Chinese mainland, HK sign further expanded economic agreement

HONG KONG, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese central government and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed on Saturday the sixth supplement to an important trade agreement to give Hong Kong firms greater and easier access to the mainland market for tourism, securities and banking services, among others.

The Supplement VI to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed by John Tsang, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, and the central government's Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Zengwei in Hong Kong at a ceremony witnessed by HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang.

Speaking at the ceremony, Donald Tsang said the supplement agreement will introduce 29 measures that will build on the liberalization of 20 services sectors and open two more sectors of research and development and rail transport to Hong Kong businesses.

The total number of services sectors covered by the CEPA and its supplements will thereby be expanded from 40 to 42, Jiang said. Under the agreements, the mainland has agreed to exempt tariffs for all products of Hong Kong origin and allow preferential treatment to Hong Kong service suppliers in the service sectors.

The new measures will take effect on Oct. 1, 2009, three months earlier than usual, to allow the trade to enjoy the benefits earlier, Jiang said at the ceremony.

Donald Tsang welcomed the agreement, saying that the new measures will be mutually beneficial and help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing economic downturn.

Under the new agreement, mainland travel agents authorized to operate group tours to Taiwan can organize group tours for mainland residents to enter Hong Kong in transit. The aim was to help the travel trade develop multi-destination tourism packages.

Authorization requirements have been also further relaxed under the agreement for Hong Kong commercial banks to establish sub-branches or service points, while qualified securities firms in Hong Kong and the mainland will be allowed to establish joint businesses in Guangdong, the mainland province neighboring Hong Kong.

HK clears 1st round of flu control

Special Report:World tackles A/H1N1 flu

Health authorities in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have lifted a quarantine on the Metropark Hotel.

This marks the end of quarantine arrangements following the first confirmed case of influenza A-H1N1 in the city.

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(APPhoto/KinCheung)

A total of 286 people, including tourists and hotel staff were put under quarantine, after a 25 year-old Mexican was confirmed to have A-H1N1 flu on May 1st.

Some guests had initially complained about being trapped, but with the door opened, some seemed upbeat.

60 of the people went directly to airport and ports. Those who chose to stay in Hong Kong will receive two free nights in another hotel, and tickets to Disneyland and Ocean Park.

Donald Tsang, HK SAR Chief Executive, said, "Most of the affected people have shown their understanding of what we've done. I saw they hung out "I love Hong Kong". I was deeply moved. I want to extend my greatest appreciation for them."

The Metropark Hotel will undergo a thorough disinfection after all the guests left. Hong Kong health authorities say although they've succeeded in preventing the spread of the disease, the city should remain vigilant.

The Mexican patient, the first confirmed case in Hong Kong, was discharged from hospital on Friday evening.

No one is in isolation in Hong Kong at the moment.

HK hopes understanding from quarantined guests

Special Report:World tackles A/H1N1 flu

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In Hong Kong, there are no signs that the A/H1N1 virus has spread. With government quarantine and precautionary measures in place, the lives of most residents are returning to normal. On Tuesday, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Donald Tsang, expressed his hope for understanding from the guests isolated inside the Metro Park hotel.

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Over three hundred guests and hotel staffs have been isolated for five days. A Mexican guest had tested positive for A/H1N1 on Friday.

The Hong Kong government asked for patience and promised to help the guests with whatever they need.

Best actress

Veteran actress and long-time darling of the Hong Kong film industry -- Paw Hee Ching -- was named best actress on April 19th at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards. She won the award for her flawless performance in "The Way We Are". Paw's triumph came after four decades of performing numerous, minor roles. Fans have crowned her as the "best actress for the common public" or plebeian best actress. In today's Spotlight, we'll introduce you to several such actresses who have gone on to the top of their profession after many cinematic, twists and turns.

Paw Hee Ching – the “eldest” best actress

Ann Hui's 2008 work "The Way We Are" proved to be a big winner at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards. It won four awards including best director, best screenplay, best actress and best supporting actress.

It is a rare film with Hong Kong flavor and was made exclusively with local money. And that's during a time when the Hong Kong film industry is increasingly catering to the booming market in the Chinese mainland with historical and Kung Fu epics.

As a local of Hong Kong, Paw won the award. Since 2006 the honor had gone to actresses from the Chinese mainland. Paw's triumph has been seen by many as signaling a revival in popularity of native Hong Kong actresses.

Paw Hee Ching was born in 1949 to a Hong Kong cinematic family. Her parents are famous Chinese actor Pao Fong and actress Liu Su. Her younger brother Peter Pau is an Academy Awards-winning and five-time Hong Kong Film Awards-winning cinematographer. But Paw Hee Ching has been engaged in supporting roles and small parts in her cinematic career. Her costarring status was finally uplifted with the role of a single mother in "The Way We Are".

It is an unglamorous but moving portrait of a working-class town most vividly known for its poverty and violence.

The docu-drama was produced with a low budget and a little-known cast. And it gives voices to the ordinary residents of a town in Hong Kong -- Tin Shui Wai -- whose residents are mostly working-class people.

The way she looks -- very gentle and kind -- makes her ideal for playing virtuous women in accordance with the Confucianism ideal as wife, mother, sister, teacher or wise Kung Fu master. On receiving her first best actress trophy at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Paw joked that the jury panel wouldn't have given this award for her if it wasn't for their respect for the elderly people.

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Eason Chan: king of cantopop

Eason Chan, the king of cantopop, took to the stage at Shanghai's Hongkou Soccer Stadium on April 25th. Chan has long been recognized as the leading male singer of his generation in the Hong Kong music scene. In our "List" today, we discover the world of Eason Chan's music.

This March saw the release of Eason Chan's new Cantonese album "H3M". The record is a bit of a departure from Chan's previous works. Apart from a change in his looks - he's started to grow a beard - Chan invited nine celebrated musicians to compose songs for his album. The nine musicians, including Joey Tang, Gary Tong, C.Y. Kong, Davy Chan, and Pam Chung, were all extremely popular in the 1980s in Hong Kong. Their contributions add a nostalgic touch to Chan's music, which has won acclaim from both critics and fans alike.

Eason Chan was sent to the United Kingdom to study at the age of 12. He attended Kingston University, where he majored in architecture. In 1995 he returned to Hong Kong to take part in a New Talent Singing Competition and won the first place. Chan then signed a contract with Wha Shing Records and his music career took off.

Chan released a number of albums while with Wha Shing. His albums, including "Happiness", "God Bless My Beloved One", "Nothing Really Matters", and "New Life" all sold well.

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Legendary Josephine Siao Fong Fong

Legendary Hong Kong film actress Josephine Siao Fong Fong will be presented with a lifetime achievement at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night. The 62-year-old actress became popular as a child and continued her success, winning numerous domestic and international film awards throughout her career spanning some five decades.

Josephine Siao was born in 1947 as Siao Liang in Shanghai. At the age of two, she was brought to Hong Kong by her parents. Siao's first movie appearance was at age seven in "A Child's Tear". Two years later she won the Best Child Award for her role in "Orphan Girl".

Unlike many child stars, Siao made a successful transition to adult stardom, remaining one of Hong Kong's most prolific and popular actresses. In the 1960s alone, she starred in over 200 films. She was one of the popular female teenage stars who were termed the "Seven Cantonese Princesses" of the 60s. But she was perhaps the most popular of them all. She appeared in all sorts of films, from romance to drama, to comedy, action and fantasy.

In 1970, she cut back on her film output to focus on her education. Siao earned a Communications degree from New Jersey's Seton Hall University. From then on, she worked less frequently in films. In 1974, Siao had only a small part on the screen as the hero-cop "Girlfriend", but it won her the Best Supporting Actress at Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Awards.

In 1975, she worked as one of the directors for "Jumping Ash". The film is regarded by film critics as a prelude to the Hong Kong New Wave movies of the 1980s. She then created for TV the bumbling plain Jane character, Lam Ah Shun, in 1977.

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Winners of Hong Kong Film Awards

The winners of the prestigious Hong Kong Film Awards were announced last weekend. Local movies "Ip Man" and "The Way We Are" were standouts at the event. Let's take a look at the five biggest winners.

No.5 "Assembly"

War epic "Assembly" won the trophy for "Best Film from Asia". Two of Feng Xiaofang's latest films were nominated for the award, including "Assembly" and "If You Are the One." It's rare for two films by the same director to be nominated in this category. The criteria for winning the prize includes the film's influence, and it must convey a positive, inspiring theme.

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