5 Nov 2024獨媒#4203
Johnnie To Says Hong Kong Has No Soul; Adrian Pedro King Hong Ho Disagrees, Saying Mainland Film Censorship Principles Should Be Respected and Adjustments Made
香港導演杜琪峯近日接受《BBC中文網》專訪，剖白近年產量減少的原因，指近年正處於人生最低潮，認為自己與香港「無咗靈魂」。言論一出即引起廣泛迴響，前政府新聞統籌專員馮煒光發文，指杜琪峯眷戀往昔香港，呼籲他「向前看」。新民黨立法會議員何敬康今日亦發文，表示不同意杜琪峯的言論，強調香港與內地有不同電檢制度，應尊重內地的社會主義與電檢原則，如要打入內地市場便應「做些調整」或考慮開拓其他地區市場及降低拍攝成本，而非只是無理指責「沒有言論自由」和「失去靈魂」。
Hong Kong director Johnnie To recently told BBC Chinese in an interview that he was in the lowest point of his life in recent years, explaining the decline in his output and saying that he and Hong Kong had “lost their souls”. The remarks sparked widespread reaction. Andrew Wai Kwong Fung, a former government news coordinator, wrote that To was nostalgic for Hong Kong in the past and urged him to “look forward”. Adrian Pedro King Hong Ho, a New People's Party legislator, also wrote today that they disagreed with To’s comments, stressing that Hong Kong and mainland China have different film censorship systems. They said the mainland’s socialist and film censorship principles should be respected, and that those seeking to enter the mainland market should “make some adjustments” or consider developing markets in other regions and reducing filming costs, rather than merely making unreasonable accusations that there is “no freedom of speech” and that Hong Kong has “lost its soul”.
30 Oct 2024HK01#4189
Warren Mok criticises Hong Kong government for neglecting the arts: Do drone shows count as culture? Funding not enough to fill a tooth gap
著名男高音莫華倫早前為紀念歌劇作曲家浦契尼逝世100周年，改編名作《杜蘭朵》加入中國元素上演。他透露向盛事基金申請1500萬元資助，「係唯一一部歌劇講純正中國故仔，諗住多啲宣傳吸引遊客」，最後獲批70萬元，「雞碎咁嘅錢。塞牙罅都唔夠啦，製作好貴㗎嘛歌劇，過千萬㗎嘛」，基金沒提供任何解釋。
他說歌劇是普及化文化藝術，政府亦標榜香港是亞洲國際都會，「咁唔該你文化跟埋上去啦，你淨係紙上談兵，放啲無人機當變做有文化啦咩？Sorry，喺灣仔擺夜市擺一個月，咁就叫有文化啦咩」，自己雖是全國政協委員，但為了香港都是說實話。
Tenor Warren Mok recently staged an adaptation of the classic opera *Turandot*, incorporating Chinese elements to mark the 100th anniversary of opera composer Puccini’s death. He said he applied to the Mega Events Fund for $15 million in funding, saying, “It is the only opera about a genuinely Chinese story, and we thought more publicity could attract tourists.” He was ultimately awarded $700,000—“chicken-feed money. It isn’t even enough to fill a gap between your teeth. Opera productions are very expensive—more than $10 million”—and the fund provided no explanation.
He said opera was a form of culture and art intended for wider public access, while the government also promoted Hong Kong as an international metropolis in Asia. “Then please bring your culture along too. You only talk on paper—do you think putting on some drones turns it into culture? Sorry, if you put on a night market in Wan Chai for a month, does that count as culture?” he said. Although he is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, he said he was speaking the truth for Hong Kong.
25 Oct 2024追新聞#4179
Distributor of Hong Kong social-movement documentaries Ying E Chi director Vincent Chui reveals move to Taiwan and reopening of platform in personal capacity
在香港發行《地厚天高》、《理大圍城》、《佔領立法會》等多齣社運紀錄片的電影發行商影意志周四（24日）表示，該公司已在去年「經董事局一致通過於香港正式解散」，並由前藝術總監崔允信以個人名義重開平台。影意志同時公佈，將舉辦「影意志獨立短片獎 2025」，冀為有志的獨立電影人提供平台發表作品。崔允信在個人社交平台透露，已搬到台灣兩個月，強調即使「身處不同的地方，仍可為同一目標進發」。
Ying E Chi, the film distributor of Hong Kong social-movement documentaries including *Lost in the Fumes*, *Inside the Red Brick Wall* and *Taking Back the Legislature*, said on Thursday (24th) that the company had “formally dissolved in Hong Kong after unanimous approval by the board of directors” last year, and that its former artistic director Vincent Chui had reopened the platform in a personal capacity. Ying E Chi also announced that it would hold the “Ying E Chi Independent Short Film Awards 2025”, hoping to provide aspiring independent filmmakers with a platform to present their work. Vincent Chui said on a personal social-media platform that they had moved to Taiwan two months ago, stressing that “even in different places, we can still move towards the same goal.”
23 Oct 2024追新聞#4171
China-Russia Relations · Special Report | Anti-war Russian Pianist Evgeny Kissin Suddenly Cancels Hong Kong Performance; Designated a “Foreign Agent” by Russia in July
國際著名鋼琴大師祈辛（Evgeny Kissin）原定下月中在香港文化中心舉行鋼琴演奏會，但香港康樂及文化事務署周一（21日）突然宣佈活動取消，無交代具體原因。來自俄羅斯的祈辛過往多次訪港演出，但因批評俄羅斯總統普京（Vladimir Putin）揮軍入侵烏克蘭，今年7月被俄羅斯政府定性為「外國代理人」。隨着香港近年淪為與中國友好的俄羅斯、伊朗、北韓等獨裁國家規避西方制裁的「避風港」，令人聯想今次事件是否涉及政治因素。
Internationally renowned pianist Evgeny Kissin was scheduled to hold a piano recital at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in the middle of next month, but Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department suddenly announced on Monday (21st) that the event had been cancelled, without giving a specific reason. Kissin, who is from Russia, has performed in Hong Kong several times in the past, but was designated a “foreign agent” by the Russian government in July this year after criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching an invasion of Ukraine. As Hong Kong has in recent years become a “haven” for Russia, Iran, North Korea and other authoritarian countries friendly to China to circumvent Western sanctions, the incident has prompted speculation about whether political factors were involved.
3 Oct 2024獨媒#4113
Letters from Prison — Chow Hang-tung Nominated for Golden Horse Award for Best Documentary Short Film; Production Team: We Must Not Leave History Blank
今屆金馬獎入圍名單昨日釋出，由新聞平台「綠豆」製作的《獄中信——鄒幸彤》入圍「最佳紀錄短片」。該片整理了支聯會副主席鄒幸彤自入獄以來的公開書信和法庭陳詞，再以動畫及聲音演繹，以「記錄新香港這個時代」。「綠豆」說，隨著鄒在囚日子愈來愈長，漸漸也愈來愈少傳媒報道她的狀況，製作此短片是為了不讓歷史留空白。
另外，今屆共有9部來自香港或港人製作的電影／短片入圍金馬獎獎項。《從今以後》獲最多提名，包括最佳剪輯、最佳導演、最佳電影和最佳女主角，演員鍾雪瑩則憑《看我今天怎麼說》連續兩屆入圍最佳女主角。
The nominations for this year’s Golden Horse Awards were released yesterday. Letters from Prison — Chow Hang-tung, produced by the news platform Green Bean, was nominated for Best Documentary Short Film. The film compiles public letters and court submissions by Chow Hang-tung, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, since she was imprisoned, and presents them through animation and sound, with the aim of “documenting the era of new Hong Kong”. Green Bean said that as Chow’s time in prison grew longer, media reports about her situation gradually became fewer. The short film was made so as not to leave history blank.
In addition, nine films or shorts from Hong Kong or made by Hongkongers were nominated for awards at this year’s Golden Horse Awards. All Shall Be Well received the most nominations, including Best Editing, Best Director, Best Film and Best Actress. Actor Sut Ieng Chong was nominated for Best Actress for The Way We Talk for the second consecutive year.
3 Sept 2024獨媒#4010
Patriotic Education Working Group Releases Theme Song “Our Home” with Karaoke Version
憲法和基本法推廣督導委員會轄下愛國主義教育工作小組，在今日官方的「中國人民抗日戰爭勝利紀念日」，發布宣傳愛國主義教育的主題曲《我們的家》，並製作了卡啦OK版。鄺美雲在發布會更即席演唱一段，有記者邀請小組組長李慧琼示範如何演唱，惟她笑稱正努力練習中，「其實唱歌唔洗咁多限制，我哋最緊要係表達個情感。」
The Patriotic Education Working Group under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee released the theme song “Our Home” to promote patriotic education on today’s official Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Victory Day, and also produced a karaoke version. Kwong Mei-wan sang part of the song at the launch ceremony. When a reporter invited the group’s convenor, Starry Lee Wai-king, to demonstrate how to sing it, she said with a laugh that she was still working hard to practise: “Actually, singing doesn’t require so many restrictions; the most important thing for us is to express the emotion.”
3 Sept 2024明報#4013
Gin Shan-published new book by Audrey Eu removed from art book fair
為期3日的中環大館「BOOKED：香港藝術書展」前日結束，參展的出版商見山書店昨日發文，稱由其出版的立法會前議員吳靄儀新書《雨中的香港》被主辦機構要求下架，未有說明理由，但該書被質疑「是否可稱之為藝術相關」。大館透過公關公司回覆稱，一直支持藝術創作，「同時大館作為奉公守法的機構，會遵守香港法律」。
《雨中的香港》被質疑是否關藝術
見山書店稱，《雨中的香港》為今次書展唯一本地新書，但賣了半天（首日），便在其餘兩日下架，並指「下架理由從未說明」。見山表示，曾參加5屆藝術書展，今年首次有書被質疑「是否可稱之為藝術相關」及「是否可展覽售賣」 ；見山亦反問，假如《雨中的香港》不適合展覽，作者又是否適合在現場和她的讀者分享她其他作品？又為什麼連讀者想在現場送花給作者都不被允許？
The three-day BOOKED: Hong Kong Art Book Fair at Tai Kwun in Central ended the day before yesterday. Publisher Mount Zero Books posted yesterday that the new book 《Hong Kong in the Rain》 by former Legislative Council member Audrey Eu had been removed at the organiser’s request. No reason was given, but the book had been questioned over whether it could be regarded as “art-related”. Tai Kwun, responding through a public relations company, said it had always supported artistic creation, and that “as an institution that complies with the law, Tai Kwun will observe Hong Kong laws”.
Mount Zero Books said 《Hong Kong in the Rain》 was the only new local book at this year’s fair, but after being sold for half a day on the first day, it was removed for the remaining two days, adding that “the reason for the removal was never explained”. Gin Shan said it had participated in five editions of the art book fair, and that this was the first year one of its books had been questioned as to “whether it could be called art-related” and “whether it could be exhibited and sold”. Gin Shan also asked whether, if 《Hong Kong in the Rain》 was unsuitable for exhibition, the author was likewise unsuitable to share her other works with readers at the venue, and why readers were not even allowed to give flowers to the author there.
2 Sept 2024大城誌#4002
Scud’s Farewell Film on Hong Kong’s Slide from Vitality to Stagnation Cancelled over ‘Technical Issues’
已經移居外地的香港導演雲翔，其告別影壇作品《裸族の香港部落》，原定下周在第35屆香港同志影展放映。電影內容以香港為背景，紀錄一座曾經活力無限的城市如何滯落停擺。惟大會今日公布，《裸族の香港部落》因「技術問題」取消放映。
Hong Kong director Scud, who has relocated overseas, was scheduled to screen his swansong, *Naked Tribe of Hong Kong*, at the 35th Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival next week. Set in Hong Kong, the film documents how a once highly vibrant city has declined and ground to a halt. The festival announced today that the screening of *Naked Tribe of Hong Kong* had been cancelled due to “technical issues”.
28 Aug 2024Channel C#3960
War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Museum to Open on Sept. 3; History Museum Director Says He Does Not Know Exact Cost
香港海防博物館將於下周二（9月3日）正式改為「香港抗戰及海防博物館」，館方昨日（27日）舉行前奏活動。新展館將以「東江縱隊在深港地區的抗戰活動」為首項專題展覽，常設展廳亦會加強展示東江縱隊事蹟。立法會議員劉智鵬表示，市民過去混淆1941年英軍防衛香港與後來東江縱隊在抗戰的貢獻，稱香港保衛戰「過程被放大咗」；香港歷史博物館總館長張銳森承認不知道改建涉及的具體金額，認為這並非公眾討論的重要因素（not an important factor to discuss），並稱不希望市民「着眼點擺喺究竟我哋用咗幾多錢」。
The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence will officially be renamed the “Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence” next Tuesday (Sept. 3). The museum held a pre-opening event yesterday (27th). The new museum’s first special exhibition will focus on the East River Column’s wartime resistance activities in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong region, while the permanent galleries will also expand their coverage of the East River Column. Legislative Council member Lau Chi-pang said the public had previously confused the British military’s defence of Hong Kong in 1941 with the East River Column’s later contributions to the war of resistance, saying that the “process [of the Battle of Hong Kong] had been exaggerated”. Cheung Yui-sum, director of the Hong Kong Museum of History, acknowledged that he did not know the exact amount involved in the redevelopment. He said this was “not an important factor to discuss” and that he did not want the public to “focus on exactly how much we spent”.
27 Aug 2024獨媒#3951
War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Museum to Open Next Tuesday; Lau Chi-pang Calls Claims of Young People’s Historical Ignorance Absurd
去年《施政報告》提出將香港海防博物館改設為「香港抗戰及海防博物館」，博物館於下周二（9月3日）正式更名並於周三（4日）推出東江縱隊專題展覽。展覽將會展出至明年7月，市民可免費入場。博物館今午舉行開幕前奏，立法會議員劉智鵬亦有出席，他表示展覽是重大「里程碑」，又指過往發現很多年輕人不知道東江縱隊歷史，令人感到無稽與擔憂；他甚至認為有市民只著眼於英軍18日戰爭，「撈亂」兩段歷史，因為英軍「都唔係保衛我哋中華民族嘅寶貴土地」，並謂「如果兩件事撈埋一齊嚟講，成個抗戰就無意義嘅」。
Last year’s Policy Address proposed converting the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence into the “Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence”. The museum will officially be renamed next Tuesday (September 3), and will launch a special exhibition on the Dongjiang Column on Wednesday (the 4th). The exhibition will run until July next year, with free admission. At a pre-opening event this afternoon, Legislative Council member Lau Chi-pang said the exhibition was a major “milestone”. He said it was absurd and worrying that he had previously found many young people did not know the history of the Dongjiang Column. He also believed some members of the public focused only on the British forces’ 18-day war and “mixed up” the two periods of history, because the British forces “were not defending the precious land of our Chinese nation”. He said, “If the two things are lumped together, the entire War of Resistance would be meaningless.”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
