Sunday, May 31, 2020

[2020.06.01] MAYDAY KEEPS ITS MAY DATE ONLINE


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Due to the pandemic Mayday is unable to come to perform in Hong Kong but they can fulfill its "May Date" online

Mayday invited Mao Buyi, Jam Hsiao, Li Ronghao and others to perform virtually with them
courtesy of mingpao.com

Taiwan Heavenly Band Mayday for years has had a "May Date" with Hong Kong fans, bu this year due to the novel coronavirus it was forced to cancel its Hong Kong concert. Mayday earlier announced that i would perform an online concert LIVE IN THE SKY at 8PM last night, so "May fans" would be able to look forward to the fulfillment of this "May Date" with excitement on the final day of May (the 31st).

The online concert took place at the Taipei Municipal Stadium, as "May fans" around the world "punched in" for "work" online last night. The concert lasted 1 hour, at its peak it attracted over 600,000 fans. Mayday opened the show with AN APPLE, then they stepped into the stadium in front of ten thousand empty seats. However light bars were placed on each seat. The band performed hits like ETERNAL SUMMER, SUN WU KONG and STARRY, and even had firework effects. The venue was where Mayday held their firs ten thousand people concert, and they admitted that they were not used to not having fan cheers an applause. Lead singer Ashin expressed that the pandemic made them realized that things that they could not expect would happen in this world, as they longed for the pandemic to pass soon. When they sang SUDDENLY MISSING YOU, Mayday performed virtually with Li Ronghao, Jam Hsiao, and Mao Buyi.

Mayday even shared how they spent the quarantine at home. Monster learned latte foam art with his wife, Guan You learned to cook, Monster earlier was in England so he returned to Taiwan early for the 14 day quarantine before joining the band for the show.

[2020.06.01] YEUNG YUK MUI CELEBRATES CHEUNG TAT MING'S HONG KONG FILM AWARD BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AWARD


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Cheung Tat Ming earlier with the film I'M LIVIN' IT (MAK LO YUN) won the Hong Kong Film Award Best Supporting Acor, but due to the pandemic no actual award ceremony took place. The Hong Kong Film Award Association president Derek Yee Tung Sing only announced the winners online.

Although he was unable to accept the award and everyone's applause on the stage, he did not skip on the celebration. Yeung Yuk Mui and a group of friends held a party for Cheung Tat Ming and prepared an award cake for the celebration. Cheung Tat Ming was very happy. Yeung Yuk Mui shared photos online, congratulated Cheung Tat Ming on winning this year's Hong Kong Film Award Best Supporting Actor and wished him even more awards in the future.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

[2020.05.31] LOUIS KOO THANKS DONORS FOR HELPING THE INDUSTRY THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME






Raymond Wong says that the pandemic relief movie cast will be announced soon
courtesy of mingpao.com


courtesy of singtao.com

Louis Koo

Julian Cheung

Louis Cheung
courtesy of on.cc

As the novel coronavirus spread globally, it not only has caused casualties but also impacted every business and industry extremely. The Hong Kong film industry was not spared. The pandemic has left the film industry in an almost complete standstill. Because the industry has always operated with freelance and short term contracts, basic level workers in the past half a year experienced a vacuum as job opportunities were few and far between. The Performing Artists Guild and the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers immediately called upon its affiliated organizations and donors to star a "Hong Kong film workers pandemic relief project". Through the industry's call for donations, it hoped to be able to assist those basic level colleagues as soon as possible. The Performing Artists Guild president Louis Koo Tin Lok thanked each and every donors who have contributed money and effort to the relief project, hoping that the donations would be able to provide some relief to those in the industry in need.

This operation even received helping hands from 10 Hong Kong film companies including China Star Film, Edko Film, Emperor Motion Pictures, Mandarin Film, Media Asia film, Mei Ah film, One Cool Film, Shaw Brothers International film, Sun Entertainment Culture and Universe film distribution. Along with donations from other donors, a sizable sum has already been raised. This sum will be distributed in its entirety to film basic level personnel by the Hong Kong Performing Artist Guild to provide temporary relief.

In order to provide assistance to industry personnel, currently two stages of distribution have been confirmed for applicants. The amount of applicants will determine whether there will be a third stage. Colleagues who will benefit will include the 12 major affiliated organizations of the Federation of Hong Kong Film Workers. (Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild, Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild, Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers, Hong Kong Film Arts Association, Hong Kong Movie Production Executives Association, Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild, Hong Kong Cinematography Lighting Association, Hong Kong Stuntman Association, Hong Kong Society of Film Editors, Hong Kong Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals, Hong Kong Film Assistant Directors' Association, Hong Kong Film Composers' Association, 3 industry unions (Hong Kong Film Propsmen's Guild, Hong Kong Film Photographer Association, Hong Kong Film Hair and Make Up Designers (temporary) union) and other basic level workers without any established organizations (including but not limited to: sound recording, costume management, catering, set photography, production special crew, production assistants), colleagues, who may be member on non member, in need.

In addition, the aforementioned 10 Hong Kong film companies will apply for a sum with the Hong Kong Film Development Council's "Film  Production Financing Projects" for film production use and work together on a movie to show that everyone was united to contribute to the industry, hopefully bringing the workers back to their posts and helping each other.

Reportedly the Performing Artist Guild president Koo Tin Lok in order to help colleagues contacted 10 film companies to each invest HK$ 3 million and received a HK$ 9 million allocation from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund for a total of HK$ 39 million to make a heart warming movie of Hong Kong people getting over the hardship together under the pandemic to raise fund for basic level colleagues. Vincent Kok Tak Siu will be the chief director. All the actors will be volunteers. Actors' salaries will be donated to their basic level colleagues as well. Each applicant for assistance would at most receive around HK$ 9,000 in assistance.

Currently a group of workers have already begun planning for a movie. Many actors and directors have volunteered to do their part to help Hong Kong film workers. Rumors included Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Simon Yam Tat Wa, Louis Koo Tin Lok, Eric Tsang Chi Wai and others. After this pandemic, hopefully everyone would be able to cherish those around them, cherish the Earth, and learn to positively face life.

The Performing Artist Guild president Koo Tin Lok replied, "I really want to thank each and every person who have donated their money and effort to this pandemic relief project. Through this operation, the entire industry unites to help each other. Hopefully the donations will be able to help those in need. This difficulty has almost halted the entire industry, only a few films were in production. In the foreseeable future the pandemic will still remain in place, normal production would be unable to resume very quickly. Thus in the future everyone would continue to need to help each other to get over this crisis." Koo Tin Lok's One Cool Film production and Albert Yeung Sau Sing's Emperor Motion Picture earlier already announced a 10 Hong Kong film production and distribution over two years.

[2020.05.31] A HUNDRED BID FAREWELL TO HANA KIMURA IN A LOW KEY SERVICE

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courtesy of singtao.com

Japanese reality show TERRACE HOUSE TOKYO and female professional wrestling star Hana Kimura earlier due to cyberbullying committed suicide and passed away a age 22. Her family two nights ago held a low key funeral for her two nights ago, around 100 family members and friends bid farewell to her.

Female Japanese pro wrestler Hana Kimura after participating in the reality show TERRACE HOUSE had a struggle with fellow housemate over laundry issue, which began the online cyberbullying for her and put her on the road to suicide. Her family two days ago held services for her. Hana Kimura's former wrestler mother earlier expressed wishes for the outside to respect her daughter and their family's privacy, the funeral took place in a non public format. During Hana Kimura's funeral, her family, friends and those in the wrestling community were among the 100 or so who came and bid farewell. After yesterday's funeral, the direcor of Kimura's wrestling organization Stardom, Rossy Ogawa, posted a photo of Hana Kimura on social media. He stated that the photo was taken by a professional photographer in November last year. Rossy also said that the funeral has already taken place. Hana Kimura looked at peace, as if she was beautifully resting.

[2020.05.31] JORDAN CHAN, CHERRIE YING BECOME PARENTS AGAIN


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Jordan Chan Siu Chun's wife Cherrie Ying Choi Yi two days ago posted a photo on social media and wroe, "A family of four, grateful"; she is believed to have given birth to their second child. The originally family of three has already become a family of four! Reportedly the 36 year old Ying Choi Yi two days ago gave birth to a baby boy at dusk and both mother and son were healthy; their 6 year old son Jasper also has been promoted to big brother.

Friday, May 29, 2020

[2020.05.30] GIGI LEUNG'S FILM A PART OF A GLOBAL ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL


courtesy of singtao.com

The International Film Festival and Awards Macao selected 5 films from its past four years for its online international film festival "WE ARE ONE: A GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL" entries. The films will begin screenings on YouTube starting today.

The film selections included the Gigi Leung Wing Kei, Jennifer Yu Heung Ying and Fish Liew Chi Yu starred SISTERHOOD (GWUT MUI) and the Carina Lau Ka Ling starred A CITY CALLED MACAU. THe IFFAM art director Mike Goodridge was very happy to be able to become a part of this unique international film festival and hope that at this challenging moment film festivals would unite and remind everyone the importance of the film industry to the world.

Thursday, May 28, 2020

[2020.05.29] ALICE CHAN REUNITES WITH IRENE WAN ON THE FALLEN

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The Irene Wan Bik Ha, Alice Chan Wai, Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, Eddie Chan (Ai Wai), Ashina Kwok Yik Sum, Hanna Chan starred film THE FALLEN (DOR LOK FA) yesterday officially opened. THE FALLEN was selected for the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, the Osaka Asian Film Festival and the Golden Koala International Chinese Film Festival; Irene even won the Ireland Silk Road International Film Festival Best Actress, the first Best Actress award in her life! Irene shared a very special shot from the film. "The shot was a straight take, my character after taking drugs went out and saw a group of people in a fight. The camera was in a daze along with me. The cinematographer used a hand held technique to twist the camera. The first few takes were already great, but to be perfect we did 6 or 7. It was the shot that had the most takes in the entire film." Irene worked with director Lee Cheuk Pan for the first time but they already had a connection. Everyone had a mutual understanding and the result naturally was great!

In this scene, the Eddie Chan (Ai Dik) played Uncle Fire dealt with the Alice Chan Wai played Narcotics Bureau officer. Wai Gor despite years in the business rarely met her fate in the dramatic world. She said, "I never imagined that as soon as I had to 'die', I would have to 'die' in such an extreme way. The crew poured several liters of blood on me. It was very gory but the blood actually tasted very sweet!" Extreme in the film and joyous outside, she even performed a reunion as Wai Gor has known Irene since she was young! "Before I competed in Miss Asia, around age 18 I already had contacts with her at work. At this reunion, Irene joked, 'That was you!' Irene truly has maintained herself very well!"

In recent years Wai Gor rarely took part in movies. Some praised her for being drastic different from how she usually appeared in television series, which was extremely refreshing! "I haven't made a movie in awhile, I needed to explore a little. The director spent a very long time to adjust the pace for me. The dialogue delivery speed was drastically different from usual. Although I only had several scenes every scene had variations!" She looked forward to making more movies and keep bringing new impact to the audience. "In series I often play bosses, big sisters, in the film world I can have more variations. I long to work with different creators, which would be able to set off even more new spark. For example I rarely come in contact with comedy. The most important is to create an all new impression of Chan Wai for the big screen!"

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

[2020.05.28] LEUNG KIT WA, FORMER ACTRESS AND FELIX WONG'S WIFE, PASSED AWAY



Felix Wong and Leung Kit Wa wed in 1988

Adrian Wong (center) brings rumored boyfriend Wong Yat Tin (right) to a birthday dinner, which was Leung Kit Wa's most recent public appearance

Soon after Adrian Wong was born, Leung Kit Wa switched jobs and became an insurance agent
Adrian Wong posts many photos of her mother

courtesy of mingpao.com


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courtesy of singtao.com

Felix Wong Yat Wa's wife Leung Kit Wa earlier was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Two years ago she had a successful bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately she finally passed away from organ failure yesterday afternoon at age 59. Wong Yat Wa and their daughter Adrian Wong Tsz Ching were by her side. Wong Yat Wa thanked everyone for their concern and hoped that everyone would give him space to handle his wife's affairs.

Wong Yat Wa after learning that his wife was ailing stopped working to care for her day and night. After numerous chemotherapy treatments Leung Kit Wa's weight drastically dropped. Two years ago she had a successful bone marrow transplant operation, but she still constantly went in and out of the hospital. Unfortunately she succumbed to the illness and passed away.

A graduate of the 8th TVB artist training class in 1979, Leung Kit Wa performed in programs like ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT, THE SHELL GAME (CHIN WONG JI WONG), FIVE EASY PIEVCES (LUEN LAU JUEN), ONCE UPON AN ORDINARY GIRL (NUNG BOON DOR CHING) and others series. Leung Kit Wa in 1988 wed Wong Yat Wa. Two years later they had their daughter Wong Tsz Ching. In 1992 she officially retired from entertainment and became an insurance agent. Wong Yat Wa's friend Andy Lau Tak Wa responded to Leung Kit Wa's passing, "They are in my thoughts."

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

[2020.05.27] FOR THE WEEK ENDING SUNDAY MAY 24 2020

For the week ending Sunday May 24 2020
Photos courtesy of Yahoo! Movies Hong Kong



10 IT FEELS SO GOOD
  Can : For Hau Dik Yi Yun
    d. Haruhiko Arai
    Tasuku Emoto, Kumi Takiuchi
  Rating : III
  Length : 115 mins.
  Opening May 21 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/OBxHQqDizEw

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Naoko is ten days away from getting married when she reunites with her former lover Kenji, who’s divorced and returned to their hometown of Akita, a northern city of Japan. She’d just been going through her things to get ready for her new life, and found an old photo album. She takes out a photograph to show Kenji. It’s a black and white photo of the two of them, complete naked, in front of a giant poster of the rim of Mt. Fuji's caldera. The memories of the lust-filled days of their youth come flooding back to them, and the two former lovers, who are also cousins, start having sexual relationship again- just for five days before Naok's fiance returns.
  Can : Mo Tung Duen Jeh Lei
  Lit : Painless Break Up
    d. Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit
    Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Sunny Suwanmethanont
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 114 mins.
  Opening March 26 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/TKKttTQUliE

[ BROADWAY CIRUCIT ]
    Jean wants to convert her house into a home office and she needs to majorly declutter and reorganise her entire house. Anything that has been lying around unused, she just simply throws all. However, Jean faces a great challenge when she comes across some items that belonged to Aim, her ex-boyfriend. Although she has no use for the items, each one reminds her of a story that brings back memories, along with unresolved feelings that cannot be easily discarded by just dumping them into the garbage bag. Jean has to decide what to do with Aim's stuff. Should she just throw everything, keep everything, or return the items to their rightful owner to clear them completely from her house and her heart?


  9 BLOODSHOT
    d. David S. F. Wilson
    Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Guy Pearce


  8 LES MISERABLES
    d. Ladj Ly
    Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga, Issa Perica


  7 TOOTSIES AND THE FAKE
    d. Kittiphak Thong-Uam
    Araya A. Hargate, Paopetch Charoensook, Thongchai hongkuntom,
      Rattanant Janyajirawong, Pattarasaya Kruasuwansiri
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 109 mins.
  Opening April 16 2020 (Postponed)
  Opening May 14 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/w1mnIYSeuwo

[ THE METROPLEX ]
    The three famously funny tootsies, Gus, Golf, Kim and their resident femme, Natty are on a mission improbable to "fake it until they make it".

    All hilarious hell breaks loose when gayzilla Golf accidentally causes celebrity superstar Cathy to slip and fall unconscious a week before she must shoot a lucrative TV commercial. Faced with a 50-million-baht lawsuit if Cathy is a no-show, they dream up a plan to find a look-alike to pose as the real Cathy. Their wishes come true after they track down a street food hawker named Nam, who had enough plastic surgery to make her an almost perfect match...


  6 TROLLS WORLD TOUR
    d. Walt Dohrn
    English Voices: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake,
      Sam Rockwell, James Corden, Rachel Bloom
    Cantonese Voices: Gin Lee Hung Ngai, Phil Lam Yik Hong


  5 BRAHMS: THE BOY II
    d. William Brent Bell
    Owain Yeoman, Christopher Convery, Katie Holmes


  4 SIBERIA
    d. Matthew Ross
    Keanu Reeves, Boris Gulyarin, Ashley St. George, Elliot Lazar


  3 THE BRIDGE CURSE
  Can : Nui Gwai Kiu
  Lit : Female Ghost Bridge
    d. Lester Hsi
    JC Lin, Summer Meng, Chang Ning, Vera Yen, Ruby Chan,
      Hsieh Yi Hung, Cheng Ko
  Rating : IIB
  Opening April 9 2020 (Postponed)
  Opening May 8 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/HD2o4EZXWX4

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    In the leap month in 2016, six Tunghu University students, who were running a camp, held a test of courage on the (in)famous Female Ghost Bridge. The Female Ghost Bridge is a forbidden spot on campus since rumor has it that years ago, a girl jumped off the bridge and drowned herself for the man she loved. Ever since then so many ghost stories about the tragedy have been circulating. In order to promote the test of courage, a group of students daringly did a live stream on the bridge late at night. To their astonishment, they caught the female ghost on camera, and it went viral with millions of viewers online. However, the group of students went missing soon afterwards… Exactly four years later, an investigative journalist Lien Shu-yu comes to the Female Ghost Bridge with a cameraman, trying to find out about the truth. They can never expect that they would stumble upon the hell underneath the bridge, in which several spirits are forever trapped.

[ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ]
    Based on an urban legend about a haunted bridge at Taichung's Tunghai University, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a heartbroken girl who killed herself there. The movie follows a group of university students who, while filming a video at the cursed bridge, discover that the supposed evil there might be real after all.


  2 MY HERO ACADEMIA: HEROES RISING
    d. Kenji Nagasaki
    Japanese Animation
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 103 mins.
  Opening May 21 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/yUphru-WY7Y

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Class 1-A visits Nabu Island where they finally get to do some real hero work. The place is so peaceful that it's more like a vacation until a villain attacks them with an unfathomable Quirk! His power is eerily familiar, and it looks like Shigaraki had a hand in the plan. But with All Might retired and citizens' lives on the line, there's no time for questions. Deku and his friends are the next generations of heroes, and they’re the island's only hope.



  1 DIGIMON ADVENTURE: LAST EVOLUTION KIZUNA
    d. Tomohisa Taguchi
    Japanese Animation
  Length : 94 mins.
  Opening April 23 2020 (Postponed)
  Opening May 16 2020
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/spp0aHIDqoQ

[ CINEMA ONLINE MALAYSIA ]
    Set in 2010, Taichi is now a college student while the others are also following their own paths in life. Over 10 years have passed since they met and had their adventure in Digital World. Now the sight of Digimon in the real world is more common and DigiDestined's existence is also gradually acknowledged. But during this time, a powerful Digimon called Eosmon starts robbing other DigiDestined of their consciousness, prompting scholars Menoa and Imura to turn to Taichi and his friends for help. While battling Eosmon, Taichi notices something is wrong with Agumon's and the others' evolutions. He and his friends then learn a shocking truth from Menoa, a Digimon will cease to exist when its DigiDestined becomes an adult. Taichi must decide if he wants to continue fighting, if it means losing his partner much sooner.

[2020.05.27] LUISA LAI REMEMBERS HER UNCLE STANLEY HO



Luisa Lai is an elementary and secondary school classmate with Maise Ho (second left) and very familiar with Pansy and Daisy Ho as well 

Joel Chan wants to avoid stealing the spotlight and keeps his comment to a minimum
courtesy of singtao.com



Stanley Ho and his first wife Clementina Leitao
Two years ago at his 97th birthday, Stanley Ho's fourth wife Angela Leong celebrates with their children and Eighth Aunt Ho Yuen Hung.
Luisa Marie Leitao's father was the brother of Stanley Ho's first wife

Liza Wang (center) attended Stanley Ho's birthday banquet and posed for photo with him and fourth wife 
Joel Chan dated Florinda Ho for two years and was sadden to hear the news of her father's passing
Chingmy Yau, Andy Lau and Joey Wang in CASINO TYCOON
Stanley Ho and third wife Ina Chan appeared on Maria Cordero's cooking show
courtesy of mingpao.com

The 98 year old casino magnate Stanley Ho Hung Sun passed away yesterday. His life was a legendary story, and his beginning was even adapted to the silver screen with Andy Lau Tak Wa as "Hor Sun". The casino king in life supported community service, contributing money and effort in fund raising events. Artists who have had contact with the casino king also praised him for not putting up airs and for being humorous. Maria Lai Chi Shan was the casino king's niece; yesterday she remembered her uncle for taking care of her family in the past. When she joined TVB her uncle made the arrangement, so she would have income from a stable job. Lau Tak Wa yesterday responded to the news of the casino king's passing, "Dr. Ho made great contributions to society in this life, I wish him a safe journey."

Lai Chi Shan's aunt was the casino king's first wife Lai Yuen Wa. Her father Lai Chi Chung was Lai Yuen Wa's younger brother. Lai Chi Shan was saddened by the passing of her uncle Ho Hung Sun. Yesterday she said that when she was little every Christmas and Lunar New Year she definitely would attend parties and pay visits to the Ho home. She called her uncle Uncle Stanley, but after her aunt passed away they had less contact. She still was concerned about her uncle though.

She said that uncle has always taken care of her family. When she joined TVB Uncle made arrangements through the then general manager Chan Hing Cheung. She said, "I remember Chan Hing Cheung' secretary called me, asking me what kind of job I wanted. Then I was arranged to join the children's program team because the job was steady and often got overtime. Back then Father passed away, the family was a a lost. Uncle arranged for a job for me to stabilize our lives. He was always attentive and took care of us like this." Chi Shan once worked as a reporter for FOCUS ON FOCUS. Once she handed a microphone to her uncle said that she was Lai Chi Chung's daughter. Because they have not seen each other for awhile, Uncle's response after seeing her was, "Wow! Such a big girl!"

Lai Chi Shan also said that when her younger brother got married, Mommy wanted to send an invitation to Uncle. Everyone thought that Uncle would not attend, not expecting him to personally attend and gave a very generous gift. Chi Shan was a relative of his first wife but she was very familiar with his second family. Maise Ho Chiu Ha was a former classmate and a good friend.

In the 1990s the Andy Lau Tak Wa starred CASINO TYCOON (DOH SING DAI HUNG ji SUN GOR JUEN KEI) and CASINO TYCOON II (DOH SING DAI HUNGII ji JI JUEN MO DIK) were based on casino king Ho Hung Sun's beginning and romance. In the film Lau Tak Wa played Hor Sun, Chingmy Yau Suk Ching played Mrs. Hor. The scene in which Wa Jai lovingly stared at the wheelchair bound Yau Suk Chng reminded people of casino king's first old, the "first beauty of Macau" Lai Yuen Wa. Both movies' stories seemed familiar, like Hor Sun's son in a fatal car accident, Mrs. Hor setting up wives for her husband. They were huge box office hits and made over HK$ 30 million in Hong Kong together. When the film series was released, the casino king was asked to comment. He joked that he did not have so many romances. Lau Tak Wa yesterday responded to the news of the casino king's passing. "Dr. Ho made great contributions to society in this life, I wish him a safe journey."