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

CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.

The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.

Product details are as follows:

Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)

Batch number: 51670742F2

Best-before date: June 16, 2027

Place of Origin: Germany

"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.

Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:

Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)

Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com

WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)

Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink

Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:

Kowloon Services Counter

Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)

Contact number: 3996 8196

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)

Hong Kong Services Counter

Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)

Contact number: 3996 8197

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)

The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.

Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.

Source: AI-found images