HKFA Celebrates 25th Anniversary with "Realising Art in Social Realism" Film Programme Featuring Union Film Classics

Film Archive to present screening programme "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film"

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a programme entitled "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film" from August 22 to 30 at the Cinema of the HKFA, featuring a selection of six of the most representative works of the Union Film Enterprise Ltd (Union Film). This screening programme is part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the HKFA and the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2026.

Union Film was co-founded in 1952 by filmmakers who shared a common goal of elevating the artistic quality of Cantonese film, with productions reflecting social realities and bearing educational significance. This programme features six early works of Union Film including masterpieces of five directors during their creative prime: Lee Tit, Lee Sun-fung, Chun Kim, Chu Kea and Ng Wui, as well as a collectively written and directed anthology works. The selection demonstrates Union Film's concerns for society and people's livelihoods, an aspiration for virtuous human relationships, and a philosophy that blends traditional Chinese and modern culture.

Being the longest-serving director at Union Film, Lee Tit was adept at the realistic depiction of the lives of ordinary people in films that resonate deeply with audiences, including "In the Face of Demolition" (1953) (2K Digitised Version), which uses dramatic tension to highlight social issues faced by diverse residents in a dilapidated building, serving as a microcosm of post-war Hong Kong. Although the film's characters are from different walks of life in adverse circumstances, they lend support to each other and live in neighbourly accord, embodying the solidarity spirit of "one for all, all for one".

Chun Kim excelled at portraying intergenerational relationships, with "Parents’ Hearts" (1955) (2K Digitised Version) being especially poignant among his works. The film tells the story of a father working day and night with his wife to put his sons through school, eventually falling ill from overexertion. Starring renowned Cantonese opera actor Ma Si-tsang, the film touches on the mutual assistance between impoverished artists outside the storyline of a familial relationship to highlight the compassion and generosity of human nature and reflect the harsh realities of an economic downturn and the decline of traditional art forms.

Adapted from Ba Jin's renowned eponymous novel and directed by Lee Sun-fung, "Spring" (1953) (2K Digitised Version) tells the quandaries and choices in love and marriage faced by young people amidst traditional and contemporary ideologies. Lee Sun-fung was particularly skilled at conveying the emotions of female characters. In a scene when a young girl, who is about to be forced into marriage, played by Pak Yin, sings "The Death of Daiyu", her melancholy and misery from a tortured romance is delicately revealed.

Chu Kea, who joined the film industry at the age of 13, drew on his diverse behind-the-scenes experiences from working in various posts to become a master of melodrama. His "An Orphan’s Tragedy" (1955) (2K Digitised Version) is the only film that Bruce Lee and Josephine Siao appear in together, and both deliver standout performances. The film tells the story of the protagonist becoming an orphan after his father has been framed by a villain. When the protagonist has grown up, he is set up by the same villain, forcing the father, who is now a fugitive, to come out of hiding to save him.

Ng was the most prolific director at Union Film and was equally at ease across different genres of film. In the Chinese opera film, "The Precious Lotus Lamp" (1956), Ng masterfully blends the languages of Cantonese opera and cinema, setting a new standard for period musical films. With Union Film's rigorous approach to film production, Cheung Wood-yau and Tsi Lo Lin, both trained in Cantonese opera, were cast in the lead roles, offering their vocal prowess and refined stage movements and gestures on screen, while veteran Cantonese opera actor Siu Sun Kuen portrayed the antagonist and served as a consultant to ensure the artistic quality of the film.

Marking the second anniversary of Union Film, an all-star lineup of directors and actors came together for the two instalments of "Love" (Part 1 & The Sequel) (1955) (2K Digitised Version) in a spirit of collective creativity to present six stories involving a wide variety of passengers on a ship, shedding light on the relationships between family members, mothers and sons, sisters, spouses and lovers. The film depicts six different forms of human affection and examines the interpersonal intricacies within.

Tickets priced at $60 will be available from July 17 (Friday) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). There is a 20 per cent discount for every purchase of regular-priced tickets of two or more screenings of this programme. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please call 2739 2139 or visit the HKFA website at www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/ccf-art-in-social-realism/pe-event-2026-ccf-art-in-social-realism.html.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's sense of national identity and cultural confidence, thereby facilitating patriotic education. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Chinese Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2026 is held from June to September. For more information, please visitwww.ccf.gov.hk.

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a programme entitled "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film" from August 22 to 30 at the Cinema of the HKFA, featuring a selection of six of the most representative works of the Union Film Enterprise Ltd. Photo shows a film still of "Love" (The Sequel) (1955) (2K Digitised Version). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a programme entitled "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film" from August 22 to 30 at the Cinema of the HKFA, featuring a selection of six of the most representative works of the Union Film Enterprise Ltd. Photo shows a film still of "Spring" (1953) (2K Digitised Version). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a programme entitled "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film" from August 22 to 30 at the Cinema of the HKFA, featuring a selection of six of the most representative works of the Union Film Enterprise Ltd. Photo shows a film still of "The Precious Lotus Lamp" (1956). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a programme entitled "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film" from August 22 to 30 at the Cinema of the HKFA, featuring six of the most representative works of the Union Film Enterprise Ltd. Photo shows a film still of "Parents’ Hearts" (1955) (2K Digitised Version). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a programme entitled "Realising Art in Social Realism: The Miracle of Union Film" from August 22 to 30 at the Cinema of the HKFA, featuring a selection of six of the most representative works of the Union Film Enterprise Ltd. Photo shows a film still of "In the Face of Demolition" (1953) (2K Digitised Version). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Housing Bureau clarifies unfounded allegations online

A spokesman for the Housing Bureau (HB) said today (July 13) that online allegations that the Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited established by the Government to acquire ownership of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po is a shell company on the verge of bankruptcy are entirely unfounded. It cannot be ruled out that the allegations are made by individuals with ulterior motives to confuse the public. The Government must set the record straight.

The spokesman stressed that the Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited has been established by the Government with full Government support. In addition, there is absolutely no risk of a shortfall in funding required for the acquisition of titles of the flats of Wang Fuk Court. Apart from the $2.8 billion provided by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (the Support Fund), $4 billion has been earmarked under the 2026-27 Budget for the acquisition of Blocks A to G of Wang Fuk Court. For the additional acquisition cost for Wang Chi House, which is estimated to be about $1 billion, the Government will seek funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council this Friday.

Currently, the Government has been progressively signing formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase with the owners who have submitted the duly signed "Letter of Acceptance".

The spokesman said, "After receiving the 'Letters of Acceptance' returned by the owners and verification of the information therein, the HB will arrange relevant owners to sign the formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase, including those owners from Wang Chi House which are now covered under the long-term housing arrangement plan. As of July 10, the Wang Fuk Court Property Rights Acquisition Limited has already signed the Agreement for Sale and Purchase with over 550 owners of Wang Fuk Court. The Government is sparing no effort in assisting the completion of the assignment procedures as soon as practicable according to individual circumstances. Up to now, the assignment procedures have been completed for two flats and the acquisition amounts have been disbursed to the relevant former owners."

The HB noted that individual owners have raised queries regarding the Deed of Undertaking and Indemnity (the Deed) in the Appendix to the Agreement for Sale and Purchase and the rental grant arrangement for owners who have sold the title of their properties but are unable to purchase a flat under the Special Sale Exercise.

The spokesman said that the main purpose of the Deed in the Appendix to the Agreement for Sale and Purchase is to require owners to make legally binding declarations and confirmations regarding the title status of their properties before the completion of the transaction, including that the owner is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the property, that the property is free from any third-party interests or rights of occupation, and that the property is not subject to any civil proceedings or claims. This arrangement serves to ensure that the buyer obtains a clean and undisputed title after completion of the transaction. Regarding the indemnity provision in the Deed, should any third party mount a legal challenge against the title status of the buyer after the completion of the transaction based on the existing interests or claims related to the property, the owners shall be liable to indemnify the resulting losses. The applicable circumstances of the provision are that the declarations and confirmation made by the owners in the Deed are untrue or incomplete. It is not directed at any unrelated or newly arisen disputes. The requirements for declarations and indemnities regarding the absence of any third-party interests or rights of occupation in respect of a property are also common in property transactions in general.

On the rental grants, the Government announced in end of December 2025 that the Support Fund will provide owners of each unit in Wang Fuk Court with an annual rental grant of $150,000. The grant will be provided for two years and disbursed on a semi-annual basis, with each payment being $75,000.

For individual owners who have accepted the Government's acquisition offer but cannot purchase a flat under the Special Sale Exercise in the end, they can still receive cash payments from the Government and choose a flat that better suits their needs in the private market. They can also obtain the Green Form status for two years (counting from the date on which the relevant funds are credited to their account) to purchase a subsidised sale flat with premium unpaid in the secondary market. The relevant rental grants will be provided up to the date on which the relevant cash payments are credited to their account. Rental grants received before the credit date need not be refunded, but no further grants will be disbursed thereafter.

If owners have any questions about the acquisition or need any assistance, they may contact their designated Engagement Team member or call the hotline at 2129 8133. The team stands ready to provide appropriate assistance. Owners may also visit the dedicated website for the long-term housing arrangements for Wang Fuk Court (www.hb.gov.hk/wfc) for further details.

Source: AI-found images