According to Mona Fong, director of Hong Kong Movie City, the venue, which is equipped with a visitor center, a cinema, a backlot site with props and scene docks, a 4-storey technical support complex, a post-production building and five sound stages, will be what she calls the "hallmark of future movie magic" for Hong Kong.

The development will represent a new era of movie making in Hong Kong, she stressed. Utilizing the expertise of existing industry and embracing the latest technology, the development is intended not only to promote the local film making industry but to venture onto the international arena, acting as a hub for international talents, she said at the Pak Shing Kok Terrain venue, a 44,400 square meter site overlooking Tseung Kwan O Bay in the Southeast of Tseung Kwan O in Kowloon.

Although the film industry is in its recession and the company is prepared to break even in a period of eight years, she said, "I am not worried about that, as our goal is to develop Hong Kong into a world-class film production hub."

More than HK$1 billion (US$128.2 million) is being invested in by two major local film production entities, Shaw Brothers and China Star, according to Hong Kong Movie City Company Limited.

With Hong Kong's film and television industry exploring cooperation with their counterparts in the Chinese mainland, as shown in their latest trip to Beijing in October last year, the movie city is expected to be a citadel connecting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the mainland film production and talents with those of the rest of the world.

Fong said, "I believe we'll need a production center equipped with such facilities some time in future anyway. But as to what extent shall we need it, I really couldn't tell you at this stage."

Not just the hardware is being upgrade, but also the software of Hong Kong's film production, said one of the top Hong Kong actors Tuesday while speaking to reporters after the news conference held by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association (HKFAA) to announce that the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony will fall on April 6 this year.

"This year is the best year -- for a hundred flowers bloom. Films of various genres are found in the list of films nominated for various awards today," said Eric Tsang, who has been awarded the Hong Kong actor award in the past.

"For example, Hero, Infernal Affairs, Golden Chicken and Three. All belong to different categories of films. This proves that a hundred flowers are really booming in Hong Kong's film industry. Different themes are selling well," he said.

"It is not like before when only the more artistic movies were likely to get nominated. Those nominated have all done well in the box office," he said.

The Hong Kong Film Awards is the most prestigious motion picture award in the Hong Kong film industry and entertainment field, and this year, the ceremony will be co-produced by the HKFAA and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).

The event will be jointly broadcast live by Jade Channel of Television Broadcasts Limited and Radio 2 of RTHK.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2003)