telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment” (by $15.1 billion or -7.1%) and “non-metallic mineral manufactures” (by $8.8 billion or -16.8%). However, a year-on-year increase was registered in the value of imports of “miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly jewellery, goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares)” (by $2.1 billion or 3.2%).
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports recorded a marginal year-on-year decline in January 2019. It should be noted that the trade figures for January might have been distorted by the difference in timing of the Lunar New Year, which fell in early February this year but mid-February last year. It is thus more meaningful to analyse the trade figures for January and February combined, when available, for a clearer picture of the underlying situation.
Looking ahead, the external environment is still challenging. Moderating economic growth in many of our key trading partners will likely weigh on Hong Kong’s merchandise exports in the near term. While the US-Mainland trade negotiations have reportedly been making progress, the Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and stay alert to various external uncertainties.
Further information
Table 1 at the annex presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for January 2019. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2016 to January 2019, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period.
The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for January 2019 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5.
Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for January 2019.
All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for January 2019 will be released in mid-March 2019.
The January 2019 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in January 2019 and will be available in mid-March 2019. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp230.jsp).
Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5042). read more