7 Feb 2024獨媒#2952
Hong Kong Government: Messi Played Actively in Japan Three Days Later, Hopes Organisers and Team Will Offer Reasonable Explanation
效力美職球隊國際邁阿密的阿根廷球王美斯，早前隨隊來港比賽沒有落場，引起爭議。國際邁阿密今晚在日本與神戶勝利船進行比賽，美斯則後備上陣。文化體育及旅遊局回覆《獨媒》查詢時表示，球隊教練日前指美斯因傷不能出賽，三日後在日本卻活躍自如上陣，並在球場上作了不短時間的激烈運動，香港市民都有著不少疑問，希望主辦方及球隊能向香港市民作合理解釋。
Argentine football star Lionel Messi, who plays for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, caused controversy after he did not take the field when the team played in Hong Kong. Inter Miami played Vissel Kobe in Japan tonight, with Messi coming on as a substitute. In response to an inquiry from The Initium, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said that the team’s coach had stated a few days earlier that Messi could not play because of an injury, yet three days later he played actively and freely in Japan, engaging in strenuous activity on the pitch for a considerable period. It said Hong Kong citizens had many questions and hoped the organiser and team could offer them a reasonable explanation.
7 Feb 2024獨媒#2953
Kenneth Fok: Messi playing in Japan was “really distressing”, accusing Inter Miami of rubbing salt into Hong Kong fans’ wounds
國際邁阿密早前來港進行表演賽，阿根廷球王美斯因傷未有上陣，掀起爭議。球隊今晚在日本與神戶勝利船進行另一場賽事，美斯後備上陣。體育、文化、演藝及出版界立法會議員霍啟剛表示，看到美斯在日本上陣，再想起香港球迷的失落，及對方全程黑口黑面、迴避合照，「真的十分難受」，認為國際邁阿密是在香港球迷傷口撒鹽，要求對方、班主碧咸、美斯及主辦單位Tatler Asia給公眾一個交代。
Inter Miami previously came to Hong Kong for an exhibition match, but Argentina star Messi did not play because of injury, sparking controversy. The team played another match against Vissel Kobe in Japan tonight, with Messi coming on as a substitute. Kenneth Fok, a Legislative Council member representing the sports, culture, performing arts and publishing sectors, said seeing Messi play in Japan while recalling the disappointment of Hong Kong fans, as well as the player looking sullen throughout and avoiding a group photograph, was “really distressing”. He said Inter Miami was rubbing salt into the wounds of Hong Kong fans, and called on the team, its owner David Beckham, Messi and organiser Tatler Asia to give the public an explanation.
4 Feb 2024獨媒#2936
Funding Suspended by Arts Development Council, Theatre Federation Announces Charity Sale and Vows to Hold Drama Awards Ceremony
藝發局指上屆「香港舞台劇獎頒獎禮」邀請漫畫家尊子及前港台編導蔡玉玲任嘉賓，及主持提及「紅線」損害局方聲譽，扣減上屆頒獎禮資助、不再資助今屆頒獎禮，唐文署亦拒提供或贊助場地。香港戲劇協會今表示，「劇協仍然會肩負使命，歇盡所能，鐵定於2024年4至5月舉行『第三十二屆香港舞台劇獎頒獎禮』」，並宣布為籌募經費進行義賣。劇協幹事、編劇莊梅岩透露，事件發生後要自掏腰包支付頒獎禮已付出的費用，幹事亦收到很多有心人關懷指想捐款予劇協，惟經討論後決定暫不接受捐款，而以義賣籌款，並指「放眼所見，烽煙四起，好好保重，活著就是見證。」
The Arts Development Council said the previous Hong Kong Drama Awards ceremony had invited cartoonist Zunzi and former RTHK director Choy Yuk Ling, Bao as guests, while the host’s mention of “red lines” had damaged the council’s reputation. It therefore reduced funding for the previous ceremony and will no longer fund this year’s ceremony. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department also declined to provide or sponsor a venue. The Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies said today that it would “continue to shoulder its mission and do everything possible” and would definitely hold the “32nd Hong Kong Drama Awards Ceremony” in April or May 2024. It also announced a charity sale to raise funds. Cheung Mui-ngam, a committee member and playwright, said that after the incident, members had to pay out of their own pockets for expenses already incurred for the ceremony. Committee members had also received many expressions of concern from people wishing to donate to the federation. After discussion, however, it decided not to accept donations for the time being and would instead raise funds through a charity sale. She said: “Looking around, conflict is breaking out everywhere. Take good care of yourselves; being alive is itself a testimony.”
2 Feb 2024獨媒#2928
Theatre Association: Shocked that Performance Was Cancelled over Complaint from Unknown Source; Deeply Uncertain about Future of Hong Kong’s Creative Space
戲劇界風波一浪接一浪，繼藝發局以頒獎嘉賓言論為由，拒再資助香港舞台劇獎頒獎禮；「小伙子理想空間」團長唐浩翔亦被指曾有「不當言論」，在教育局要求解除表演場地租約下令演出取消。
香港戲劇協會及香港舞台藝術從業員工會發表聯合聲明，稱驚悉又一戲劇演出因一個「來源未明的截圖所投訴」，於上演前夕遭終止租用場地以致被迫取消。聲明引述藝發局民選代表區永東指，「小伙子理想空間」的演出不涉敏感議題，且就投訴的「審核過程透明度與溝通不足」，認為此事件令業界持續產生疑慮，「對本港藝術創作空間與保障的前景極感迷惘且渺茫」。
Trouble in the theatre sector has continued one wave after another. After the Hong Kong Arts Development Council refused to provide further funding for the Hong Kong Drama Awards presentation ceremony over remarks made by an awards presenter, Tang Ho-cheung, head of “Fire Makes Us Human”, was also alleged to have made “inappropriate remarks”. The performance was cancelled after the Education Bureau requested that the lease of the performance venue be terminated.
The Hong Kong Federation of Drama Societies and the Hong Kong Performing Arts Practitioners Union issued a joint statement saying they were shocked to learn that another theatrical performance had been cancelled after its venue rental was terminated on the eve of the performance because of a complaint based on “a screenshot of unknown origin”. The statement quoted elected representative Winton Wing Tung Au of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council as saying that the performance by “Fire Makes Us Human” did not involve sensitive issues. Regarding the “lack of transparency and communication in the review process” concerning the complaint, the representative said the incident had continued to raise concerns in the sector, leaving it “deeply perplexed and pessimistic about the prospects for the space and protection of artistic creation in Hong Kong”.
1 Feb 2024獨媒#2924
[Esports Asian Cup] Hong Kong team withdraws because game name lacks “China”; sports federation orders Football Association to submit report
由亞洲足協主辦、在卡塔爾舉行的電競亞洲盃「AFC eAsian Cup 2023」原定周四晚揭幕，港隊硬撼阿聯酋。不過，足總同日傍晚發新聞稿，宣布港隊退出，原因是比賽遊戲中的名稱只有「Hong Kong」，沒有「Hong Kong, China」。港協暨奧委會回覆《獨媒》查詢時表示，知悉中國香港足球總會已按指引中既定程序處理事件，並已指示總會須於一星期內提交事件報告，現階段沒有其他補充。
The AFC eAsian Cup 2023, organised by the Asian Football Confederation and held in Qatar, was scheduled to open on Thursday night, with Hong Kong due to face the United Arab Emirates. However, the Football Association issued a press release that evening announcing the Hong Kong team’s withdrawal because the name shown in the game was only “Hong Kong”, rather than “Hong Kong, China”. In response to an inquiry from The Witness, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China said it was aware that the Hong Kong Football Association had handled the incident in accordance with the established procedures under the guidelines, and had instructed the association to submit an incident report within one week. It said there was no further information at this stage.
1 Feb 2024獨媒#2925
Theatre Troupe Accused of Making “Inappropriate Remarks” Has Venue Cancelled; Director Despairs and Suspends Creative Work — Education Bureau: Has Responsibility to Protect Students
原定本周末於香港兆基創意書院演出的舞台劇《三分鐘銀行》及《窮一生藝術館》，主辦團體「小伙子理想空間」周三（31日）表示，由於校方被教育局要求與劇團解除場地租約，演出須取消。團長唐浩翔向《獨媒》表示，有人向教育局投訴他有「不當言論」，學校須按《國家安全：學校具體措施》指引取消場地。唐自言劇作不涉任何政治敏感內容，現時卻因無關痛癢、不明不白的投訴，令這個籌備一年、自資15萬元的演出，以及數十名年青人的心血「付諸流水」。半年前另一演出曾被取消場地的他，對本港藝術發展未來感到絕望、嘆沒有空間，無辦法下只能暫停創作。
Theatre productions “Three-Minute Bank” and “The Museum of a Lifetime of Poverty”, originally scheduled to be staged at the HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity this weekend, have been cancelled. The organising group, “Fire Makes Us Human”, said on Wednesday (31st) that the school had been asked by the Education Bureau to terminate its venue lease with the troupe. Troupe director Tong Ho-cheung told InMedia that someone had complained to the Education Bureau that he had made “inappropriate remarks”, and that the school had to cancel the venue under the guidelines in “National Security: Specific Measures for Schools”. Tong said the plays contained no politically sensitive content, but that an inexplicable complaint over an inconsequential matter had caused the production, which had been prepared over a year with HK$150,000 of self-funded expenditure, and the efforts of dozens of young people to “come to nothing”. Having had another performance venue cancelled six months ago, he said he felt despair over the future of Hong Kong’s arts development and lamented that there was no room for it. With no alternative, he could only suspend his creative work.
31 Jan 2024集誌社#2916
Young Men’s Performance Halted | Troupe’s Venue Cancelled Twice in Six Months, Decides to Suspend Productions | Founder: No Space Left, Only Ideals
藝術團體「小伙子理想空間」今（ 31 日）表示，香港兆基創意書院按教育局發出指引，要求解除與該團的場地租約，致兩個劇目取消。該團團長唐浩翔向《集誌社》表示，有人向教育局投訴他「言論不當」，院方按「國安」指引取消場地，數十年青人心血付諸流水。這次已是「小伙子」第二次被取消場地，唐對港藝術發展感絕望、嘆已無空間創作，決定今起暫停製作藝術項目，苦笑說：「我冇空間㗎啦，我呢個『小伙子理想空間』，冇咗空間，得返理想，得返諗。」
兆基書院回覆查詢時表示，作為藝術學校，會在可行的情況下出租支援藝團的製作。但書院為教育局管轄的直資學校，課程、學生發展及場地使用等安排，都需要聽從教育局指示。教育局回覆時指根據「國安」指引，學校有責任防止校舍出現不恰當使用情況，又指接獲投訴後，「已與學校聯絡，了解實情」，為學校提供適切的意見。(新增教育局回應已於內文更新）
藝發局戲劇界民選代表區永東，曾多次聯絡教育局求解釋不果，他質疑，若當局因不明來源截圖指控而取消場地，當事人無辯解機會，做法窒礙創作空間。劇作家莊梅岩則在社交媒體指，事件涉有人向教育局舉報，指劇團團員在 2019 年曾發表「不當言論」，批評國安未立案、劇團卻被懲罰，情況失智，「我最痛心的是，這次因為這種失智又擾民的管理，傷害了一班無辜年青人。」
The arts group “Fire Makes Us Human” said on the 31st that the HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity had, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Education Bureau, required the termination of its venue rental agreement with the group, resulting in the cancellation of two productions. The group’s director, Tong Ho-cheung, told The Collective that someone had complained to the Education Bureau that he had made “inappropriate remarks”, and that the school had cancelled the venue under “national security” guidelines, leaving the efforts of dozens of young people in vain. This was the second time Young Men had had its venue cancelled. Tong said he felt despair about the development of the arts in Hong Kong and lamented that there was no longer space for him to create. He decided to suspend the production of arts projects from today, saying wryly: “I have no space left. For me, this ‘Fire Makes Us Human’ has no space left—only ideals, only thoughts.”
The school said in response to enquiries that, as an arts school, it would rent its facilities to support arts groups’ productions whenever practicable. However, as a direct-subsidy school under the Education Bureau, its arrangements concerning the curriculum, student development and use of facilities must follow the Bureau’s instructions. The Education Bureau said that under the “national security” guidelines, schools have a responsibility to prevent inappropriate use of their premises. It added that after receiving a complaint, it had “contacted the school to understand the actual situation” and provided the school with appropriate advice. (The Education Bureau’s response was added in an update to the article.)
Winton Wing Tung Au, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s elected representative for the drama sector, said he had contacted the Education Bureau several times to seek an explanation without success. He questioned whether cancelling a venue on the basis of screenshots from an unknown source and allegations gave the person concerned no opportunity to respond, saying the approach restricted creative space. Playwright Chong Mui-ying wrote on social media that the incident involved someone reporting to the Education Bureau that troupe members had made “inappropriate remarks” in 2019. She criticised the fact that national security had not filed a case, yet the troupe was punished, calling the situation irrational: “What pains me most is that, because of this irrational and disruptive management, a group of innocent young people have been hurt.”
31 Jan 2024大城誌#2917
Education Bureau Acts on Complaint and Pressures Siu Kei, Withdrawing Venue for Self-Financed Stage Production; Director Tong Ho-cheung Says Right to Perform Was Denied and He Is Despairing over Hong Kong’s Arts Development
劇團「小伙子理想空間」一年內兩度被抽起演出場地，繼原創音樂劇《百花舞廳》後，這次是青年藝術作品《三分鐘銀行》及《窮一生藝術館》，但再多創作，在香港也不易演出。唐浩翔說，上次腰斬借出場地時，製作仍處於中前期；但這一次卻已經籌備了三個月，「排練晒」、「畀晒錢」，包括舞台設計、工作人員費用、服裝、膳食、演出費等，差不多都有十多萬元。
The theatre company “Fire Makes Us Human” has had its performance venue withdrawn twice within a year. Following the original musical “Hundred Flowers Ballroom”, the latest affected works are the youth productions “Three-Minute Bank” and “Art Museum of a Lifetime of Poverty”, but even creating more works does not make them easy to stage in Hong Kong. Tong Ho-cheung said that when the venue was withdrawn last time, the production was still in the early-to-middle stages. This time, however, the company had spent three months preparing, had completed all the rehearsals and paid for everything, including stage design, staff costs, costumes, meals and performance fees, amounting to more than HK$100,000 in total.
23 Jan 2024獨媒#2861
Author of Drama Awards arts review report: Seeing double meanings in language is “quite a dangerous thing”
藝發局以劇協上屆舞台劇獎頒獎禮上，邀請漫畫家尊子及前港台編導蔡玉玲任嘉賓，以及主持提及「紅橋」及「紅線」，指為「意有所指、語帶雙關」不能苟同。撰寫當日藝評報告的藝評人陳瑋鑫稱，藝術便是透過不同比喻或方式表達訊息，認為「語帶雙關」的指控「係幾危險嘅一件事」，他指即便時光倒流，亦不認為「紅橋」及「紅線」等說法有問題。
The Arts Development Council said it could not agree that the Hong Kong Drama Awards’ previous presentation ceremony—at which cartoonist Zunzi and former RTHK producer-director Choy Yuk Ling, Bao were invited as guests, and the host referred to the “Red Bridge” and “red line”—was “deliberately suggestive and carrying a double meaning”. Arts critic Chan Wai-yam, who wrote the review report on the day, said art conveys messages through different metaphors and methods. He said accusing something of “carrying a double meaning” was “quite a dangerous thing”, and that even in hindsight he did not consider references such as “Red Bridge” and “red line” problematic.
20 Jan 2024大城誌#2844
“Beijing Bastards” Fails Film Censorship in Hong Kong, but Is Listed Under Original Title on Mainland Websites; Director Zhang Yuan: Name Is “Harsh” Enough
《大城誌》獲悉，由中國獨立電影導演張元執導的《北京雜種》近日在香港放映，惟片名無法通過電檢，遭刪走片名，才可在香港放映。據知，准映證將片名由《北京雜種》改為張元作品。而主辦單位M+博物館，已在官網刪走《北京雜種》的片名，僅形容是張元作品。
《大城誌》learned that 《Beijing Bastards》, directed by Chinese independent filmmaker Zhang Yuan, was screened in Hong Kong recently, but its title could not pass film censorship. The title was removed before the film could be screened in Hong Kong. It is understood that the screening certificate changed the title from 《Beijing Bastards》 to “A Zhang Yuan Film.” The organiser, M+ Museum, has also removed the title 《Beijing Bastards》 from its official website, describing it only as a Zhang Yuan film.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
