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FLUFF FROM MARCH 11th EXTRA:

Rumours abound that Sammi Cheng Sau-Man has signed on to take the female lead in Joe Ma Wai-Ho's new romantic drama FIGHTING FOR LOVE (YAT CHIN LING YAT CHI KAU FUN; trans. PROPOSE 1,001 TIMES). The film has a budget of HK$30 million and has Tony Leung Chiu-Wai for the male lead. Reportedly, Leung is taking the role in the film because he previously had to turn down the lead role in Joe Ma's A WAR NAME DESIRE due to the extended shoot of IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. Asked to comment on the rumours, Ma -- who's film FEEL 100% II recently hit HK screens -- said: "The publicity company won't let me talk about it but I can't deny the rumours. Look, we'll have our opening lens ceremony in a few days and you'll be able to see for yourself."

Fluff from March 13th

Above images courtesy The Sun (left) and Oriental Daily News (centre, right).

The video for Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing's new song, MUNG DO NOI HO (lit. DREAMS TO INNER RIVER), has been banned from airing during the day on TVB. The video contains snippets that hints at a homosexual relationship between Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing and a Japanese dancer. Commenting on the decision, TVB executive Tsang Sing-Ming remarked: "We want to broadcast music videos in between five and six in the afternoon. Since there will be children watching at the time, we cannot air the video unless they make some changes to it."

Returning to Hong Kong yesterday from a trip to the Mainland, Leslie Cheung was asked at the airport for a reaction. Cheung: "What do you want me to say? I just got back from the Mainland." Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed22p.jpg (Cheung at airport.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed24p.jpg (Still from the video.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed23p.jpg (Still from the video.)

Mainland sensation Vicki Zhao Wei (centre) spent her 25th birthday yesterday at TVB Studios filming promotional spots with Leo Koo Gui-Gei for their soon-to-air television series CHING SUM SUM YU MONG MONG (lit. LOVE DEEP RAIN MISTY). Afterwards, a mini-birthday celebration was held at the canteen in TVB Studios where Zhao was presented with a birthday cake, a bouquet of flowers from series producer King Yiu, and a watch from Leo Koo. Asked what her birthday wish was, Zhao answered: "I hope to treat myself better this year. In the past, all I've known how to do is treat others well."

When asked to comment on rumours that her ex-boyfriend Yip Mau-Ching is dating Taiwanese actress Miki Lee Ting-Yi (Jackie Chan's love interest in MR. NICE GUY), Zhao said: "It's none of my business. He and I are finished and I haven't had any contact with him." Related images (courtesy Apple Daily unless otherwise indicated):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed5p.jpg (Zhao reports to work at TVB Studios on her birthday.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed1pzok.jpg (Zhao and her cake.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed3p.jpg (Zhao having lunch with co-star Leo Koo.)
http://www.orientaldaily.com.hk/photo/20010313/ent/0313enew07p2.gif (Zhao and Koo.)

In television ratings news, TVB's DUKE OF MT. DEER 2000 continued to dominate last week as it scored an average of 36 ratings points with a high of 40 ratings points. Meanwhile, on ATV, HEALING HEARTS continues to struggle as it managed only six ratings points.

Marco Ngai Jun-Kit continued work on his new television series ARMED REACTION III yesterday as he shot a standoff scene against a villain played by Moses Chan Ho. Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ex108p.jpg

In an interview with Metro Radio, Elle Choi Suet-Man (Siu Suet) talked about how strange her life feels now that shooting for her TVB series FM 701 (aka BROADCAST LIVE) has completed. Choi: "I've become good friends with many of my co-workers from the series. We used to see each other every day when we were working. Now that everything is done, I kind of miss them. I've heard people say that working in television is very hard but I didn't find it difficult at all." Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ex21p.jpg

Also hitting the radio waves yesterday was Taiwanese teen sensation Jolin Tsai (Choi Yi-Lam). Tsai is in Hong Kong to promote her lateset album. Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ex20p.jpg

Above images courtesy The Sun (left, centre) and Oriental Daily News (right).

At a exhibition of spring products from Charles Jourdan, Crystal Kwok Kam-Yan (centre) revealed that she is about to re-start her career after taking last year off to marry and have a baby. Kwok: "Right now, I'm putting the finishing touches on the script. Media Asia's Chung Joi-Si is backing the film. It's a romantic drama. The male lead will be a foreigner. Most likely a Caucasian. For the female lead, I want to find an actress who is very spirited. I think Josie Ho Chiu-Yi (left) would be good for it. I'm just saying! I haven't talked to her about it yet! Anyway, the first thing I have to do is finish the script, then I'll see about who I want to cast."

The upcoming film will be Kwok's sophomore effort. Kwok's first film, THE MISTRESS, was released in 1999 and starred Ray Lui Leung-Wai. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ec20p.jpg (Crystal Kwok)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/250pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ec22p.jpg (Josie Ho)

It appears more and more likely that the rumours suggesting Carina Lau Ka-Ling and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai have ended their eleven year relationship are true. The night before last, Carina Lau (right) was seen at the airport disembarking from the same flight as her ex-boyfriend Hui Jun-Hung. Rumours abound that Lau and Hui spent the weekend holidaying in Shanghai. Adding to the speculation, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai also returned to Hong Kong from a holiday in Japan the day before yesterday but -- rather than go to the flat that he shares with Lau at the May Towers -- he went to his mother's home in the Sai Kung district.

Yesterday, on his way to the Causeway Bay offices of Wong Kar-Wai's Jet Tone Productions, Tony Leung did not answer questions about the state of his relationship with Lau. Related images:

http://www.orientaldaily.com.hk/photo/20010313/ent/0313enew01b2.jpg (Hui Jun-Hung at the airport. Courtesy Oriental Daily News.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ea502p.jpg (Grainy photo of Tony Leung heading to Jet Tone offices. Courtesy Apple Daily.)

In actual entertainment news about Tony Leung, rumours abound that Mainland director Zhang Yimou has managed to convince Jet Li to star in his upcoming action film. Backed by Columbia Pictures, Zhang will be making yet another movie based on the story of famous assasin Jing Ke (Ging Ngor) and his attempt to kill the King of Qin (who later became the First Emperor of China). Set to start shooting in August, CHI CHUN (lit. ASSASINATE QIN) will star Jet Li as Jing Ke, Jiang Wen as the King Of Qin, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk and Zhang Ziyi.

The story about the famous assasin has been told three times on film and numerous times on television. Hong Kong film versions were made in 1949 and 1959. Chen Kaige's THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASIN (1998), starring Gong Li, is the most recent version. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ej100p.jpg (Maggie Cheung)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ej4p.jpg (Tony Leung)

MISCELLANEOUS FLUFF:

- The night before last, at a dinner after performing at the opening ceremonies of a Mainland soccer tournament, Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing revealed that his older sister got married last Friday (March 9th.) Kwok: "I didn't want to steal her thunder so I deliberately showed up late to the banquet. However, I did give her a big red packet in honour of the occasion. A few days before, I went to the bank to have the money transfered electronically to her account. However, the bank said that they couldn't transfer amounts that high electronoically so I had to write her a cheque. To be honest, I have never before in my life given away so much money as a gift."

Kwok refused to reveal how much he put in the red packet but, according to Apple Daily sources, it is rumoured to be HK$500,000. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ex1p.jpg (Kwok dines in Chungking.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ex2p.jpg (The Kwokster poses with Pepsi executives and the special commemorative Pepsi-related merchandise for the soccer tournament.)

- Eason Chan Yik-Shun wrapped up his three performance run in the musical SUZY WONG'S BEAUTIFUL WORLD last night at the Performing Arts centre in the Wanchai district. Chan's girlfriend, Hilary Tsui Ho-Ying, was in the crowd all three nights. Asked for a comment after his last show, Chan said: "I'm very happy with how everything went. I'm also feeling a little sad about having to leave." Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed6p.jpg (Chan signs an autograph for a Japanese fan.)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed7p.jpg (Hilary Tsui)

- Angela Tong Ying-Ying, Amanda Lee Wai-Man, Natalie Ng Man-Yan, Wong Lam, Margaret Chung Lai-Kei and the model Qi Qi were on hand as the Italian fashion boutique La Rosa held the grand opening of a new store the Central district yesterday. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed25p.jpg (Angela Tong)
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ed26p.jpg (Margaret Chung)

- 1980s action star Kara Hui (Wai Ying-Hung) has invested in an alternative medicine clinic that opened recently in the Wong Tai Sin district. Hui made a seven figure investment (more than HK$1 million) in the new venture when she became interested in alternative treatments after meeting a doctor who practised only "natural" medicine. Related images (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ec1p.jpg
http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ec2p.jpg http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ec3p.jpg

- Taiwanese bombshell Tien Shin (Tin Sum) got dressed out in a special outfit for an edition of her Taiwanese television show about technology the day before yesterday. As the host of the show for the past two and a half years, Tien believes that she has learned many things about new technology. Tien: "I'm the host of a show about computers and software so of course I'd know about computers. If I didn't, how could I give correct information to consumers." Related image (courtesy Apple Daily):

http://appledaily.atnext.com/webimg/640pix/20010313/Article_ent/13ec21p.jpg
(SANNEY: Don't ask me what that outfit has to do with computers. To me it looks like something a citizen from the town of Bedrock would wear.)

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