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A special event to honour Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka Fai was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) tonight (May 1, New York time) in New York.
Presented by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York; the Hong Kong Association of New York (HKANY) and BAM, "A Tribute Evening with Tony Leung Ka Fai" was attended by some 140 business people, government officials, academics, writers, film critics who are also fans of Hong Kong films and Tony Leung Ka Fai.
Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Ms Monica Chen said at the dinner reception that Hong Kong had one of the largest and most dynamic film entertainment industries in the world, and that Hong Kong films had gained increasing recognition from the international film industry.
"We have many talented directors, actors, writers, producers and technical crews who have made their names known in both Eastern and Western movie market. And Tony Leung Ka Fai is a seasoned and charismatic actor that we are proud of," she said.
"We are privileged to work with the Hong Kong Association of New York and BAM to host this event to honour this great actor from Hong Kong."
A representative of Councilman John Liu, of the New York City Council, presented a proclamation to acknowledge the outstanding achievement of Tony Leung Ka Fai in the movie industry.
Accepting the proclamation, Leung said he was very honoured to be here and presented with the proclamation. "It is a night I shall always remember," he said.
He gave special thanks to Artistic Director Fredric Mao of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, and Louisa So and Alice Lau, who were in town with him for the performances of "Love in a Fallen City" at the Gerald W Lynch Theatre on May 5 and 6 to benefit the New York Downtown Hospital Chinese Community Partnership for Health.
After the dinner, a special Q&A to talk about his experience of being an actor was held with Tony Leung Ka Fai at the Rose Cinemas of BAM before the premiere of "Everlasting Regret" by Stanley Kwan, co-starring Sammi Cheng. The film won Tony Leung Ka Fai the Best Actor Award of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society.
Ends/Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:25
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