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Vietnamese audience will have a chance to watch a line-up of eight quality Hong Kong movies in the first-ever Hong Kong Film Week 2013 in Vietnam which was kick-started today (March 22) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at a Gala Premiere attended by some 250 guests.
Organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore, the Hong Kong Film Week was opened with the movie "Ip Man: The Final Fight". The film director Mr Herman Yau and lead actor Mr Anthony Wong have graced the event to greet with the local movie-goers. It would be the world premiere of "Ip Man: The Final Fight" outside of Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Gala Premiere, the Director of HKETO in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai, said Ho Chi Minh City was chosen for the Hong Kong Film Week because of the people and business connections between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City.
"Among the ASEAN countries, Vietnam is Hong Kong's fourth largest trading partner after Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, growing at an average of 30% in the last five years. Vietnam is also Hong Kong's second largest supplier of rice, with a total import value of US$77 million. In terms of volume, Vietnam's market share in the supply of rice to Hong Kong stands at 36% in 2012."
Mr Fong said Vietnam and Hong Kong have also forged strong relationship in the cultural front over the years.
He said, "In 2006, the Governments of Hong Kong and Vietnam signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Co-operation to promote and strengthen co-operation in the areas of culture, the arts and education. Vietnam has also been our long-standing partner at the Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum which has been organised in Hong Kong since 2003."
Mr Fong said the Hong Kong Film Week is aimed to bringing the two places even closer through the Hong Kong movies which have been popular among the Vietnamese people throughout the years.
Prior to the Gala Premiere, the film director Mr Yau and actor Mr Wong attended a workshop to share their experience and views on film making with local film students.
The Hong Kong Film Week was co-organised by the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam. A total of eight Hong Kong movies have been arranged for the Hong Kong Film Week from March 22 to 27. Apart from the opening movie, other highlights are "Life Without Principle", "Overheard", "Cold War", "The Viral Factor", "A Beautiful Life", "The Road Less Travelled" and "Love in the Buff".
Ends/Friday, March 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:11
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