Rediscovering Cinematic Treasures

Our acquisition work had begun in the 1990s, long before the Archive building was constructed. From the early days when we went from door to door, approaching people inside and outside the film industry to explain our work and the meaningfulness of their donations, to later establishing a mutual trust and receiving the public's endorsement. Over these two decades our collection has ranged from film prints of the 1920s and 30s to the digital cinema packages of today. At the same time, we have successfully maintained a collection of over one million items of film-related materials, building a firm foundation for study and research on the subject of Hong Kong cinema. Looking ahead, we shall continue to dig into our cinematic roots, while progressing with the times and enriching our collection so that future generations can have a greater understanding of the history and evolution of Hong Kong cinema.

In 2012, Mr Jack Lee Fong, founder of Palace Theatre in San Francisco, USA, donated his collection of nitrate film prints to the HKFA, which included valuable prints of 1930s film titles. His generous contribution has enriched our understanding of early Hong Kong cinema immeasurably.
In 2012, Mr Jack Lee Fong, founder of Palace Theatre in San Francisco, USA, donated his collection of nitrate film prints to the HKFA, which included valuable prints of 1930s film titles. His generous contribution has enriched our understanding of early Hong Kong cinema immeasurably.
Film prints and copies of 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong films retrieved from Germany in 2015.
Film prints and copies of 1980s and 1990s Hong Kong films retrieved from Germany in 2015.
To record and archive how the acquired copper-plate subtitling machine functioned, we filmed the operator demonstrating and explaining the subtitling process.
To record and archive how the acquired copper-plate subtitling machine functioned, we filmed the operator demonstrating and explaining the subtitling process.
When collecting film prints, the Conservation team would run initial checks to examine whether they are worth keeping permanently.
When collecting film prints, the Conservation team would run initial checks to examine whether they are worth keeping permanently.
When collecting film prints, the Conservation team would run initial checks to examine whether they are worth keeping permanently.
When collecting film prints, the Conservation team would run initial checks to examine whether they are worth keeping permanently.
One of the most important tasks in the HKFA is stocktaking and recording basic information of donated materials, in order to facilitate future archival work.
One of the most important tasks in the HKFA is stocktaking and recording basic information of donated materials, in order to facilitate future archival work.
One of the most important tasks in the HKFA is stocktaking and recording basic information of donated materials, in order to facilitate future archival work.
One of the most important tasks in the HKFA is stocktaking and recording basic information of donated materials, in order to facilitate future archival work.

Acquisition Diary: 20 Milestones in 20 Years

The Hong Kong Film Archive set up the Planning Offi­ce in 1993 and moved to its current permanent site in 2001. The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Archive. Thanks to staunch support from the film industry and the public, our collection grows larger with new acquisitions and donations from patrons. We are indebted to many film studios and film development companies for their readiness to donate everything they could to support our cause. Each item in our collection helps complete the history of Hong Kong film culture. On this occasion, we take the opportunity to celebrate the Archive's growth and development based on the theme of ‘Acquisition & Sharing'. Here are 20 key milestones in our 20-year acquisition journey, a testament to our efforts in filling in some important blanks in the history of Hong Kong Cinema.

1993

Prior to the establishment of the Archive on the present site, we launched the Collection Campaign calling for donations of film prints and film-related material publicly. In the early 1990s, most of the film companies chose to deposit their own films in the Archive's storage. Pearl City Films Ltd was the first company to donate not only film prints, but also audio tapes, posters and production stills of ten of their important New Wave films, including Cops and Robbers (1979) and The Story of Woo Viet (1981). We have been proud to screen them in programmes including ‘Capturing Light and Shadow ~ A Tribute to Two Master Cinematographers' (2010), ‘Revisiting the New Wave' (2017) and 'Movie Talk: Alex Cheung' (2019).

Twelve Hong Kong films were shipped to us from Rank Film Laboratories Limited in the UK, including colour negative and soundtrack film reels of The Orphan (1960) starring Bruce Lee. In that time, the black-and-white version was prevalent among the masses, so this colour negative is considered a major discovery. It is a recommended film in the Archive's prints loan programme ‘Archival Gems'.

The Orphan (1960)
The Orphan (1960)
‘The Immortal Bruce Lee: From the Kid to Kung Fu Dragon' (2000) retrospective featured The Orphan and many other films starring Bruce Lee. The Archive invited Fung Bo-bo and Kendrick Fung (2nd and 3rd left), children of Fung Fung who directed The Kid (1950), as officiating guests.
‘The Immortal Bruce Lee: From the Kid to Kung Fu Dragon’ (2000) retrospective featured The Orphan and many other films starring Bruce Lee. The Archive invited Fung Bo-bo and Kendrick Fung (2nd and 3rd left), children of Fung Fung who directed The Kid (1950), as officiating guests.

1994

Producer Miu Hong-nee donated four Zhou Xuan films which were made in Hong Kong. These are all recommended films in the Archive's prints loan programme ‘Archival Gems', and have often been loaned to other countries. Through this donation, Archive staff handled footage with nitrate film base for the first time. It provided them with valuable experience in handling and restoring nitrate and other inflammable film bases.

Orioles Banished from the Flowers (1948)
Orioles Banished from the Flowers (1948)
‘Archival Gems—One Tale, Two Cinemas' (2019) was held in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. Using Shanghai and Hong Kong as backdrop, Orioles Banished from the Flowers was one of the films screened at the event.
‘Archival Gems—One Tale, Two Cinemas’ (2019) was held in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. Using Shanghai and Hong Kong as backdrop, Orioles Banished from the Flowers was one of the films screened at the event.

1995

Film materials collector Yu Mo-wan donated his vast collection to the Archive in various stages. Those materials were extremely helpful to the Archive, which at the time did not have a sizable collection, to publish the Hong Kong Filmography Series and organise programmes.

‘Hong Kong Film Archive Treasures: An Exhibition' (1998): Yu Mo-wan introducing highlighted exhibits at the press conference.
‘Hong Kong Film Archive Treasures: An Exhibition’ (1998): Yu Mo-wan introducing highlighted exhibits at the press conference.

International film superstar Chow Yun-fat donated all of his 16 film award statuettes to the Archive. In doing so, he set a wonderful example to others in the industry, increasing their level of trust and confidence in the Archive, opening up doors of communications for us.

‘Hong Kong Film Archive Treasures: An Exhibition' (1998) was held at the City Hall, which featured a section dedicated to Chow Yun-fat.
‘Hong Kong Film Archive Treasures: An Exhibition’ (1998) was held at the City Hall, which featured a section dedicated to Chow Yun-fat.

Dolores Wang, whose father ran a film laboratory, donated to the Archive the Anti-Japanese war film 800 Heroic Soldiers (1938), documentaries Scenes of Yan'an (1938) and Protect My Country (1939), as well as a stash of other treasured films featuring scenery of early Hong Kong.

800 Heroic Soldiers (1938)
800 Heroic Soldiers (1938)
Scenes of Yan'an (1938)
Scenes of Yan’an (1938)

1997

The Archive shipped prints of over 600 films between the 1940s and the 1960s from the World Theatre in San Francisco, USA, including many famous works believed to have been lost. This is the largest acquisition project of the Archive since the setting up of the Film Archive Planning Office. This donation paved the way for further acquisition opportunities with Chinese theatres in San Francisco. In 1999, over 100 and over 400 film prints, spanning the period from the 1940s to the 1980s, were repatriated from Sun Sing Theatre and Great Star Theater respectively.

‘The Movie World of Tong Tik-sang' (1999), where Sweet Dreams (1955), along with other films repatriated from the World Theatre were showcased. (From left) Pak Suet-sin, Mui Suet-si and Connie Chan Po-chu were invited as officiating guests.
‘The Movie World of Tong Tik-sang’ (1999), where Sweet Dreams (1955), along with other films repatriated from the World Theatre were showcased. (From left) Pak Suet-sin, Mui Suet-si and Connie Chan Po-chu were invited as officiating guests.
Leslie Cheung (left) graced his presence at the opening of ‘The Movie World of Tong Tik-sang'
Leslie Cheung (left) graced his presence at the opening of ‘The Movie World of Tong Tik-sang’

1998

We acquired documentary film The Edison Shorts (1898) from the Library of Congress in the US. These shorts were filmed in Hong Kong at the end of the Qing Dynasty by the American organisation Edison Company. It is the earliest film in the Archive's collection, and is made up of the earliest existing images of Hong Kong scenery.

The Edison Shorts (1898)
The Edison Shorts (1898)
The Edison Shorts was screened at the exhibition 'Cityscape in Sight and Sound' (2019).
The Edison Shorts was screened at the exhibition ‘Cityscape in Sight and Sound’ (2019).

When Golden Harvest Entertainment Company Limited moved away from its studio premises on Hammer Hill Road, they donated over 200 films and related materials such as posters, production stills and film magazines. The film studio was the production base for four generations of Hong Kong film companies—Yung Hwa, MP & GI, Cathay and Golden Harvest—spanning over 50 of the most prosperous years of Hong Kong film history. The donation thus included in small part some relics from the previous three generations of companies—a treasure trove of materials for film researchers.

‘The Cinematic Matrix of Golden Harvest' (2013), screened over 60 Golden Harvest productions. In conjunction with the screening progamme, an exhibition titled ‘Golden Harvest: A Landmark in Hong Kong Cinema' was also staged.
‘The Cinematic Matrix of Golden Harvest’ (2013), screened over 60 Golden Harvest productions. In conjunction with the screening progamme, an exhibition titled ‘Golden Harvest: A Landmark in Hong Kong Cinema’ was also staged.
Raymond Chow and his wife (front row) graced their presence at an exhibition titled ‘Golden Harvest: A Landmark in Hong Kong Cinema' as officiating guests.
Raymond Chow and his wife (front row) graced their presence at an exhibition titled ‘Golden Harvest: A Landmark in Hong Kong Cinema’ as officiating guests.

2001

An anonymous donor brought the Archive the print of Fei Mu's famed work Confucius (1940), which had been vanished after a second run in 1948. Because the film stock had suffered serious shrinkage and many segments were stuck together, the Conservation Unit of the Archive worked with L'Immagine Ritrovata in Italy to restore the physical elements. Together with input from the Research Unit's extensive research into various historical sources, the first edition of the restored film made its debut screening in 2009, giving the public an eagerly-awaited ‘first look'. We later inserted 11 additional minutes of footage, made up of tiny segments, back into the film based on forensic research. In 2010, this second stage of the restored print was screened and a book on the topic, Fei Mu's Confucius, was published. In 2012, a companion DVD was released. That was our first ever released ‘Restored Treasures' disc.

Confucius, which had been vanished for over half a century, was unearthed. It was later released as our first Restored Treasures DVD.
Confucius, which had been vanished for over half a century, was unearthed. It was later released as our first Restored Treasures DVD.
At the 2010 seminar ‘Fei Mu's Confucius', HKFA Programmer Sam Ho (left) invited director Tian Zhuangzhuang (right) and scholar Dr Mao Jian (middle) to discuss how the film responds to the times in which it is set. (Photo by Jupiter Wong)
At the 2010 seminar ‘Fei Mu’s Confucius’, HKFA Programmer Sam Ho (left) invited director Tian Zhuangzhuang (right) and scholar Dr Mao Jian (middle) to discuss how the film responds to the times in which it is set. (Photo by Jupiter Wong)

First Film Organisation Limited donated over 200 films by its founder Wong Cheuk-hon's three production companies. These included urban vignettes featured Ting Ying, principal actress of Liberty Film Co. and Lan Kwong Film Company. Also among the donated films are First Film-era wenyi romance drama Girl Friend (1974), featuring actresses Josephine Siao Fong-fong and Brigette Lin; director King Hu's wuxia classic Legend of the Mountain (1979) and Stanley Kwan's Berlin Film Festival-nominated Red Rose White Rose (1994), together with over 10,000 items of posters, production stills, newspaper clippings and other related materials.

'The Writer/Director in Focus III: Mok Hong-si' (2016): Some selected films were donated by First Film Organisation Limited, including Three Love Affairs (1963), Madame Kam (1963) and The Student Prince (1964).
‘The Writer/Director in Focus III: Mok Hong-si’ (2016): Some selected films were donated by First Film Organisation Limited, including Three Love Affairs (1963), Madame Kam (1963) and The Student Prince (1964).

2004

Singapore's Cathay Organisation donated 213 Cantonese and Mandarin films produced by MP & GI/Cathay, together with 12,000 items of related paper-based materials. In 2016, during ‘Angels over the Rainbow—Cathay 80th Anniversary Celebration', Our Sister Hedy (1957, Best Picture at 5th Asian Film Festival) and its later-discovered colour version sequel Wedding Bells for Hedy (1959) were part of an open-air free screening at the Cultural Centre Piazza. That was the first time the Archive sent staff overseas to collect film materials. The working procedures and rules established on that trip have become the standard for future overseas acquisitions.

At Singapore's Cathay Organisation, acquisition team was reviewing all proposed donations, recording basic information of film materials, and preparing them to be shipped back to Hong Kong.
At Singapore’s Cathay Organisation, acquisition team was reviewing all proposed donations, recording basic information of film materials, and preparing them to be shipped back to Hong Kong.
'In the Name of Love: The Films of Evan Yang' (2009) was a retrospective exhibition of Evan Yang, one of the iconic directors from MP & GI.
‘In the Name of Love: The Films of Evan Yang’ (2009) was a retrospective exhibition of Evan Yang, one of the iconic directors from MP & GI.

2006

Beryl Yuen, heiress of the Tai Ping Theatre, donated to us 3,600 items of documents and paper-based materials relating to films and to Tai Ping Theatre, including the construction plans for the main building of the theatre, financial records, contracts, correspondence, etc. These materials have been most helpful in understanding early Hong Kong's film industry and cinema operations, as well as Hong Kong's societal situation before and after the WWII and during the time of the Japanese Occupation. A showcase can be seen in the Archive's 2021 exhibition ‘Out of the Past—From the Tai Ping Treasure Trove'.

Beryl Yuen (3rd left) donated a wealth of artefacts relating to the Tai Ping Theatre to the Archive, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of History. In 2008, representatives from the three venues graced their presence at the ‘Donation Ceremony of Tai Ping Theatre Collection' as a token of appreciation.
Beryl Yuen (3rd left) donated a wealth of artefacts relating to the Tai Ping Theatre to the Archive, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of History. In 2008, representatives from the three venues graced their presence at the ‘Donation Ceremony of Tai Ping Theatre Collection’ as a token of appreciation.

2006-2009

Celestial Pictures Limited donated all of the films in the Shaw Brothers film vaults to the Archive, including prints from 756 titles, as well as tens of thousands of items including production stills, posters, handbills, scripts, photographs of movie stars and other related paper-based materials. In 1958, Run Run Shaw established Shaw Brothers (Hong Kong) Ltd modelled after the Hollywood film studio system. Shaws and its related companies had made over 10% of all the films produced in Hong Kong, which have had profound influence over cinematic as well as social cultures.

‘The Celestial Pictures: Shaw Brothers Film Library Archive Handover Ceremony' in 2009
‘The Celestial Pictures: Shaw Brothers Film Library Archive Handover Ceremony’ in 2009

2007

Veteran film distributor Gordon Fung Ping-chung donated the prints of some 700 films of the 1980s and the 1990s from his North American cinemas, as well as over 30,000 items of related materials. Among those films are quite a number of box-office hit series such as A Chinese Ghost Story series (1987-91), Her Fatal Ways series (1990-94) and All for the Winner series (1990-95). Also included are some films of independent film production companies. This donation perfectly filled the gaps in the Archive's collections of films from the 1980s and the 1990s.

After boxes of film prints and paper-based materials were shipped back to Hong Kong by Gordon Fung Ping-chung, our conservation and acquisition teams spent several weeks inspecting and selecting donated items at the storage unit.
After boxes of film prints and paper-based materials were shipped back to Hong Kong by Gordon Fung Ping-chung, our conservation and acquisition teams spent several weeks inspecting and selecting donated items at the storage unit.
Upon arrival, all materials must pass through a preliminary inspection conducted by our conservation team for future restoration and preservation.
Upon arrival, all materials must pass through a preliminary inspection conducted by our conservation team for future restoration and preservation.

2008

Lung Tzong-hann donated the mementos of his mother, superstar Linda Lin Dai, which included costumes, home movies, personal belongings and books. This is the Archive's most complete collection of an actor's belongings. These relics were displayed in the Archive's 2009 exhibition ‘The Legend & The Beauty—An Archival Exhibition', which garnered a lot of attention from the general public as well as the media. Portion of the collection have been loaned to numerous shopping malls as well as Baptist and Lingnan universities for display. Among the exhibitions organised by the Archive, this has been loaned out most times.

The exhibition recreated Linda Lin Dai's apartment with actual items from her bedroom, transporting visitors back in time to the 1960s.
The exhibition recreated Linda Lin Dai’s apartment with actual items from her bedroom, transporting visitors back in time to the 1960s.

2010

With approval from the various copyright holders, Asia Television Limited moved over 400 films for permanent storage at the Archive. This collection contains numerous works of household-name-level fame, such as The Judge Goes to Pieces (1948) starring Ma Si-tsang and Hung Sin Nui; She Married an Overseas Chinese (1957) starring Patrick Tse Yin and Nam Hung; the ghost and demon wuxia classic film series The Young Swordsman Lung Kim-fei (1964-68) and King Hu's new-style wuxia creation Dragon Inn (1967). The production dates of the films in this donation spanned the decades from the 1940s to the 1990s. In addition to Mandarin and Cantonese titles, the collection includes Chaozhou-dialect films. This is particularly interesting from the point of view of conservation and research.

‘ATV Film Library Handover Ceremony' in 2010.
‘ATV Film Library Handover Ceremony’ in 2010.

2011

After receiving authorisations from rights holders, Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) transferred almost 1,000 films in their vaults to the Archive. These films were produced between the 1930s and the 1990s, almost 60% of which had never been in the Archive's collection. The earliest films include Little Heroine (1939), starring Hu Rongrong and Kung Chiu-hsia. In addition, there were 27 Chaozhou and Amoy-dialect films, which greatly helped to fill in the gaps in the Hong Kong film history timeline.

Acquisition and conservation teams collecting film prints at TVB
Acquisition and conservation teams collecting film prints at TVB
TVB, together with the copyright owners, handed over the company's film treasures to the Archive.
TVB, together with the copyright owners, handed over the company’s film treasures to the Archive.

2012

Jack Lee Fong, owner of Palace Theatre in San Francisco, donated prints of films between the 1930s and the 1970s. Among that collection are films made around the time of the WWII and believed to have been missing for numerous years, such as The Light of Women (1937), The White Gold Dragon, Part Two (1937), Storm over Pacific (1938) and Follow Your Dream (1941). A rare treasure indeed! The Archive screened these films between 2015 and 2019 during four different editions of the screening programme ‘Early Cinematic Treasures Rediscovered', so as to share this important discovery with audiences.

Gordon Fung Ping-chung and Mr & Mrs Jack Lee Fong (front row, from 2nd right), together with our acquisition team in San Francisco.
Gordon Fung Ping-chung and Mr & Mrs Jack Lee Fong (front row, from 2nd right), together with our acquisition team in San Francisco.
Follow Your Dream was screened at the Cultural Centre Piazza in 2015.
Follow Your Dream was screened at the Cultural Centre Piazza in 2015.

2013-2019

Archival documents of over 2,200 Hong Kong films from the 1920s to the 1960s were reproduced and shipped to the Archive from the New York State Archives, USA. The earliest among them include Beauty Contest (1934). These archival documents filled in the gaps in early film materials, which had gone missing because of warfare and various other reasons. They also became the main reference documents for the Archive's publication Hong Kong Filmography Vol. I (1914-1941) (Revised Edition), where they provided over 300 plotlines that were missing in the first edition.

Reproduced documents also included the Shanghai film's license application form of The White Gold Dragon (aka White Dragon, 1933), which was sent to the US censors.
Reproduced documents also included the Shanghai film’s license application form of The White Gold Dragon (aka White Dragon, 1933), which was sent to the US censors.
The screening licence of The White Gold Dragon
The screening licence of The White Gold Dragon
Through the Chinese plot summary of A Beauty of One Generation (1940), one can further explore the concepts and styles employed by the screenwriter Nam Hoi Sap-sam Long.
Through the Chinese plot summary of A Beauty of One Generation (1940), one can further explore the concepts and styles employed by the screenwriter Nam Hoi Sap-sam Long.
The English-translated dialogue transcript of A Beauty of One Generation (1940)
The English-translated dialogue transcript of A Beauty of One Generation (1940)