Albert Lee has been appointed chief executive of Hong Kong's Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG), replacing Carl Chang who is leaving the company to set up his own production outfit.

Chang is expected to work alongside Lee at EMG until delivery of $6m action adventure The Twins Effect which is currently in post-production. The film, which features Hong Kong pop duo Twins and a cameo by Jackie Chan, is scheduled for release in Hong Kong in June.

Lee, a former Golden Harvest executive, was most recently director of the Hong Kong Film Financing Forum (HAF), which was postponed from its April slot due to the SARS outbreak.

HAF organiser, the Motion Picture Industry Association (MPIA), is talking to the Hong Kong government about rescheduling the event. But as the SARS crisis drags on, and an autumn slot will clash with South Korea's Pusan Promotion Plan, it now looks likely that the event won't be held until next year.

Meanwhile EMG, owned by Hong Kong tycoon Albert Yeung's Emperor Group, appears to be undergoing a changing of the guard. Distribution and acquisition manager May Yip left the company last week for a similar role at Fortune Star. Associate producer Bey Logan is also leaving EMG to set up his own company.