The 19th World Outstanding Chinese Awards brought together top talent from Hong Kong’s entertainment industry at the city’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. Screen veteran Woo Fung received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while veteran host Eric Tsang and acclaimed actor Tony Leung Ka-fai were each presented with the World Outstanding Chinese Award, honoring their lasting contributions across the Chinese-speaking world.
Eric Tsang said the recognition carried special weight. Presented by his longtime friends Jackie Chan and Alan Tam, the award represented the global Chinese community rather than a single market or film festival prize, capping a career that has now spanned 53 years.
Now settled into an advisory role at broadcaster TVB after stepping down as general manager of content operations, Tsang was quizzed on the state of local television. Asked about rival station HOY’s drama “Your Security Lee Bao An,” whose ratings initially rose before declining, Tsang likened a single show’s success to a firework: spectacular but fleeting. He argued that the television business is a marathon, and a network’s strength lies in long-term programming strategy rather than short-lived hits.
Addressing the mixed reception for TVB’s own new sitcom “Come Home Love: Three Generations Same Sugar,” Tsang acknowledged that audiences form deep attachments to long-running predecessors, making it difficult for new entries to immediately stick. Comedies in particular, he said, require time to develop their voice and reflect the times. Looking forward, Tsang confirmed that TVB is planning a year-long celebration for its 60th anniversary, and he personally hopes to revive his iconic variety show “The Super Trio” as part of the festivities.
For Tony Leung Ka-fai, the ceremony was a chance to honor a senior figure while looking ahead at his own ambitions. He praised Woo Fung as the “supreme representative” of Hong Kong entertainment and said he aims to follow that path toward a future lifetime achievement award.
Leung is currently enjoying a career resurgence. He earned his first Best Actor nomination at China’s prestigious Golden Rooster Awards for the thriller “Catch the Wind, Chase the Shadow,” competing against much younger mainland stars including Tan Jianjie and Jiang Long. With typical humor, Leung quipped that he was not fighting the younger nominees but “hitting” them, noting that the diverse age range among the five candidates proved the selection process emphasized performance over seniority. He is already working on the film’s sequel and expressed gratitude for being allowed time off from production to attend the upcoming award ceremony.
The evening highlighted how Hong Kong’s established stars continue to push into new territory, navigating competitive shifts while mentoring a new generation of performers across Greater China.
