Below the Lion Rock
Encyclopedia
Below the Lion Rock is a TV show about the lives of Hong Kong
citizens. It is broadcast five times, each forming its own series, from 1974 to 1979, 1984 to 1988, 1990, 1992 to 1995, and 2006. Each series was a collection of unrelated stories produced by the RTHK
, and depicted the life stories of different social strata set against backgrounds that are today part of Hong Kong history, such as the Shek Kip Mei
fire that burnt down the slums, and the early immigrants from Mainland China
. The stories showed the perceptions people had on the society back in those times. It was a very emotionally-moving series and was thus highly successful in ratings.
In the early 1970s, the show focused on one character "Uncle Tak" (德叔）portrayed by veteran Cantonese actor Leung Meng (良鸣）and his family moving into a new flat, it was only later did the producers started producing collections of unrelated stories
Directors of the series including several renowned Hong Kong directors such as Ann Hui
, Allen Fong
and Derek Yee
.
Originally, the show was filmed in black and white, and each episode lasted only 15 minutes. It was later expanded to 30 minutes per episode. Starting 1978, each episode last 60 minutes. In May 2005, a new season consists of 10 episodes started to air on TVB Jade
.
, text written by Wong Jim
, arranged by Joseph Koo and Choi Tak Choi, and sung by Roman Tam
for the opening theme song of the TV show. Parts of the series were repeated on the ATV Home Channel after the lyrics of this song was recited by Anthony Leung, the ex-financial secretary when ending his budget report in April 2002. This action immediately caused a fever to ensue, especially among the nostalgic older generations who remember the series so well. In October of the same year, Tam died and this song is viewed as his signature and contributions to Cantopop
music. On November 19, 2002, Zhu Rongji
was visiting Hong Kong and used part of the lyrics in his speech addressing towards the public. After this, Below the Lion Rock song was played on many government occasions. Some consider this song as Hong Kong
's own unofficial anthem.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
citizens. It is broadcast five times, each forming its own series, from 1974 to 1979, 1984 to 1988, 1990, 1992 to 1995, and 2006. Each series was a collection of unrelated stories produced by the RTHK
Radio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
, and depicted the life stories of different social strata set against backgrounds that are today part of Hong Kong history, such as the Shek Kip Mei
Shek Kip Mei
Shek Kip Mei, originally known as Kap Shek Mi, is an area in New Kowloon, the North Eastern Kowloon Peninsula of Hong Kong.-History:A major fire on 25 December 1953, destroyed the Shek Kip Mei shantytown of immigrants from Mainland China that had fled to Hong Kong, leaving 53,000 people...
fire that burnt down the slums, and the early immigrants from Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
. The stories showed the perceptions people had on the society back in those times. It was a very emotionally-moving series and was thus highly successful in ratings.
In the early 1970s, the show focused on one character "Uncle Tak" (德叔）portrayed by veteran Cantonese actor Leung Meng (良鸣）and his family moving into a new flat, it was only later did the producers started producing collections of unrelated stories
Directors of the series including several renowned Hong Kong directors such as Ann Hui
Ann Hui
Ann Hui On-Wah is a Hong Kong film director, film producer and occasional screenwriter, one of the most critically acclaimed amongst the Hong Kong New Wave.-Early life:...
, Allen Fong
Allen Fong
Allen Fong Yuk-ping is a film director and one of the leaders of the Hong Kong New Wave of the late 1970s and early 1980s. His cinematic style is highly influenced by Italian neorealism...
and Derek Yee
Derek Yee
Derek Yee Tung-sing , born in 1957, is a former Shaw Brothers actor from Hong Kong, currently a film director and screenwriter, who has achieved fame and respect in Hong Kong and international film festival circuits for treading carefully commercial viability concerns with artistic integrity...
.
Originally, the show was filmed in black and white, and each episode lasted only 15 minutes. It was later expanded to 30 minutes per episode. Starting 1978, each episode last 60 minutes. In May 2005, a new season consists of 10 episodes started to air on TVB Jade
TVB Jade
TVB Jade is a flagship TV channel in Hong Kong, established by Television Broadcasts Limited, and is one of the free-to-air Cantonese language television channels in Hong Kong, the other being its arch-rival ATV Home...
.
Song
Below the Lion Rock show has a theme song which shares the same name as the TV show itself. It was composed in 1979 by Joseph KooJoseph Koo
Joseph Koo Kar-Fai, MBE, SBS is one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong. He used the pen name Moran for Mandarin songs. He is the younger brother of famous Chinese singer Koo Mei .-Career:...
, text written by Wong Jim
Wong Jim
James Wong Jim was a Cantopop lyricist and writer based primarily in Hong Kong. He was also a well known in Asia as a columnist, actor, film director, screenwriter and talk show hosts. He took part in creative directing positions within the entertainment industry in Hong Kong...
, arranged by Joseph Koo and Choi Tak Choi, and sung by Roman Tam
Roman Tam
Roman Tam, known by the stage name Lo Man , nickname Law Kee , was a renowned Hong Kong Cantopop singer. He is regarded as the "Godfather of Cantopop".-Career:...
for the opening theme song of the TV show. Parts of the series were repeated on the ATV Home Channel after the lyrics of this song was recited by Anthony Leung, the ex-financial secretary when ending his budget report in April 2002. This action immediately caused a fever to ensue, especially among the nostalgic older generations who remember the series so well. In October of the same year, Tam died and this song is viewed as his signature and contributions to Cantopop
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
music. On November 19, 2002, Zhu Rongji
Zhu Rongji
Zhū Róngjī is a prominent Chinese politician who served as the Mayor and Party chief in Shanghai between 1987 and 1991, before serving as Vice-Premier and then the fifth Premier of the People's Republic of China from March 1998 to March 2003.A tough administrator, his time in office saw the...
was visiting Hong Kong and used part of the lyrics in his speech addressing towards the public. After this, Below the Lion Rock song was played on many government occasions. Some consider this song as Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's own unofficial anthem.