The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the programme "Where Peach Blossoms Bloom" in the "Morning Matinee" from January to April next year. Fifteen classic films produced by Tao Yuen Motion Picture Development Company will be screened, enabling the audiences to revisit the great works from Tao Yuen in the 1950s and the 1960s.
 
     Tao Yuen was founded in 1958 by Li Wui-tao, a towering figure in both the cultural and educational sectors. The company put a focus on making films that were both entertaining and educational. In "The Stormy Night" (1960), child star Fung Bo-bo's father in the film puts the whole family in harm's way by taking a second wife. The film is Fung's first film for Tao Yuen which had also established her reputation as a leading child star of Hong Kong. "The Magic Cup" (Part One and Concluding Episode) (1961) featuring Fung as a little girl without mother tells the story of the girl, under the guardianship of the Magic Cup Genie, defeating villains in their evil scheme and helping her father find a good match to form a beautiful new family. "Adventure of a Blind Kid" (1967) is the final film produced by Tao Yuen and was produced for raising fund for the Ebenezer School. Based on the true stories of blind musicians including Yip Man-chiu, the film depicts the courage and resilience of the visually impaired persons.
 
     Many famous directors and renowned Cantonese opera actors participated in Tao Yuen's film production, including popular Cantonese opera actress Yam Kim-fai. She had performed in "The Golden Cat" (1961), "Happy Wedding" (1959), "The Random Harvest" (1960) and "The Mysterious Heroine" (1962), which were directed by Lung To. She collaborated with director Fung Fung, starring in anti-war-themed film "The General and the Tyrant" (1961). Yam also co-starred with her partner Pak Suet-sin in popular films "A Respectable Tutor" (1959) and "The Lion's Roar" (1959), directed and scripted by Cheung Wai-kwong.
 
     Tao Yuen actively brought in new blood into the Hong Kong film industry in the 1950s and 1960s. "The Happy Reunion" (1962) was tailor-made for new actress Ho Lan, whose performances of the dual role as an elegant maiden from a rich family and a rude countryside girl were spot-on. "Madame Rose" (1964), starring Ho and two other new actors Fong Sum and Ko Ming, unveils a long-standing grudge that spans across two generations behind a love triangle. The three young actors gave spectacular performances with their outstanding acting skills in the film.
 
     Though most of the films produced by Tao Yuen are mostly in Cantonese, there are two outstanding Mandarin films. "The Girl with a Thousand Faces" (1959) features famous actress Grace Chang, who plays the double role as a young girl with a passion for art and an actress deeply in love with a university student. The other Mandarin film, "Rivals in Love" (1959), with Diana Chang Chung-wen in the leading role, highlights the message of women's autonomy while showcasing Chang's beauty with gorgeous and exquisite costumes.
 
     Some of the films will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by Li Wui-tao's son Eric Li, with Fung Bo-bo and Assistant Curator I of the HKFA Priscilla Chan. For details, please refer to the programme schedule on www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-tmc-ss.html.
 
     "The Girl with a Thousand Faces" and "Rivals in Love" are in Mandarin while the others are in Cantonese. All films are with Chinese lyrics, except "Madame Rose", and without subtitles.
 
     Tickets priced at $30 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the abovementioned website or call 2739 2139.

          

     The new round of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Funding Scheme under the ICH Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is open for applications from today (December 1).
      
     The funding scheme consists of the Community-driven Projects 2023 and the Partnership Projects 2023, and is inviting applications from local individuals and organisations. The objectives of the Funding Scheme are to strengthen the safeguarding, research, education, promotion and transmission of local ICH items; to support the transmission of ICH by local bearers and bearer organisations; to engage the participation of the community in safeguarding ICH; and to enhance public awareness, understanding and respect in regard to ICH.
      
     The scope of support of the Community-driven Projects 2023 covers projects related to the items in the Representative List and the Inventory of the ICH of Hong Kong. For the Partnership Projects 2023, applications are invited for seven projects, namely Research and Publication on the Items of the "Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong"; ICH Domain; ICH Mobile Centre; ICH Everywhere; ICH Hub; ICH Creation; and Transmission and Training Programmes for the Items in the "Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong".
      
     Application information and application forms of the ICH Funding Scheme are available on the ICH Office's website (www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/home.html). Applicants must submit the completed application forms and relevant supporting documents in person to the Hong Kong ICH Centre (situated at Sam Tung Uk Museum, 2 Kwu Uk Lane, Tsuen Wan, New Territories), or submit application documents via the website of GovHK (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/lcs118/en/). The deadline for applications is noon on January 18, 2024 (Thursday). For enquiries, please contact the ICH Office at 2267 1971.
      
     A briefing session will be held at 3pm on December 15, 2023 (Friday), at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Museum of History (G/F, 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon), to brief interested individuals and organisations on the content and application details of the Funding Scheme. For registration details of the briefing session, please visit the ICH Office's website.

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements on December 3 (Sunday) from 2.15pm to 4.30pm to facilitate the holding of a public parade in Causeway Bay.

Road closure
————

     The following roads will be closed:

– Great George Street;
– Westbound Kingston Street between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road; and
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street.

     Depending on the traffic and crowd conditions, the following roads may be closed:

– Sugar Street;
– Cleveland Street;
– Eastbound Kingston Street between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road;
– Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street;
– Northbound and southbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and westbound Gloucester Road service road;
– U-turn slip road between southbound and northbound Gloucester Road; and
– Southbound Tai Hang Road Flyover.

Traffic diversions
——————

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented until the road closure is lifted:

– Traffic along southbound Paterson Street must turn left to eastbound Kingston Street;
– Traffic along northbound Gloucester Road cannot turn left to westbound Kingston Street;
– When necessary, traffic along eastbound Yee Wo Street cannot enter Sugar Street;
– When necessary, traffic along Victoria Park Road Flyover heading for Tai Hang Road Flyover will be diverted to eastbound Victoria Park Road, Wing Hing Street, King’s Road and Tung Lo Wan Road;
– When necessary, traffic along Victoria Park Road Flyover heading for Tai Hang Road Flyover must turn right to westbound Gloucester Road;
– When necessary, traffic along westbound Gloucester Road cannot turn left to Cleveland Street and southbound Paterson Street; and
– When necessary, traffic along southbound Cleveland Street must turn left to eastbound Kingston Street.

Suspension of car parks
———————–

     Vehicles will not be permitted to access or leave the car parks within the affected areas until the road closure is lifted.

     Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior notice.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     â€‹Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre stopped a male remand person in custody from attacking a staff member yesterday (November 30).
      
     At 10.59pm yesterday, a 31-year-old male remand person in custody suddenly became emotional and attacked a correctional officer inside a dormitory. An officer at the scene immediately ordered him to stop and called for reinforcement.
      
     During the incident, the officer sustained an injury to his face. After examination and treatment by the institution Medical Officer, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. The assailant did not sustain any injuries.
      
     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.
      
     The assailant was remanded for the offence of injuring person by furious driving in April 2022.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (December 1) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Causeway Bay to facilitate the holding of a parade this Sunday (December 3):
 
Traffic Arrangements
————————–

     The following road sections will be temporarily closed from 2.15pm to 4.30pm on that day and traffic diversion will be implemented:
 
(i) Great George Street;
(ii) the section of Kingston Street westbound between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road; and
(iii) the section of Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street.

     Depending on the on-site crowd and traffic conditions, the Police may consider further temporary closure of roads and traffic diversions in the vicinity of Causeway Bay near Victoria Park, including Sugar Street, Cleveland Street, Kingston Street (eastbound), the section of Paterson Street between Gloucester Road and Kingston Street, Gloucester Road and Tai Hang Road flyover.
 
Public Transport Service Arrangements
————————————————

(i) In connection with the above-mentioned road closure arrangements, Citybus route Nos. 2, 99, cross-harbour route Nos. 102, 106, 307, A11 operating via the affected road sections will be temporarily diverted, and the bus stops of these routes on Gloucester Road outside Victoria Park Water Fountain Plaza will be temporarily suspended;
(ii) Hong Kong Island green minibus route No. 25 will be temporarily diverted and the terminal point will be relocated to Tung Lo Wan Road opposite St Paul's Convent School; and
(iii) The public light bus stands at Sugar Street and Paterson Street, and the taxi and cross-harbour taxi stands at Paterson Street will be suspended from 2.15pm to 4.30pm on that day.
 
     For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or its mobile application "HKeMobility". Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.

     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or "HKeMobility".