[2010.12.02] I LOVE HONG KONG RELIES ON SANDRA NG AND TONY LEUNG KA FAI

The Shaw and TVB produced Lunar New Year film I LOVE HONG KONG (NGOR OI HK HOI SUM MAN SHUI) yesterday held a worship ceremony at Shaw Film City. Like last year's 72 TENANTS OF PROSPERITY (72 GA JO HAT) over 100 actors will participate. Yet TVB favorite Raymond Lam Fung was not on the cast yet. TVB executive Elaine Lok Yi Ling and producer Eric Tsang Chi Wai both supported Lam Fung and denied that he was kicked out because he lacked draw. They said that they were still working on his schedule. Chi Wai however advised Lam Fung to start from the bottom and should not only play rich kid roles.

Yesterday over fifty actors attended the ceremony but the cast was weaker than last year's as it only relied on outside help like Tony Leung Ka Fai, Sandra Ng Kwan Yu and Maggie Cheung Ho Yi. The only TVB diva in attendance was Fala Chen and other TVB actors were absent as well. The guest star cast list did not include top TVB young actor Lam Fung. Chi Wai said that the film will be done in 12 days so at any minute Lam Fung will return to guest star. The list was not confirmed. Was he afraid that Lok Yi Ling would complain? He said that she would not, whoever had time will come. Earlier Shaw executive Wong Ka Hei after a few drinks said that Lam Fung's draw was overestimated, which made THE JADE AND THE PEARL (FEI CHUI MING JU) a bomb. Were they afraid of getting Lam Fung to star again? Chi Wai said, "Of course not, suitable character was the most important. Lam Fung is an idol for young people and we are full of confidence in him." However, Chi Wai felt that many superstars played some thugs and lower class characters and rose to fame. Lam Fung did not have to play a rich kid and should play some lower class people; later Chi Wai reiterated that this film did not have any rich kid role.

Lok Yi Ling and Wong Ka Hei yesterday appeared together. Was it awkward for her to run into Wong Ka Hei? She asked why would it be, as they would see each other four times a week. Earlier he criticized Lam Fung after drinking, she said that she knew him for over a decade and he often told the truth after drinking. She knew what he said was true and what was not. As for the earlier comment, she believed that the footage was edited. She joked that she would not ask him to stop drinking because she still had to drink for him. Speaking of Lam Fung not having a part, she said that Lam Fung's schedule could not be booked after three tries. Since the production had to start, they could not wait for him. In the future Lam Fung will mainly work on series and concert tours instead of movies. Was it because Lam Fung lacked film draw? She felt that the success of a film was not due to one person. Everyone had a responsibility.

Wong Ka Hei stuttered when he talked about his earlier comment. He reiterated that he did not say Lam Fung could not carry the load or that he was bad. He hoped that everyone would not turn a mountain out of a mole hill. Will he stop drinking? He said that he should drink a little less. Earlier he was reported to be "suspended" over the matter, he awkwardly laughed but did not answer. As for his current position, he said, "For 40 years it has been that one. (Have earlier comments affected that?) I don't want to talk about that, I don't want to make matters worse."

Kwan Yu yesterday appeared as a rich wife. In the film she and Ka Fai had many intimate scenes, but because they lived in public housing, they had to be quiet to keep their child from hearing. Kwan Yu said that she has not tried that in real life because she had ample space. Yesterday Chi Wai jokingly thanked Kwan Yu for joining the good guys this year and helping him with the Lunar New Year. She joked that she did not dare to say that because Raymond Wong Pak Ming was also her boss. Perhaps next year Wong Pak Ming and Chi Wai will work on a Lunar New Year together. As for Wong Pak Ming asking Carina Lau Ka Ling and Cecilia Cheung Pak Chi for his Lunar New Year film, did she have any pressure? She joked, "How can I compare to Ka Ling and Pak Chi, everyone knows that in terms of looks and figures I am the prettiest."

Adam Cheng Siu Chau earlier fell from a four meter high hill while working on his new TVB series and injured his right shoulder. Chau Guoon said when Joyce Cheng Yun Yi called him she was so worried that she cried. Yesterday Yun Yi attended the ceremony. She said, "Why does my old man reveal this stuff about me?"

Yun Yi said that that night she heard from a TVB director that her father fell and was hospitalized for an injury. She immediately called her father but no one answered. Later Father called her back and she felt better to hear his voice. He consoled her and told her not to worry. Yun yi pointed out that her father felt the shoulder injury, so he went to the hospital for an examination. After resting a day he started work again.

Was she so worried that she cried? Yun Yi said that she did not know. She said that everyone thought that her father was very young but actually he was not. She pointed out that her father was very professional and hard working. He did not want to slow down the production and jumped back into work. She was the most afraid that he was acting tough. Yun Yi said that she will not disturb him right now but they will stay in contact.