BUCKING the downward trend in Sino/ Hongkong relations, staff at TVB are busily preparing themselves for the first large-scale television link-up between the territory and Beijing - one that will be seen by hundreds of millions of viewers.
Forty pop and film stars from Hongkong, and 160 TVB staff-members, will travel to China for a live, two-hour extravaganza from the Hall of the People in Beijing on April 18 at 7.25 pm.
Leon Lai Ming, Andy Lau Tak-wah, Veronica Yip Yuk-hing, Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, Sandy Lam Yik-lin, Maggie Cheung Man-yuk, Jackie Chan, Anita Mui and Sally Yeh are among the celebrities who will appear that night, along with a clutch of mainland artists.
The extravaganza, which bears the awkward English translation of ''Relief and Poverty Alleviation Action'', is designed to kick off six months' worth of concerts and events across China, climaxing in a another concert in Hongkong on October 17, to raise awareness of China's battle against rural deprivation.
It is part of a 10-year programme against poverty in the countryside run by the Chinese Ministry of Internal Affairs.
TVB has won unprecedented concessions from the Chinese for the broadcast. Despite the misgivings of many Communist Party officials, the show will be aired live via satellite on two Chinese state television channels, as well as TVB, whose station controller, Ng Yu, will be in overall charge.
