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Overt racism, bad education and less freedom - a Hong Kong filmmaker on her city

Prolific filmmaker Tammy Cheung tackles complex and controversial topics such as racism, and education in her documentaries, and wants to promote the craft in Hong Kong

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Tammy Cheung says Hong Kong needs a well-educated population. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong filmmaker Tammy Cheung Hung is no stranger to controversial topics in the city, releasing many documentaries over the years dealing with racism and politics.

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The 59-year-old director, who once considered pursuing a career as a television reporter, made her first film Invisible Women(1999) on the lives of Indian women in Hong Kong.

The multiple award winner, who lives with her photographer partner and long-time professional collaborator Augustine Lam on Cheung Chau island, strongly believes culture is key to one’s identity, using documentaries to showcase all aspects of the city.

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Since 2004, through her non-profit organisation, Visible Record, she has focused on promoting documentary filmmaking in Hong Kong. In September, the group will host the 10th Chinese Documentary Festival.

At her office in Wan Chai, the prolific documentary creator spoke to City Weekend about Hong Kong’s troubled school system, the territory’s declining autonomy and overt racism.

Tammy Cheung and lawyer Vandana Rajwani talk to Indian women for Cheung’s film Invisbile Women. Photo: Dustin Shum
Tammy Cheung and lawyer Vandana Rajwani talk to Indian women for Cheung’s film Invisbile Women. Photo: Dustin Shum
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