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South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
How a Taiwanese pilot's defection sparked first China-Taiwan talks
'A Taiwanese pilot yesterday asked for political asylum after making an emergency landing with a jumbo jet packed with tyres and fruit at a Chinese airport,' reported the South China Morning Post on May 4, 1986. 'Commander Wang Xijue, 57, said he wanted to be reunited with his family on the mainland. 'A Taiwanese pilot yesterday asked for political asylum after making an emergency landing with a jumbo jet ... at a Chinese airport,' reported the South China Morning Post on May 4, 1986. Photo: SCMP Archives 'The Taiwan China Airlines' Boeing 747 cargo plane, flying from Bangkok to Taipei, was due to stop over in Hong Kong at 3.07pm, but lost contact with Kai Tak about 40km from the territory. Minutes later it landed at Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport. The state-run Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) last night sent a telegram to the Taiwan flag-carrier asking them to send a representative as soon as possible to Beijing to discuss how to deal with the plane, its cargo and the other two crew members. It was the first commercial flight to be diverted to the mainland since 1949. Advertisement 'An airline spokesman in Taipei refused to comment. Public relations manager Mr Larry Lin told the Sunday Morning Post they had not received the telegram, but had heard the news via the media. A Guangzhou airport official, who earlier denied the incident took place, said later his staff had sought advice from Beijing after receiving the request for an emergency landing. The cargo plane taking off from Kai Tak Airport and continuing its journey to Taipei after spending one day in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP Archives 'A Hong Kong businessman, who watched the landing, said the plane was quickly surrounded by about 20 People's Liberation Army [soldiers] bearing guns.' Two days later, on May 6, the Post reported that the 'two crew members of Taiwan's Boeing 747 cargo plane who want to go home may not be allowed to leave just yet, Chinese officials said yesterday'. 'The SCM Post asked [CAAC director Yu Yanen] if the two crewmen could leave the mainland any time they wanted to, since China had said it fully respected their wishes and that they were free to follow – or not – their pilot […] who has defected.' Two Taiwan China Airlines crewmen, Tung Kuang-hsing and Chiu Ming-chih waving to the crowds after landing at Kai Tak Airport. Photo: SCMP Archives On May 24, the Post revealed that the 'Taiwanese pilot who defected to China with his plane and cargo used chains and handcuffs to overpower his two reluctant crewmen, a press conference was told in Taipei yesterday. The two China Airlines crewmen were speaking on their arrival in Taiwan following a historic flight from China to Hong Kong aboard a CAL plane diverted to Guangzhou on May 3. The plane and its two remaining crewmen were finally released by China yesterday after three days of talks in Hong Kong – apparently the first at an official level between the two countries since 1949'.
South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Peter Yung's The System, a rediscovered gem of Hong Kong New Wave cinema
From a darkened first-floor shop window, the zoom lens picks up the lean, sallow-faced figure loitering on the opposite pavement. Seemingly invisible to passers-by and shopkeepers, he is a magnet for solitary, middle-aged men who approach in silence, holding HK$10 notes. Advertisement No words are exchanged, but between meetings, he disappears into an open staircase and returns within moments to discreetly hand off small paper packets to more customers who then drift away. This is repeated, again and again, on a daily basis, with the hidden camera capturing every one of the transactions. It's the mid-1970s and Hong Kong is flooded with heroin, home to the highest percentage of addicts in the world. The dealer is Dai So, a street-level Wo Hop To triad selling packets of No 3 heroin from the gang's protected patch on First Street, Sai Ying Pun. He's also an addict, and he knows he is being filmed. His brother, Sai So, keeps a lookout nearby for a rival gang, also selling heroin, a block up, on Second Street. Police officers David Hodson (left) and Ho Shiu-cheong show the press their seizure of heroin in April 1977. Photo: SCMP Archives The team behind the camera are award-winning British filmmaker Adrian Cowell, two-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Chris Mengis, and a young local, Peter Yung Wai-chuen, associate producer and camera operator. They would live in that empty shop for five months, filming the street-level drug trade below. They were there making Opium: The White Powder Opera, one in a series of documentaries Cowell wrote and directed on the drug trade over two decades. It was a groundbreaking film as, through his Hong Kong government connections, he received unprecedented access to the secretive Narcotics Bureau as it sought to identify and arrest high-level drug smugglers and break up their syndicates 'I was the organiser for the documentary,' says Yung, now 75, sitting among the greenery of his home on Lantau Island. 'The important thing is, at that time, Caucasians couldn't go on the surveillance, so that's why I came in and became the one to deal with all these Chinese in the gangs.' Advertisement
South China Morning Post
21-04-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
When the Terracotta Army came to Hong Kong
'The publisher of a local leftwing newspaper [Ta Kung Pao], Mr Fei Yi-ming, who was recently elected a Standing Committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Peking, is to head an eight-member committee to supervise the work on next month's exhibition in Hongkong of archaeological finds from China ,' reported the South China Morning Post on March 25, 1978. 'In all, 99 items unearthed in 14 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China since 1949 will be on display, according to a press release.' The South China Morning Post reports on the coming exhibition on March 25, 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives On April 18, the Post detailed 'some of the wonders of ancient China […] put on show in Hongkong yesterday and among those who went along to see them were the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose , and Lady MacLehose. They were attending the preview of the exhibition […] held at the Chinese Export Commodities Exhibition Hall in Star House'. Governor Sir Murray MacLehose (third from right), Lady MacLehose (fourth from right) and Wang Yeh-chiu (second from right), director of China's Cultural Relics Administrative Bureau, looking at the famed jade suit during the Star House exhibition in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives 'About a quarter of the exhibits have never been shown outside China before. They include several bronze artefacts of the Shang dynasty and pottery warriors of the Chin [Qin] dynasty . During the Shang dynasty (13th century BC), tremendous advancement was made in bronze casting and this is well illustrated by the bronze wine vessels on show. Advertisement Three life-size terracotta warriors of the Chin (Qin) dynasty displayed at the Exhibition of Chinese Archaeological Finds held at Star House in 1978. Photo: SCMP Archives On June 6, the Post reported that 'the 48-day of exhibition of Chinese archaeological finds ended yesterday with record-breaking crowds. A spokesman for the exhibition's organisers said more than 11,800 people viewed the cultural relics yesterday, the highest number for a single day. 'More than 258,000 people have seen the exhibition since it opened on April 18, the spokesman said. 'The entire exhibit will be taken back to China and items will be returned to the many provincial museums from where they came.'
South China Morning Post
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
In 1984, Elton John's Hong Kong debut sparked ticket complaints from fans
'A local music promoter yesterday described ticket sales complaints by Elton John fans as 'misleading and unreliable',' reported the South China Morning Post on March 13, 1984. ''We have reserved more than 80 per cent of tickets for the public for Elton's first concert in Hongkong,' said Mr Johnson Chiu, assistant to the managing director of Jesu International Entertainment Ltd. Elton John is due to give his debut performance at the Hongkong Coliseum on March 30 […] The reason for the sell-out of high-priced tickets was that a good lighting design was anticipated. [John] and his 27-member team will arrive in Hongkong on the eve of his scheduled concert.' 'A local music promoter yesterday described ticket sales complaints by Elton John fans as 'misleading and unreliable',' reported the South China Morning Post on March 13, 1984. Credit: SCMP Archives On March 30, the Post reported that, ' Elton John will be pacing back and forth more than usual tonight just before he steps on stage. The English rock star said he was nervous about his two Hongkong concerts because he wasn't quite sure what to expect. 'I have never played here before. At least in America and Britain I know what's what,' he explained. Advertisement 'Hongkong is the third stop on [John's] world tour. Over 20 European countries, including Yugoslavia and Poland, lie ahead of him. After that it's onto the US and Canada. Rock star Elton John holds a press conference at the Holiday Inn ahead of his two concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum in March 1984. Photo: SCMP Archives 'Elton said he hoped his Hongkong audiences would find his concerts at the Coliseum – promised to last more than two hours – an entertaining and enjoyable experience. 'We've got the most amazing light show. Well I say it's amazing. I never see it because I'm on stage, but everyone says it's pretty good.' Local promoters Jesu International are paying just over $1.5 million for the two performances. Tickets are still available for tonight.' On April 2, the Post ran a note from Jesu International's managing director, Rigo Jesu, who wrote that he 'would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to patrons of the two Elton John concerts by our shifting of the stage location. This had to be done when it was learned that the Hongkong Coliseum did not have sufficient rigging points […] The only possible way to hang the lighting was to move the stage to its ultimate position, which resulted in some seating disarray. However, anyone who attended Elton's concerts will agree that this small inconvenience was worth the incredible light show [but] I hope someone will look into the problems of rigging points there to enable future shows to be presented in their full glory'.
South China Morning Post
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
7 wealthiest composers in the world in 2025 – net worths, ranked
Danny Elfman (left), Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hans Zimmer: three of the world's wealthiest composers. Photos: SCMP Archives, Getty Images, @hanszimmerlive/Instagram Millionaires and billionaires When it comes to showbiz, much credit goes to the stars on stage or in front of the camera. But a lot happens behind the scenes and acclaim must also go to many others, including the creators of some of the entertainment industry's most memorable film scores. Responsible for some of the best-known music from film, television and stage, these composers have earned fortunes during their illustrious careers. With the Academy Awards just around the corner, here are the seven richest composers in the world today, according to Celebrity Net Worth. 7. Michael Giacchino, 57 Estimated net worth: US$25 million Composer Michael Giacchino has written for television, film and video games. Photo: @m_giacchino/Instagram Known in film, television and video-game circles, composer Michael Giacchino has a close working relationship with director J.J. Abrams that has led to scores for TV shows Alias and Lost , plus films such as Mission: Impossible III and the Star Trek reboots , according to his website. His score for Pixar's 2009 box office hit Up earned him an Oscar, Golden Globe, Bafta and two Grammys. 6. Danny Elfman, 71 Estimated net worth: US$50 million Danny Elfman has worked extensively with Tim Burton on films including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – hence the suit. Photo: @dannyelfman/Instagram Quadruple Oscar nominee Danny Elfman is one of Hollywood's most versatile film composers, working with the likes of heavyweight directors Tim Burton , Peter Jackson, Ang Lee and Guillermo del Toro. He's also responsible for some of TV's most recognisable theme tunes, including those of Desperate Housewives and The Simpsons . In the latter, it is his voice that intones 'The Simpsonnnnss' over three notes, a snippet that has continued to earn him performance royalties since the show began in 1989, per Celebrity Net Worth. 'I didn't expect anybody to see The Simpsons ,' he told Vulture. 'I didn't know that I would actually be hitting a jackpot.' 5. Alan Menken, 75 Estimated net worth: US$100 million
