Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2014 Commend Outstanding Artists and Organisations

The Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2014 Presentation Ceremony, organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) and co-presented by Television Division of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), was held yesterday (24 April) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

A total of 28 awards were presented to local artists, arts organisations, schools and institutions in recognition of their unstinting support and contribution to the arts development in Hong Kong. Among the various awards, the Life Achievement Award, the highest accolade, was bestowed on Prof Liu Yichang, renowned writer, while the Award for Outstanding Contribution in Arts went to renowned film director, Mr Tsui Hark.

The ceremony was officiated by The Hon C Y Leung, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Mr Tsang Tak-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs; Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred, Chairman of the HKADC and Vice-chairman Ms Yan Hau-yee, Lina.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred, Chairman of the HKADC, said each award presented at the ceremony represents the effort and achievement of awardees as well as the society's recognition and support towards arts. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the HKADC. The HKADC will continue to support local small-to-medium sized arts groups and artists through a variety of funding schemes as well as to explore overseas exchange opportunities and local arts spaces to foster the arts development of Hong Kong.

Six award categories of the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2014 were presented, including the Life Achievement Award, the Award for Outstanding Contribution in Arts, Artist of the Year, the Award for Young Artist, the Award for Arts Education and the Award for Arts Promotion.

Among the awardees list, the Life Achievement Award was conferred on arts master with continued and significant contribution to the arts scene in Hong Kong. Prof Liu Yichang, the recipient of the Life Achievement Award this year, has published more than 40 literary works including The Drunkard, regarded as the first-ever piece of domestic modern fiction to depict the realities of Hong Kong, the parallel narrative of Dui Dao, modern reinterpretations of classic stories Si Nei, etc. He has created a body of fiction that is as diverse as it is distinguished by literary modernism. His works have been translated into different languages, and his far-reaching impact also extends to the cinema and television adaptations of his fiction.

Film director Mr Tsui Hark, the recipient of this year’s Award for Outstanding Contribution in Arts, has directed and executively produced more than 40 films including Once Upon a Time in China, The Legend of Zu, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, etc. since 1970s. He is worthy of every recognition for always exploring new movie genres and introducing state-of-the-art technologies to the local film industry. His contribution to the development of the industry is significant. Mr Tsui was not able to join the ceremony. Ms Charlie Young, renowned film actress has received the award on his behalf.

Prominent names were invited to be the award presenters, which included (list in no particular order):

• The Hon Ma Fung-kwok, Legislative Councillor (Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication)
• Mr Tai Keen-man, Deputy Director of Broadcasting (Programmes)
• Mr Yuen Siu-fai, Vice-chairman of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong
• Ms Barbara Fei, renowned soprano
• Ms Helen Lai, renowned choreographer
• Dr Ng Mei-kwan, arts critic and literary arts practitioner
• Dr Hector Rodriguez, Associate Professor, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong
• Mr Ng See-yuen, film veteran
• Mr Chan Ka-seung, Gordon, renowned film director
• Ms Chan Kit-ling, Elisa, renowned artist
• Mr Wong Chau-sang, Anthony, renowned actor

Among the awardees list, Artist of the Year went to Dr Chan Chi-tak (Arts Criticism), Mr Ong Yong-lock (Dance), Ms Yan Wing-pui, Olivia (Drama), Mr Lam Chiu-yin, Dante (Film), Ms Wong Bik-wan (Literary Arts), Dr Cédric Maridet (Media Arts), Mr Leung Kin-fung (Music), Dr Leung Mee-ping (Visual Arts) and Mr Ko Yun-hung (Xiqu).

The Award for Young Artist went to Mr Tam Yee-lok (Arts Criticism), Mr Wong Tan-ki (Dance), Ms Rosa Maria Velasco (Drama), Mr Chow Kwun-wai (Film), Mr Chow Hon-fai (Literary Arts), Mr Wong Chi-chuen, Kenny (Media Arts), Ms Kwong Lai-ling, Louise (Music), Mr Nadim Abbas (Visual Arts) and Ms Wong Kit-fong, Janet (Xiqu), while the Award for Arts Promotion went to Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong and School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong. For detailed listing, please refer to the enclosure.

To enlighten the ceremony, an array of performances was staged:

• Collide, an opening performance by multimedia musician Choi Sai-ho and dancers with a unique blend of electronic music and multimedia images combined with dance and choreographed movements.
• Singer-songwriter Hins Cheung and drama actress Rosa Maria Velasco paid tribute to Prof Liu Yichang, the recipient of the Life Achievement Award, with a special duet, interweaving literature, drama and the song Youth Forever.
• Renowned Cantonese opera musician, Ko Yun-hung led the Hong Kong Xiqu Band to perform The Little Red Peach.

The TV episode, Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2014 Presentation Ceremony, will be broadcast at 8:30pm on 23 May (Saturday) via RTHK TV31. A special edition of the episode will be broadcast at 7:00pm on 3 June (Wednesday) via TVB Jade and RTHK TV31. Live broadcast and an archive of the TV episode will be available on the RTHK website (tv.rthk.hk) and in the "RTHK Screen" app.

Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2014 - Awardees List