PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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loud and clear. Bruce LEE films are off this kind. They disseminate the philosophy and culture of our ancient martial art. That is the significance. I hope Members will support the original motion by Mr. IP Kwok-chung. Thank you.
MR. WEN CHOY-BON (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, fellow Members already discussed the contribution of Bruce LEE to martial art and the film industry. I do not propose to repeat them here.
The suggestion in the original motion to set up a memorial gallery for Bruce LEE is in fact appropriate to the objectives and functions of this Council. This Council has always promoted film culture. We endorse the view that film art is a personalized art with styles determined by actors or directors. This is exactly why films draw audiences. Our film festivals in the past did centre on certain film artists and the Film Archive has staged several displays of single artists. This is time for us to commemorate an international superstar. If we can set up a memorial gallery in the Film Archive, our line of museum exhibitions will cover the integration of performance art. It will add to the public's interest and achieve more desirable results.
Today, Chinese martial art is already listed as an important Asian Games item. World Wushu Championships have been held in Europe and many more people of our younger generation are learning wushu. If we pay tribute to Bruce LEE the pioneer of modern Wushu, we stand to gain more in understanding the theories and spirit of practising Wushu. Culture and recreation go hand in hand and both are the functions of this Council. As a picture of health and strength and a promoter of Chinese culture, Bruce LEE has won our respect and remembrance.
Mr. Chairman, with the above remarks, I support the original motion and oppose the amendment.
Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Bruce LEE was an outstanding Chinese martial artist and remarkable movie star. His kungfu image of more than 20 years ago was widely accepted by fans here and overseas. His excellence in martial art is respected and remembered by many.
However, I have reservations about the suggestion of Mr. Ip to set up a Bruce LEE gallery in the Film Archive. I don't know if we should look at the development history of films from a macro angle. Bruce LEE died 26 years ago. He came back to Hong Kong from the US as a grown up to shoot kungfu films and died several years later. Many of his fans still hold him in remembrance. They remember the films Bruce LEE made during his years in Hong Kong. Is it his excellence in martial art or his star image that has got to our hearts? If it is because of his excellence in the field of martial art, it would not be suitable to set up a memorial gallery for him in the Film Archive. One in a sports culture academy or a martial arts academy, although we don't have
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