[2011.04.01] LOVE SPREADS TONIGHT WITH LOVE BEYOND BORDER

In memory of Japan earthquake, "Love without border 311 candle light evening" will take place tonight in the Victoria Park. Hosts Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Carol Cheng Yui Ling, Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) and Alice Chan Mei Ling yesterday rehearsed. Chan's Japanese husband also came to support his wife.

Chi Wai said that the event will take at 7:05PM and last 3 hours. The venue has memorial areas where people can place cards. At the same time the event also set up 150 donation pledge lines, 10 of which would be in Japanese for the Japanese people who reside in Hong Kont to donate. The numbers would be 1833288 (Cantonese) and 1833123 (Japanese).

Do Do suggested for attendees to bring their own blankets, water and such because the venue would not set up seating. Chi Wai also urged attendees to bring bags to clean up after themselves with and keep the venue tidy. Confirmed artists included Joey Yung Cho Yi, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Miriam Yeung Chin Wa, Andy Lau Tak Wa, George Lam Chi Cheung, Alan Tam Wing Lun and Wynners, Korea's Kwon Sang-Woo also agreed to attend. Taiwan artists would include Sky Wu (Ng Si Hoi) and Jon Lee Chung Sing. Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Kelly Chen Wai Lam, Ken Watanabe, Masahiko Kondo, and Nina Ricci also prepared video call for pledges.

According to Jackie Chan, Chi Wai and Andrew Lau Wai Keung argued over the theme song recording. Chi Wai said, "It was nothing special, everyone had an opinion before and after the arrangement. Everyone just wanted to do what was good for the event." Was artist assignment

difficult? He said, "The most important was everyone was comfortable, if they could come they could participate. We couldn't hold anyone up. The Hong Kong artists were great, they didn't mind what they sang." Chen Wai Lam who just suffered a miscarriage supported the event with a video recording. Chi Wai said, "Kelly was always willing to do the video, always wanting to participate. She wouldn't come because she didn't want the goal to change, she wanted everyone to think of the victims." The theme song SUCCUMB NOT TO PAIN was accused of copying a Korean song. Chi Wai said it was impossible. "The song was based on a poem, it was very hard to find a song that matched the poem. Tang Chi Wai didn't sleep or rest and worked for a day and a half without sleep. Such accusation was very unfair to him."

Chan Mei Ling was very concerned with the nuclear crisis after the Japan earthquake. She said, "It's very serious, so far nothing has improved. If all goes well it will take several months to repair. It may take several years." She worried the most about the Japanese people who lived near the nuclear power plant. "I don't know what to do, not only did they have earthquake and tsunami, the situation was very severe." Would Chi Wai send any artists to shoot videos at the disaster area? He said, "I don't plan to just yet. I have to keep artist and safety issues in mind. Now it's inconvenient to go." Chan Mei Ling agreed, "Now the disaster area remained very intense. If too many people went they would cause traffic problems. The disaster area's food and water remained lacking."

At the event show business would have no differences and no borders to cheer for the Japanese people and at the same time urged the people of Hong Kong to donate and help the Japanese disaster victims. All the donations after expenses will be donated to the international charity group Salvation Army.

Many electronic media including TVB, ATV, and now Hong Kong will broadcast the event live. TVB even arranged for broadcast over four channels. However ATV will only broadcast it on its High Definition channel while the Hong Kong station will continue its usual schedule. According to ATV, they did so only because the pictures would be clearer and keeping different types of viewers in mind.

In addition, TVB's SCOOP and special program THE JADE AND THE PEARL was fined over HK$160,000 for indirectly promoting the film THE JADE AND THE PEARL. The 72 TENANTS OF PROSPERITY (72 GA JO HAT) promotional program was also fined as well. TVB expressed deep regret over the two fines. TVB's Tsang Sing Ming said although the Broadcast Authority had procedure for TVB to complain to the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council about the verdict, the procedure was complex and required a lot of resources. Thus it could only helplessly accept the verdict, but it asked the Broadcast Authority to strength communication to keep similar situations from appearing again.