HKFA Celebrates Lin Dai's Legacy with 90th Birthday Film Retrospective

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the birth of the legendary film star Lin Dai, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Love Without End: The Screen Diva Lin Dai" in its screening series "Morning Matinee" from December 20, 2024, to March 7, 2025, featuring 14 classic films starring Lin and four documentaries about her.

Lin was immensely popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Although her film career lasted for only about a decade, she was awarded the Best Actress four times at the Asian Film Festival with her refined skills and acting charisma, and left behind many unforgettable classics. This screening programme comprises four sections - "Maiden Love", "City Girl", "Fatal Beauty" and "Glory of Life", offering an overview of Lin's superb acting in films of different genres.

Many of the films starring Lin are heart-wrenching love stories. Five films of various styles are included in the "Maiden Love" section. "The Fisherman's Daughter" (1956) and "Golden Phoenix" (1956) are romance films early in Lin's career. Her performance as a tender village maiden and a straightforward rural lady in the films respectively demonstrated her talent in acting. "The Fisherman's Daughter" will feature an additional screening of a short documentary, "A Tribute to Lin Dai" (1964), with scenes of Lin's funeral and thousands of her fans bidding her farewell. "Golden Phoenix" will feature an additional screening of "Linda Lin Dai's Wedding" (1961), documenting the precious moments of her wedding with other entertainment personalities attending in joyous celebration. Lin's playing the dual role of a strong-willed songstress and a gentle young lady in "Golden Lotus" (1957) won her the first Best Actress award at the Asian Film Festival. In "Humiliation for Sale" (1958), Lin plays a pleasure-seeking city girl, who also possesses a refreshing charm. In the romantic classic "Love Without End" (1961), Lin won her fourth Best Actress title in the Asian Film Festival with the portrayal of the emotional transitions of the heroine facing many unfortunate turns of events.

Lin also excelled at playing youthful and lively modern city girls, particularly so in light comedies. The "City Girl" section includes three films of hers of the genre, including "The Battle of Love" (1957), the first film scripted by Eileen Chang in Hong Kong, as well as "Lady on the Roof" (1959), adapted from Hsiung Shih-i's original story, and "Bachelors Beware" (1960), written and directed by Evan Yang. In the films, Lin plays the roles of smart and modern city girls who pursue love boldly. "The Battle of Love" will feature an additional screening of "Footages from Lin Dai's Wedding" (1961), documenting her wedding from putting on her bridal gown, makeup, and hairstyling to heading to the church. "Bachelors Beware" will feature an additional screening of "Travel with Lin Dai" (1961), capturing Lin's radiant smile during her trip to Europe.

Lin's versatile appearance allowed her to shine in both ancient and modern costumes, with her ancient looks being particularly elegant and charming. The "Fatal Beauty" section features four of Lin's period films, including "Diau Charn" (1958) and "Beyond The Great Wall" (1964). Lin portrays two well-known classical beauties who sacrificed themselves for the country in the two films. Her versatile acting in "Diau Charn" earned her the second Best Actress award at the Asian Film Festival. "The Kingdom and the Beauty" (1959), directed by the renowned Li Han-hsiang, is a classic film based on the folklore of an emperor falling for a beautiful commoner. The film won the Best Picture award at the sixth Asian Film Festival. In "Meng Lisi, Maid of the Jungle" (1961), Lin played a powerful and virtuous martial heroine. The rarely screened film has been digitised by the HKFA, offering audiences a glimpse of Lin's heroic charm.

The two selected films in the section "Glory of Life" are Lin's famous musical films, "Les Belles" (1961) and "Love Parade" (1963). "Les Belles", a grand production by Shaw Brothers, features splendid and delightful dance performances over a thousand dancers. A cheerful and lively Lin performed dazzling Western and Asian dances in the film, earning her the third Best Actress prize at the Asian Film Festival. "Love Parade" is an extravagant contemporary romantic comedy blending songs and dances with fashion.

Except for "Lady on the Roof", which is dubbed in Cantonese, all others are in Mandarin.

Tickets priced at $35 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from November 23 (Saturday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Some of the films will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by Dr Winnie Chan, Grace Ng, Sam Ho, Dr Angela Law, and Winnie Fu. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/lindai/pe-event-2024-lindai.html or call 2739 2139.

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit charm of four-time Best Actress Lin Dai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Public urged to support World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week

​The Department of Health (DH) today (November 18) urged members of the public to use antibiotics appropriately in support of World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, running from today to November 24 annually. The theme of the World Health Organization (WHO) this year is "Educate. Advocate. Act now."

AMR remains a top global threat to public health. According to a recent overseas study, it was estimated that about 4.71 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR globally in 2021, including 1.14 million deaths attributable to bacterial AMR. Forecasts show that an estimated 1.91 million deaths attributable to AMR and 8.22 million deaths associated with AMR could occur globally in 2050. The WHO is urging a concerted global effort through cross-sector collaboration via the One Health approach to tackle this AMR threat.

In 2016 the Government set up a High Level Steering Committee on AMR (HLSC) and formulated the first Hong Kong Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (Action Plan) in 2017. Since the launch of the Action Plan, a series of actions against AMR have been implemented in accordance with the strategies laid out in the plan by different action parties, with good progress being made. In 2022, the Government launched the second Action Plan to map out response strategies for the next phase, covering the years from 2023 to 2027.

Educate

The Centre for Health Protection of the DH has long educated healthcare professionals and the public on the proper use of antibiotics, and has regularly monitored the knowledge, attitude and practice of the public on antibiotic resistance. Increasing knowledge of AMR among the general public has been noted according to the latest results of a survey in 2023. For instance, respondents correctly answering that cold and influenza should not be treated by antibiotics increased from 37 per cent in a 2016/17 survey to 84 per cent in the 2023 survey. Moreover, respondents who completed the entire course of antibiotic treatment as instructed by doctors increased from 88 per cent to 92 per cent in the same period. Yet, less than 40 per cent of respondents were aware that bacteria resistant to antibiotics can be spread from person to person.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has long been educating the public to observe good personal and environmental hygiene throughout food preparation and handling to reduce the risk of AMR. In addition to organising talks and producing guidelines and pamphlets, the Centre for Food Safety of the FEHD has also incorporated relevant content into the training courses under the Hygiene Manager and Hygiene Supervisor Scheme.

Advocate

The Government has established a surveillance system to track the trends of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in the human, animal and food sectors according to the Action Plan. Further research will be conducted to better understand the situation of AMR in the local environment.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programmes are in place in public and private hospitals to optimise the use of antibiotics by providing evidence-based antibiotic prescription guidelines for common infections as a reference. The guidelines will continue to be updated based on local epidemiology and international best practices.

Furthermore, to address the threat of emerging multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), the Government has enhanced support to RCHEs to strictly implement infection control measures and reduce the risk of transmission of MDROs in the RCHEs.

Regarding the livestock sector, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has implemented the "veterinary prescription-only medication supply" policy in phases at the local livestock farm level to tighten the regulation on the use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry, in particular those critically important antimicrobials for humans.

Act now

The Government has long attached great importance to tackling the issue of AMR, and has acted promptly according to the latest international and local developments. Relevant bureaux/departments and organisations, including the Health Bureau, the DH, the FEHD, the AFCD and the Hospital Authority will continue to combat the challenge of AMR through cross-sector co-ordination and collaboration with private hospitals, professional bodies, academia and other stakeholders.

In light of the latest findings, a spokesman for the CHP urged members of the public to join the fight against antibiotic resistance by observing the following advice:

Take adequate rest and drink plenty of water when having a cold or flu. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor and do not buy antibiotics without a prescription at community pharmacies;

Do not demand antibioticsfrom doctorswhen not indicated. Only take antibiotics when advised by doctors and complete the whole course of treatment even if symptoms have improved;

Follow precautions stated on the prescription bag and adopt appropriate infection control measures such as practising frequent hand hygiene, wearing a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, and disinfecting and covering all wounds properly to prevent person-to-person spread of resistant bacteria when taking antibiotics;

Receive seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines as effective means to prevent secondary bacterial infection, hence reducing the use of antibiotics and occurrence of AMR;

Be aware of the risk of acquiring resistant bacteria from ready-to-eat (RTE) food. People taking antibiotics or antacids, and susceptible populations (such as pregnant women, infants and young children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity) are of higher risk and should therefore avoid eating raw and undercooked RTE foods; and

Observe good hygienic practices in the kitchen when handling food to minimise the risk of cross-contamination by resistant bacteria.

The CHP will continue to work with doctors to enhance education on the appropriate use of antibiotics and to remind patients about risk of antimicrobial resistance. For details of information about antimicrobial resistance, please visit the CHP thematic website and the CHP Facebook Page.