[2011.04.02] 300 ARTISTS RAISED 25 MILLION FOR JAPAN

The Artistes 311 Love Beyond Border Candle Light Evening took place at the Victoria Park last night, 300 artists attended in support. Aside from local artists, artists from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia were among the performers. 200 performed on stage while the remaining 100 volunteered off stage. Near 10,000 people attended in support. As of 9:45PM, $18,599,250 was raised. Jackie Chan alone donated 4 million, 1 million of which was the production cost. After the event ended the donation hotlines remained opened until 11PM and raised $25069176 in total.

The event began with Jackie Chan calling for a moment of silence of the victims in Japan and Myanmar. Then Andy Lau Tak Wa said, "If this is called a disaster, I think everyone sense how merciless this is. The more merciless Heaven is, the more love humanity has. Today artists from all over tell the victims 'don't lose to the wind, don't lose to the rain', we will accompany them through the hard times." Then all the artists held hand and sang the event theme song SUCCUMB NOT TO SORROW. By the end of the show, Lau Tak Wa, Kay Tse On Kay, Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin and G.E.M Tang Chi Kei led a rendition of A SPOT OF CANDLE LIGHT, then ended the event with WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD.

One of the hosts Alice Chan Mei Ling said, last night she was particularly touched because although she was born in Hong Kong, she had family in Japan. Japan was her other home. With so many people cheering for the victims, she was very touched. She even bowed to the artists, the live and television audience. Jackie Chan also personally invited his good friend Lionel Richie to record a video to ask for donations. Currently performing in Australia Lionel along with victims of the tsunami sang SAY YOU, SAY ME to cheer on victims in Japan. In addition Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Kelly Chan Wai Lam, Karen Mok Man Wai also sent videos. Chen Wai Lam who just suffered a miscarriage stood up from her own sorrow to cheer for the victims. She said, "In these few weeks I paid attention to the disaster area news. I understand the feeling of losing loved ones. Gains and losses are inevitable in life. I hope the victims will collect themselves again. The disaster area reconstruction work has already begun. I wish them leaving sorrow behind soon and living their lives anew." Wai Jai read the Japanese poet Mitsuo Aida's "WHEN WE SHARE......" for everyone to reflect upon. The poem was as follows, "When we take from each other, there isn't enough / When we share with each other, there's more than enough / When we take from each other, there's strife / When we share with each other, tranquility / When we take from each other, dissension / When we share with each other, gratitude / When we take from each other, war -- when we share with each other, peace"

Although last night Hong Kong show business turned out in droves, TVB only sent Myolie Wu Hung Yi, Bosco Wong Chung Chak, Raymond Lam Fung and Alfred Hui Ting Hung. Hung Yi denied that TVB sent very few representatives. "No! We also have (Mag) Lam Yun Tung! It's not the count of the people, the intention is the most important. I donated money too." As for "Shell King" Chan Kwok Keung's official purchase of TVB, Hung Yi felt that not much would be affected. The company would operate as usual. The company making money was good for her too as she hoped to be able to get a raise. Speaking of Shell King's purchase immediately sent TVB stock price soaring, would Hung Yi buy TVB stocks? She left the question for Hui Ting Hung, who said that he did not start buying stocks and had to learn. Wong Chung Chak who was an avid investor said that his mother was the one who was good at investing. He believed any change in the company was good. Lam Fung said that last night he saw many elders who donated money and effort and he would follow suit. He also said that the current radiation leak issue was in the hands of many world experts, everyone should try to help people as much as they could. As for the "Shell King" official purchase of TVB, Lam Fung said that he was already a big shareholder a long time ago. He just did not appear. As for his

outlook for the company's future, he said, "The company has always been rising steadily and has always been a brand that people are familiar with internationally. As a TVB artist I am very fortunate."

Miriam Yeung Chin Wa who returned from Beijing to attend not only donated her time but also money. Yesterday she heard about a Fukushima victim suicide perhaps due to the loss of family. Thus she would like everyone to send a positive message because suicide could be infectious.

After the event ended, Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang Chi Wai, Judy Ongg (Yung Sin Yuk) and others appeared for interviews. Yung Sin Yuk was teary eyed when she thanked everyone on behalf of friends in Japan, because she never thought so many artists and volunteers would participate. However this road would be very long and would take one step after another to return to the original life and home. Touched, Chan Mei Ling said that when she lived in Japan she thought about the less than great relationship between Hong Kong and Japan. Yet last night she saw the enthusiasm of Hong Kong, she believed that the relationship will be even better. She said, "Today I saw true love in the face of tragedy, I sense the sincerity of friends in Hong Kong." Masatoshi Nakamura in English sais that he was proud of the Hong Kong people and felt that kindness of the Hong Kong people, which he would relay to his Japanese compatriots. Jackie Chan honestly said that after so many fund raisers, this time was indeed easier to run. He too was proud of Hong Kong people because the little Hong Kong actually was able to help so many places around the world.

Chi Wai said that the evening also sent a message of how to face disasters in the future. He was very satisfied with last night's performance because it was able to demonstrate the spirit of the Hong Kong people. Speaking of the lack of Mainland artists this time, Chi Wai explained that when he first contacted the Mainland authorities, he learned that they might have their own disaster relief show and thus would not come to Hong Kong. Would Mainland television broadcast the evening live? Chi Wai said that he was not sure but knew that the Mainland could watch online. Lau Tak Wa felt the love this time and said that everyone was on this Earth and should help each other.