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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (March 26) congratulated the film, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for winning four awards in the 73rd Academy Awards. This is the best record ever set by a Chinese-language film in the Oscar history.
Starring Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh, the film was directed by Lee Ang and produced by Bill Kong, Hsu Li-kong and Lee Ang. It has won four Oscar awards, including the Best Foreign Language Film, Cinematography by Peter Pau, Art Direction by Tim Yip and Original Score.
These awards and honours signify that Chinese-language films have won the recognition and compliments of the international community. These are encouraging achievements. The Chief Executive has written to the Hong Kong award-winners to extend his congratulations.
The film is a production with the joint efforts of film talents from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Since its premiere last year, it has received enthusiastic responses from the audiences all round the world as well as awards in various international film festivals.
A spokesman for the Government Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau said, "The success of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' vividly shows that the film industries in the Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan are full of talents and have the capabilities to produce world-class films. With such concerted efforts, Chinese-language films will be able to scale new heights in the international film market."
In recent years, the local film industry has made its name by winning various awards in major international film festivals. To pay tribute to local film personnel who have gained recognition in major international film festivals since 1997, the Government Information Technology and Broadcasting Bureau will organise a cocktail reception on April 11 at the Government House. The Chief Executive will be the Guest of Honour. The Hong Kong Film Workers Guild (Preparatory Committee) will support in the organisation of the event.
The spokesman said that the Government is committed to creating an environment that is conducive to the development of the film industry. Efforts made include the setting up of the Film Services Office under the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority to assist the local film industry and to promote Hong Kong films overseas, the establishment of the Film Services Advisory Committee to advise on the support for and promotion of the development of the local film industry, and the setting up of the $100 million Film Development Fund to provide funding support to projects which will facilitate the long-term development of Hong Kong's film industry.
He said, "The Government will continue to work closely with the industry in furtherance of the development of local films."
End/Monday, March 26, 2001
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