Leading light in Hong Kong Film Archive's creation retires
Veteran cultural administrator says creating Sai Wan Ho facility was like giving birth - but it was still one of the highlights of her 36-year career
For Cynthia Liu Chiu-fun, stepping into the lobby of the Hong Kong Film Archive is almost like embarking on a journey through time.
The sights and sounds of the Sai Wan Ho facility remind Liu of some of the most precious moments of her 36-year career as a government arts administrator, which ends with her retirement as deputy director (culture) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department today.
"It was like giving birth to a third son," says the mother of two, of the eight years she spent with the archive, dedicated to some of the city's greatest cultural treasures. She helped build it from scratch until its opening in 2001.
Liu, 60, began her career in 1978 as an assistant manager in programme presentation, working on a number of film programmes including the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
"I was very interested in film back then. I volunteered to do the film programmes," she said.
Her career, which took in a spell as the department's assistant director for performing arts, also saw her press for the creation of new arts festivals.
They included the New Vision Arts Festival, which showcases edgy contemporary performing arts shows and just concluded its seventh edition last month. She has also been involved in the opening of many other cultural facilities, including the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1989 and the neighbouring Museum of Art.