Renowned Hong Kong film director and producer Mr Ng See-Yuen will continue directing the late artist Chen Yifei's film The Barber, the camera crew of the film confirmed yesterday in Nanjing.

Chen, who died of gastric hemorrhage at age 59 on April 10 in Shanghai, was a famous Chinese oil painter who introduced beautiful water town scenery to the world. During his later years, he also became a famous businessman, running an empire of fashion design, modeling and visual art workshops.

He had tried to start film directing recently, but collapsed from overwork before his debut film The Barber was finished.

The crew held an emergency meeting with the investors of the film yesterday, deciding to have Hong Kong director Mr Ng See-Yuen continue with the unfinished work.

Mr Ng was not only Chen's good friend and an experienced director, but is also honorary head of the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild and chief of the Federation of Hong Kong Film Workers.

The crew also confirmed to the media yesterday that Mr Ng See-Yuen had accepted the job and would start today.

(Shanghai Daily April 14, 2005)