A film telling the stories of 14 young prisoners detained at the Chief Executive's discretion has been withdrawn from the Hong Kong International Film Festival after being rejected as the opening attraction.
A spokeswoman for China Star Hong Kong Distribution Ltd, which funded the film From the Queen to the Chief Executive, said it had been told by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department that the $3 million movie would not be shown to start the festival in April.
The script centres on Cheung Yau-hang, 32, one of five people convicted of murdering two teenagers in Braemar Hill in 1985.
The spokeswoman said the department had invited the movie to be screened as the opening film. 'However, the department withdrew the offer later, saying the film was not appropriate.'
Instead, the department suggested the film be submitted under the Hong Kong Panorama section with 20 other films. The company, owned by film-maker Charles Heung Wah-keung, decided to withdraw the film from the festival as a result, she said.
A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said it had not received a reply from China Star on its participation.