Speech by SCST at opening ceremony of ASEAN Film Festival 2026
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Film Festival 2026 today (August 20):
Deputy Commissioner Hua You (Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)), Consul-General Muzambli Markam (Dean of ASEAN Consuls-General in Hong Kong and Consul-General of Malaysia in Hong Kong), Chairman Daryl Ng (Chairman of Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation), Commissioner Nicholas Ho (Commissioner for Belt and Road), Consuls-General, the Honorable Vivian Kong (Legislative Council Member), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I am delighted to join you once again at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Film Festival.
As we gather for the fourth edition of this vibrant festival, I am delighted to see it growing from strength to strength. This year marks a milestone, with an unprecedented participation of 20 economies - including nine first-time participants such as the Chinese Mainland and the Hong Kong SAR. Through the universal language of music and storytelling woven into these films, this festival will undoubtedly deepen cultural understanding and forge closer bonds among ASEAN countries and our friends from around the region.
But this event is about far more than just screenings - it is fundamentally about connection and collaboration. These themes resonate profoundly with Hong Kong's strategic positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges. Over the coming weeks, our city will host a dynamic lineup of sharing sessions, networking events, and collaborative dialogues. These exchanges are not merely cultural; they are essential to building lasting partnerships and genuine friendships.
Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image
As the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, I am proud that our Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) is sponsoring select programmes this year. Our aim is to help provide more valuable opportunities for Hong Kong's own film professionals to engage with the ASEAN community and beyond, fostering mutual learning and creative synergy.
Specifically, CCIDA is co-presenting the screenings of two local productions - "Last Song for You" and "Band Four" - alongside a dedicated networking reception and a post-screening talk with Hong Kong filmmakers. I sincerely hope these events will spark meaningful dialogues and insightful exchanges between our local creative sectors and distinguished visitors from ASEAN.
Hong Kong's film industry remains a cornerstone of our pride and identity. The Hong Kong SAR Government is steadfast in its commitment to supporting our filmmakers through targeted initiatives. Through the Film Development Fund, we nurture emerging talent, back original local productions, encourage international co-productions, and showcase Hong Kong cinema on the global stage.
Beyond the silver screen, we are actively integrating film with tourism to bring our cinematic culture into everyday life. In the past two years, we have launched two immersive and distinctive film set exhibitions - the "Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey" and the "Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey". I warmly invite those of you who have yet to experience them to do so, and discover the unique ambience of the Hong Kong cinema firsthand.
Before I close, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Hong Kong-ASEAN Foundation for organising this wonderful event. I wish the ASEAN Film Festival 2026 every success, and everyone here a very pleasant evening. Thank you.
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, Photo source: reference image
Four registered general building contractors disciplined for offences relating to building works
The Registered Contractors' Disciplinary Board (the Board) has completed disciplinary inquiries under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) on four fatal site incidents and decided that the four Registered General Building Contractors (RGBC) concerned should be disciplined for having been convicted by courts of offences related to building works.
The Board's written decisions and orders issued on August 5 were published in the Gazette today (August 21). Details are available at the following links:
Case 1: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5127
Case 2: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5125
Case 3: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5126
Case 4: egazette.gld.gov.hk/pdf?type=egn&year=2026&volume=30&gno=34¬ice_no=5124
The first case involved a fatal incident that occurred on August 10, 2019, at a building alteration site in Causeway Bay. A worker, while carrying out wooden formwork work on the rooftop, fell from an unfenced edge of a formwork to the floor below. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away later. The RGBC was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violations of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (FIUO), the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Management) Regulation. The RGBC was convicted and fined $245,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on June 5, 2020. In view of the convictions of the RGBC, the Buildings Department (BD) notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be removed from the register of general building contractors for two months, to be fined $200,000, and to pay a total of $50,500 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
The second case involved a fatal incident that occurred on December 9, 2020, at a construction site in Stanley. Two workers, while dismantling a metal hoarding at the site, were pressed by the collapsed portion of the hoarding. One of the workers died and the other was injured. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO. The RGBC was convicted and fined $35,000 at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on May 29, 2023. In view of the conviction of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be removed from the register of general building contractors for two months and to pay a total of $60,100 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
The third case involved a fatal incident that occurred on June 30, 2020, at a reclamation site of the Hong Kong International Airport three-runway system project. While a group of workers was engaged in repairing a winch drum of a machine on the site, a wire rope suddenly flipped and struck two of the workers. One worker sustained a serious head injury and died later while the other sustained a bone fracture. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. The RGBC was convicted and fined $53,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on June 24, 2021. In view of the convictions of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $299,700 and to pay a total of $64,000 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
The fourth case involved a fatal incident that occurred on November 8, 2022, at a construction site in Tsim Sha Tsui. While a worker was carrying out fire service work on a reinforcement bar structure, part of the structure suddenly collapsed onto him. The worker sustained serious injuries and passed away on the same day. The RGBC was prosecuted by the LD for violation of the FIUO. The RGBC was convicted and fined $8,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on March 21, 2024. In view of the conviction of the RGBC, the BD notified the Board for its consideration of disciplinary action against the RGBC under the provisions of section 13(1) of the BO. Upon completion of the disciplinary inquiry, the Board ordered the RGBC to be fined $166,700 and to pay a total of $55,700 in costs of the Board and the BD for conducting the inquiry.
A spokesperson for the BD reiterated that any registered contractor who contravenes the relevant provisions of the BO in carrying out building works, or is convicted by any court of an offence relating to building works, or has been negligent or has misconducted in building works, will be subject to enforcement action including criminal prosecution and disciplinary action under the BO.
Source: AI-found images
