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Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, today (October 30) opened the largest, and the most successful, Hong Kong Film Festival ever held in Japan.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the opening of the Hong Kong Film Festival in Tokyo, Mrs Chan said she had been told that tickets for some of the movies were sold out instantly.

"This underlines one important thing - that Hong Kong and Japan are close partners, not only in trade, commerce and tourism, but increasingly also in the area of cultural exchanges," she said.

Mrs Chan said Hong Kong's movies had featured prominently in the Tokyo International Film Festival over the years. "Yet this is the first dedicated Hong Kong Film Festival staged under the Tokyo International Film Festival."

Mrs Chan said she was proud to say that Hong Kong had many more home-grown yet internationally renowned movie stars as well as film producers, directors and script-writers, whose names put an unmistakable "Made in Hong Kong" mark on Hong Kong's movies.

"Their professionalism and dedication to the film industry have also contributed much to the image of Hong Kong as a vibrant cosmopolitan city full of energy and innovation.

"I commend each and every one of them for having done a wonderful job as Hong Kong's cultural ambassadors," she said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo, Miss Cheung Man-yee, said the Hong Kong Film Festival in Tokyo would feature 16 Hong Kong's best productions in recent years.

"I hope these selections will provide you with glimpses of the richness and diversity of our cultures, and the talent and creativity of Hong Kong's filmmakers," she said.

Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourist Association, Mrs Selina Chow, who also spoke at the ceremony, said Hong Kong had hundreds of photogenic and romantic spots ideal for film production and the HKTA shared them with the Japanese tourists through the publication "Hong Kong Movie Map".

Tonight's premiere show featured "In the Mood for Love", whose director, Mr Wong Kar-wai, actor Mr Tony Leung and actress Miss Maggie Cheung, appeared on the stage and met with their fans in Japan. Mr Leung won the Best Actor Award in the 2000 Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the movie.

Other Hong Kong celebrities who also went on the stage to greet their fans included Mr Leslie Cheung, Mr Jingle Ma, Mr Ekin Cheng and Miss Shu Qi.

To mark the occasion, Mrs Chan presented a souvenir to the Director-General of the Tokyo International Film Festival, Mr Toshihiko Ishida.

A number of leading personalities in Japan also attended the ceremony and a reception which was held before the ceremony, including Chairman of the Japan-Hong Kong Parliamentarian League and former Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Tsutomu Hata; Minister of Justice, Mr Okiharu Yasuoka and Minister of Transport, Mr Hajime Morita.

End/Monday, October 30, 2000

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Photo(1): From left: Director-General of the Tokyo International Film Festival, Mr Toshihiko Ishida; Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourist Association, Mrs Selina Chow; Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan; Mr Archibald Chan Tai Wing; and Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo, Miss Cheung Man-yee, at the premiere show of the Hong Kong Film Festival in Tokyo.

Photo(2): From left: Mr Ekin Cheng; Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative in Tokyo, Miss Cheung Man-yee; Mr Leslie Cheung; Chairman of the Japan-Hong Kong Parliamentarian League and former Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Tsutomu Hata; Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan; Director-General of the Tokyo International Film Festival, Mr Toshihiko Ishida and Mr Wong Kar-wai cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the Hong Kong Film Festival in Tokyo.