Four television stations from China's mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region won Singapore a total of five titles at the Asian Television Awards (ATA) 2000.

With the winning Monk Constant, a children's animation series, and A Man With HIV, a heart-rending documentary, the China Beijing Television Station was crowned with two titles under the categories of Best Children's Program and Best Documentary Program respectively.

Sichuan Television Station, the other winner from the mainland, obtained the award of Best Wildlife Program with The Tibetan Macaque in Emei, which describes the life of the endangered species living in the mountains of the Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau.

The other two honors, under the categories of Best Entertainment Special and Best Infotainment Program, went to Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TBL) and the STAR TV respectively.

The TBL secured its grip on the award with its Miss Hong Kong Pageant 1999 (Final), an extravaganza that has changed from a recreation of old Hong Kong to cyberspace while the STAR TV made it with The Ticket-Women's Special, which reflects the changing role of women in filmmaking since the industry's early days.

The above four winners were chosen from more than 1,100 entries of 135 TV-related companies in 13 countries and regions.

The Fifth ATA was held in conjunction with the first Asia Television Forum which opened on Wednesday.

(People's Daily 12/08/2000)