Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung today congratulated Hong Kong actor Tony Leung on receiving the Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement at the 80th Venice International Film Festival.

Mr Yeung said: “We are very excited about Mr Leung being the first Chinese actor to be bestowed this honour in a major film award.”

In a press release, he noted that Mr Leung, as a household name in Hong Kong and with exquisite acting skills, earned many awards and brought himself onto the global stage with flying colours.

“His endless pursuit of a higher level of artistic performance over the past few decades is an exemplar of Hong Kong actors’ spirit and Hong Kong’s cultural richness.

“We are so proud of him and would like to send him our heartfelt congratulations on this hard-earned and well-deserved title.”

The Government and the Film Development Council will provide support on various fronts and push for sustainable development of the industry, the culture chief added.