Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong


The Avenue of Stars, modelled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is an avenue located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It honours celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry.

History

Establishment

In 1982, the New World Group built a promenade along the waterfront around the New World Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon. In 2004, the Group announced it would spend HK$40 million to build the Avenue of Stars, a project supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Tourism Commission, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Film Awards Association.
The avenue was opened to the general public on 28 April 2004 with an opening ceremony held the previous day, 27 April 2004. The opening ceremony was presided over by a number of government and industry figures, including Henry Tang, Stephen Ip, Patrick Ho, Selina Chow, Manfred Wong, and Cheng Yu Tung ; in which the privately funded avenue was handed over to the Hong Kong SAR government as public property. At opening, the avenue honoured an initial 73 inductees elected by the Hong Kong Film Awards Association and the readers of City Entertainment.

Redevelopment controversy

After having managed the avenue for 11 years, its contract is due to expire. It was announced in August 2015 that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong government would redevelop and expand the avenue jointly with the company. The Hong Kong government declared that the enhancement project would contain limited commercial appeal, and no luxury shops or high-end restaurants would be added. The walkway, very popular with tourists, is to be closed off and relocated to the Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden temporarily for three years while the expansion is undertaken.
The decision to award the contract for the redevelopment to the company without putting it out to tender, on the justification that the project was non-profit, sparked controversy locally. Residents' groups and other development companies owning properties adjacent to the walk expressed discontent, whilst the LCSD claimed that consultations with the local district council had been favourable. In an apparent attempt to de-fuse the public furore at the apparent collusion between government and big business, the government promised a public consultation.

Renovation

On 31 January 2019, the Avenue was reopened to the public after 3 years of renovation, redesigned by New York High Line architect James Corner Field Operations together with other international and local designers.

Description

The Avenue of Stars is the eastern node of several tourist attractions along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. In addition to the promenade and New World Centre, a number of attractions exist including the Museum of Art, Space Museum, Cultural Centre and the Clock Tower.
Entering from Salisbury Garden, a 4.5-metre-tall replica of the statuette given to winners at the Hong Kong Film Awards greets visitors. Along the 440-metre promenade, the story of Hong Kong's one hundred years of cinematic history is told through inscriptions printed on nine red pillars. Set into the promenade are plaques honouring the celebrities. Some plaques contain hand prints and autographs of the stars set in cement, but most of the plaques only contain celebrities' names as they are now deceased. A 2.5-metre bronze statue of Bruce Lee was erected along the Avenue of Stars in 2005.
The promenade commands a stunning panoramic view across Victoria Harbour. At night it is a popular viewing place for the Symphony of Lights display.
A large replica of the 2008 Summer Olympics torch will be on permanent display here.

List of stars

The following people have received plaques on the avenue of stars.
Note: People in the list who were born before 1949 in the Republic of China are not from modern day Taiwan, but from mainland China, which the Republic of China encompassed until the end of the last civil war.
#NamePlace of birthResidenceGenreNotesPicture
1.Lai Man-Wai JapanHong Kongsilent film actor; later as producer and directormarried to Florence Lim - deceased
2.Florence Lim Vancouver, CanadaHong Kongactressmarried to Lai Man-Wai - deceased
3.Butterfly Hu Shanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactressstar from 1924 to 1960s - deceased
4.Sir Run Run Shaw Ningbo, Imperial ChinaHong KongHong Kong media mogul, founder of TVBdeceased
5.Wong Man Lei Hong KongHong Kongactressstarted with Ji Nan Film Company and later with TVB and RTV; Chief Executive of South China Film Industry Workers Union; Lifetime Achievement Award of the Hong Kong FilmAwards - deceased
6.Zhu Shi Lin Taicang, Republic of ChinaHong Kongfilm directordeceased
7.Tso Tat Wah Taishan, Guangdong, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactordeceased
8.Lo Duen Hong KongHong Kongactor and scriptwriterLifetime Achievement Award of the Hong Kong Film Critics'Association - deceased
9.Griffin Yue Feng Shanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactor and Huangmei opera starLifetime Achievement Award by the Film Directors' Guild - deceased
10.Kwan Tak-hing Guangzhou, Republic of Chinaactordeceased
11.Cheung Wood Yau Hong KongHong KongCantonese opera staropera star 1940 and 1950s; later joined TVB and retired 1982 - deceased
12.Ng Cho FanHong KongCanadaactorGreatest Individual Achievement Award given by the Cultural Ministry of the People's Republic of China
13.Tang Wing Cheung Shunde, Guangdong, Republic of ChinaHong KongCantonese opera starOpera King of Charity - deceased
14.Pak Yin Guangzhou, ChinaHong Kongactressretired 1964 - deceased
15.Zhou Xuan Changzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongsinger and film actressdeceased
16.Cheung Ying Fujian, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactordied in Canada 1984
17.Li TitHong KongHong Kongactorstar 1930s and 1940s; Lifetime Achievement Award by the Film Directors'Guild
18.Wu Pang Shanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongdirectordirected 58 Wong Fei Hung films - deceased
19.Yam Kim-fai Nanhai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongopera stardeceased
20.Shek Kin Panyu, Guangdong, Republic of ChinaHong Kongfilm and TV actordeceased
21.Li Li-hua Heibei, Republic of ChinaHong Kong and United Statesactressdeceased
22.Bai Guang Beijing, Republic of ChinaKuala Lumpur, Malaysiasinger and actressdeceased
23.Ng Wui Guangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongdirector and actoractor and co-founder of Union Film Enterprise Ltd; starred in over 100 films and directed over 200 films; later with RTV - deceased
24.Pak Suet SinGuangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong KongChinese opera star
25.Hung Sin-nui Guangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kong and Chinasinger and actressdeceased
26.Chun KimHong KongHong Kongwriter and directorfounded Kong Ngee Co
27.Yu So-chow Beijing, Republic of ChinaHong Kong and San Francisco, United StatesChinese operadeceased
28.Leung Sing PoHong KongHong KongCantonese opera starlater wutg TVB; award MBE 1976
29.Tang Kei ChenTaiwanHong Kongradio anchor and radio actor/comedian; moved to Canada 1975
30.Tang Pik-wan Sanshui, Guangdong, Republic of ChinaHong KongCantonese opera star/actressdeceased
31.Fong Yim FunHong KongHong KongChinese opera
32.Miranda Yang Shanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactress and producerdeceased
33.Linda Ching Guilin, Guangxi, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactresstook her own life in 1964 - deceased
34.Woo FungGuangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactor, director
35.You Min – Lucialla Yu MingHong KongHong KongCantonese operat star and actressretired 1964
36.Patrick Tse YinGuangdong, Republic of ChinaHong Kong and Vancouver, CanadaHong Kong film and TV actor, screenwriter, producer
37.Li Han-hsiang Jinxi, Liaoning, Republic of ChinaHong Kongdirectordied of a heart attack in 1996
38.Loke Wan Tho Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaTaiwancinema ownerdeceased
39.Roy Chiao Shanghai, Republic of ChinaSeattle, United Statesactorinterpreter for the US Army during the Korean War - deceased
40.Patricia Lam FungHong KongHong Kongretired 1967 and died 1976
41.Chang Cheh Shanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongfilm directordeceased
42.Chor YuenGuangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactor
43.King Hu Beijing, Republic of ChinaTaiwan and Hong Kongdirectordeceased
44.Ivy Ling PoShantou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongopera star
45.Connie ChanGuangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactress and singer
46.Josephine Siao Fong FongSuzhou, Jiangsu Republic of ChinaHong Kongactress
47.Fung Bo BoSandakan, North BorneoHong Kongfilm and TV actress
48.Jimmy Wang YuWuxi, Jiangsu, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactor, producer, director and screenwriter
49.Tommy Ti LungXinhu, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactor
50.David ChiangHong KongHong Kong and Vancouver, Canadaactor
51.Leonard Ho Kwong Cheong Hong KongHong Kongpublicity officer and production officer at Shaw Brotherslater vice-chairman at Golden Harvest - deceased
52.Raymond Chow Hong KongHong Kongfilm directordeceased
53.Bruce Lee San Francisco, United StatesHong Kongmartial artist, actorFounder of Jeet Kune Do, voted Greatest Martial Artist of All Time - deceased
54.Ng See-yuenHong KongHong Kongdirector
55.Michael HuiPanyu, Guangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongcomedian, director and screenwriter
56.Sam HuiHong KongHong Kongactor and Hong Kong pop singer
57.Brigitte Lin Ching HsiaTaipei, Taiwanactress
58.Sammo Hung Kam PoHong KongHong KongHong Kong actor
59.Jackie ChanHong KongHong KongHong Kong film actor
60.John WooGuangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongfilm director
61.Yuen Woo-pingGuangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongdirector and martial arts choreographer
62.Ann Hui on WahAnshan, Liaoning, Republic of ChinaHong Kongdirector
63.Tsui Hark Saigon, South VietnamHong Kongdirector
64.Chow Yun-fatHong KongHong KongTV and film actor
65.Leslie Cheung Hong KongHong Kong, Vancouver, CanadaCantopop singer and film actordeceased
66.Andy LauHong KongHong KongCantopop singer and film actor
67.Jet LiBeijing, ChinaHong Kong and Singaporefilm actor
68.Maggie CheungHong KongHong Kong and United KingdomTV and film actress
69.Anita Mui Hong KongHong Kong and Vancouver, CanadaCantopop singer and film actressdeceased
70.Tony Leung Chiu-waiHong KongHong KongTV and film actor
71.Michelle Yeoh Choo KhengIpoh, Perak, MalaysiaHong Kongfilm actress
72.Wong Kar-waiShanghai, ChinaHong Kongdirector
73.Stephen ChowHong KongHong Kongdirector and film actor
74. Ms Tsi Law LinHong KongHong Kongactress
75. Lam Kar Sing Hong KongHong KongChinese opera actordeceased
76. Wong Tin-lam Shanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongscriptwriter, producer, director, and actordeceased
77. Bow FongHong KongHong Kongactor
78.Lau Kar-leung Guangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongfilm and TV actordeceased
79. Shek WaiJiangzu, Republic of ChinaHong Kongmovie actresswife of actor Fu Chi
80. Fu ChiLiaoning, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactor and directorhusband of Shek Wai
81. Grace ChangShanghai, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactress and singer
82. Patsy Kar LingHong KongBangkok, Thailandactressretired and living in Bangkok
83. Kwan Shan Shenyang, Liaoning, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactordeceased
84. Lo Wai Jiangsu, Republic of ChinaHong Kongactordeceased
85. Tong KaiMacauHong Kongmartial arts coordinator for Chinese Opera and movie choreographer
86. Nee KwongNingbo, Zhejiang, Republic of ChinaHong Kongnovelist and screenwriter
87. James Wong Panyu, Guangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Konglyricist and writerdeceased
88. Karl MakaTaishan, Guangzhou, Republic of ChinaHong Kongproducer, director, actor and presenter
89. Eric TsangHong KongHong Kongfilm and TV actor, TVB MC
90. William Chang Suk PingHong KongHong Kongfilm editor, production designer and art director
91. Tony Leung Ka-faiHong KongHong Kongfilm actor
92. Anthony Wong Chau SangHong KongHong KongTV and film actor
93. Cecilia CheungHong KongHong Kongfilm actress
94. Lai Pak-hoi Xinhui, Guangdong, Imperial ChinaHong Kongactor and producerdeceased
95. Kenneth TsangShanghai, Republic of ChinaHong KongTV and film actor
96. Sylvia ChangChiayi, TaiwanTaiwanfilm actress
97. Jacky CheungHong KongHong KongCantopop singer and film actor
98. Lau Ching WanHong KongHong KongTV and film actor
99. Aaron KwokHong KongHong KongTV and film actor, Cantopop singer
100. Gong LiShenyang, Liaoning, ChinaChina and Singaporefilm actress
101.Leon LaiBeijing, ChinaHong KongTV and film actor, Cantopop singer
102.Deanie Ip Tak-hanDapengcheng, Guangdong, Republic of ChinaHong Kongsinger and film actress
103.Simon Yam Tat-wahHong KongHong Kongactor and film producer
104.Kara Hui Ying-HungShandong, ChinaHong Kongfilm actress
105.Carina Lau Kar-lingSuzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaHong KongTV and film actress
106.Louis Koo Tin-lokHong KongHong KongTV and film actor
107.Nicholas Tse Ting-fungHong KongHong Kong, Vancouver, CanadaSinger and actorson of actor Patrick Tse
108.McDullHong KongHong KongCartoon charactercreated by Brian Tse and Alice Mak