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Two important landmarks in Hong Kong's cultural and leisure services - the Hong Kong Film Archive and the Island East Sports Centre - were officially opened today (January 3, 2001). The former is the single most important repository of Hong Kong films and film-related materials, whilst the latter is the first club-house type indoor sports complex to have been built in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island.

Distinguished guests invited to officiate at the opening ceremony included the Financial Secretary, Mr. Donald Y K Tsang; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr. Lam Woon-Kwong; film star, Mr. Chow Yun-fat; the Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr. Patrick C P Ho; the Chairman of the Eastern District Council, Ms Christina Y C Ting; the Director of Architectural Services, Mr. Pau Shiu-hung and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr. Paul S W Leung.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr. Tsang said: "The commissioning of the Film Archive enables us to have systematic preservation and collection of our remarkable film treasures. Since its establishment, the Film Archive has built up an impressive collection, including some classic film prints that were long believed lost. All these owe much to the generous support from both local and overseas private donors, various film organisations and the film sector."

He described the opening of the Island East Sports Centre as "a major step forward in the provision of recreational and sporting facilities and services in the territory."

At the ceremony, the internationally famed Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun Fat presented to the Hong Kong Film Archive, on behalf of the United China Vision Inc and the Edko Columbia Tristar Film, the award-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in which he played the leading role.

Situated at 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, the $185 million Hong Kong Film Archive is home to a number of studios, an exhibition hall, film and information archives and other facilities. To ensure the optimum preservation of its precious film collection, the four-storey Archive is equipped with state-of-the-art temperature and humidity controls, while access to all information and materials is done through a sophisticated, computerised and multi-media information system. In addition, independent viewing rooms allow researchers to revisit more than 3,800 Hong Kong films in the Archive's possession.

Apart from films, the Archive also has a vast collection of materials such as publicity posters, film photos, scripts, reviews and so on. Not only are they important first-hand materials for serious research and studies of the Hong Kong cinema, but are also priceless documents recording the social, economic and political changes that took place in Hong Kong over the years.

After years of preparation, the Archive is now open for public use. During the first month of its opening, there will be a number of celebration functions and activities including an Asian film gala called "Asian Film Archive Treasures", an exhibition named "Hong Kong on the Silver Screen", and also a series of other exhibitions and symposiums on various aspects of the Hong Kong cinema.

The Island East Sports Centre is a modern sports and recreation centre complete with such indoor facilities as a main arena, a bowling lawn, gyms and dance rooms, ping-pong rooms, a driving range, wall climbing facilities, and a swimming pool with the tropical rain forests as its theme.

The $300 million Sports Centre's surface area spans over 12,000 square meters and is also the first club-house style sports complex to have been built in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island.

End/Wednesday, January 3, 2001

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