Month: July 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Asia+ Festival, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is held annually from September to November with an aim to create a sustainable platform for arts and cultural exchange. Now in its third edition, the Asia+ Festival will feature over 100 performances and activities, with an encouraging growth in the number of participating countries and regions to more than 30 – an increase of nearly 50 per cent from its first edition. While focusing on Asia, the Festival also connects with Belt and Road countries and regions in Europe, Africa and the Americas, showcasing traditional and contemporary artistic gems and giving the public and tourists a taste of the diverse and vibrant cultures.

     â€‹This year’s Asia+ Festival offers an extraordinary line-up, from theatre production casting Korean stars and captivating dance and music performances by world-class artists, to a carnival highlighting distinctive cultural traditions. Some of the festival programmes include:

Opening Programme: Theatre production “The Cherry Orchard” starring a stellar Korean cast
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     Directed by the internationally renowned director Simon Stone and starring Cannes Best Actress Jeon Do-yeon and globally recognised actor Haesoo Park from “Squid Game”, “The Cherry Orchard” brings striking originality to Russian master dramatist Anton Chekhov’s classic. Transposed from old Russia to modern-day Korea, the production captures the laughter and tears of a chaebol family swept up in the tides of change. The show saw all 30 performances of its Seoul premiere sold out amid soaring demand. The original cast is now on a world tour with Hong Kong as the first stop – an unmissable theatrical event.

Diverse Stage: Taiko drumming, tango, cross-disciplinary contemporary dance
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     The legendary taiko ensemble YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan returns with its world-touring production “Hinotori – The Wings of Phoenix”, featuring 40 taiko and colourful stage design and costume that will rock the stage with thunderous rhythms and pulsating energy.

     International tango superstar and world champion Germán Cornejo, together with his dance troupe and a live band, will present “Tango After Dark” that captures the soulful allure of Buenos Aires nights.

     Another dance production “We wear our wheels with pride”, created by South African Olivier Award-winning choreographer Robyn Orlin and performed by Dancers of Moving Into Dance Mophatong and a South African electronic duo, will pay a high-energy and colourful tribute to the Zulu rickshaw drivers of the past.

     The Festival also presents the world premiere of “Strangely Familiar”, a collaboration between Singapore’s leading The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company and artists from Hong Kong and Macao, to explore the connection and existence of technology and human beings.

Great Music: Concert by world-class musicians
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     This year the festival offers a sumptuous line-‍up of concerts by world-class musicians for classical music lovers, including piano recitals by Nikolai Lugansky from Russia and Dang Thai Son from Vietnam, and a duo recital by Latvian cellist Mischa Maisky and his daughter pianist Lily Maisky.

     In addition, Macedonian pianist Simon TrpÄ�eski with his fellow Macedonian musicians will present a folk concert “Makedonissimo”, in which local pop composer Johnny Yim, huqin player Chan Pik-sum and suona player Ma Wai-him will also join the ensemble for an East-meets-West musical crossover.

Cultural Celebration for All: Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+
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     The popular Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ outdoor carnival returns with the support of Consulates General in Hong Kong. It showcases the cultural diversity of nearly 30 Belt and Road countries and regions, featuring ethnic music and dance, along with booths and workshops that offer handicrafts, ethnic costumes and snacks. The “Vibrant Dance – National Costume Exhibition”, themed around traditional dance costumes, displays the unique beauty and rich traditions of different cultures.

     Other exciting programmes of the Festival include a puppetry musical “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Theater Company Hikosen from Japan; “Jongmyo Jeryeak, Ritual Music for Royal Ancestors” by National Gugak Center of Korea; musical “Let Me Fly” by PRO’S LAB; an el-Tanoura performance in “Borderless Stage” series by Egyptian master Raed Abdelghany; Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s “Silken Notes of the Pipa” and “2025 Hong Kong Drum Festival: Majestic Drums” concerts; Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Swire Proudly Sponsors: Belt and Road | Long Yu & Behzod Abduraimov” and “Kyohei Sorita Plays Tchaikovsky” concerts; Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s “Great Piano Concertos: Denis Kozhukhin Plays Rachmaninov No 3” and “Great Piano Concertos: Alexander Gadjiev Plays Rachmaninov No 2” concerts; and Hong Kong Dance Company’s grand dance drama “Kung Fu Artistry – Bruce Lee’s No Way as Way”.

     The Asia+ Festival will also feature an exhibition “Rhythms of Childhood: Melodies of Time” and a series of workshops, a backstage tour, masterclasses, talks, and outreach performances, offering an all-round experience and appreciation of the diversity of art and cultures.

     Tickets of most of the programmes will be available from July 23 (Wednesday) at URBTIX counters, self-service ticketing kiosks, the Internet (www.urbtix.hk), the mobile ticketing app URBTIX, and telephone booking (hotline: 3166 1288). Early bird discounts of up to 30 percent discount are available until August 5 (Tuesday). For programme enquiries and other discount schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.asiaplus.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Private Columbaria (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 came into force on May 30, 2025. The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today announced that eligible “pre-cut-off columbaria” intending to make new applications for exemption may apply to the Private Columbaria Licensing Board (PCLB) from September 1 to November 30.

By obtaining an exemption, eligible “pre-cut-off columbaria” may keep the niches sold before the enactment date of the Private Columbaria Ordinance on June 30, 2017 and continue to operate at its current scale.

Under the amendment ordinance, “pre-cut-off columbaria” making new applications for exemption must meet the new eligibility criteria and specified conditions to minimise their impact on the neighbourhood.

The PCLB has uploaded the application guide to the FEHD’s dedicated website.

The FEHD’s Private Columbaria Affairs Office will also contact the eligible “pre-cut-off columbaria” individually to explain the application details and assist them in submitting the application.

For enquiries, call 2892 2731 or email rpc@fehd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Highways Department will hold briefing sessions on July 25, August 1 and August 7 – in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, respectively – to outline details of the Hong Kong section of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link (HSWRL) project and an upcoming invitation of expressions of interest in it.

A crucial initiative in implementing the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the HSWRL will run from Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai, in Shenzhen, enhancing the Greater Bay Area’s infrastructure connectivity and facilitating Hong Kong’s integration into national development.

Coupled with customs clearance co-location, the project will connect metro networks in Hong Kong’s western regions and those of Shenzhen. A trip from Hung Shui Kiu to Qianhai will take only 15 minutes, approximately, helping to foster a “one-hour living circle” in the bay area and enable convenient cross-boundary commerce, work, residency, study and travel.

The project will also boost the Northern Metropolis and cater to demand for transportation in Lau Fau Shan, Tsim Bei Tsui, Pak Nai and the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area.

The Government is undertaking preparations, including design work, for the Hong Kong section of the link. This includes statutory processes such as an environmental impact assessment and publication of plans in the Government Gazette.

The aim is to have the project ready for tendering in 2027. The shared goal of the governments of Hong Kong and Shenzhen is to commission the HSWRL in 2035.

Contractors, operators, consultants, railway system suppliers and rolling stock manufacturers are invited to attend the briefing sessions. The deadline for enrolment is July 18.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Hong Kong Customs detected two drug trafficking cases involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (July 12) and seized a total of about 47 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $21 million and about 4 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with an estimated market value of about $2.2 million.

The first case involved a female passenger, aged 58, who arrived in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany, yesterday. During Customs clearance, the suspected ketamine, weighing about 47 kg in total, were found inside her check-in suitcases. The woman was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, an 18-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. During Customs clearance, a total of about 4 kg of suspected methamphetamine were seized in his carry-on suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

The investigation of the first case is ongoing. For the second case, the arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (July 14).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for Hainan Province and Harbin, Heilongjiang Province tomorrow morning (July 14) to meet with local leaders to discuss matters of mutual concern and explore ways to strengthen exchanges and co-operation.

During the visit, Mr Chan will also join activities of Mainland study tours under the Strive and Rise Programme to interact with participating mentees.

Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on July 16. During Mr Chan’s absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Transport Department today (July 13) reminded members of the public that the 57th round of computer ballot registration for submitting applications for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles (the scheme) will be open from 10am tomorrow (July 14) to 11.59pm on July 17, and the ballot result will be announced on July 18.

     Eligible applicants for the scheme can register for computer balloting through the designated website (www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk). Successful balloting applicants are required to submit applications for the scheme within the designated application period.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) supported the Hong Kong Children’s Choir (HKCC) in presenting a series of performances and cultural exchange programmes across Australia and New Zealand in July to promote Hong Kong’s vibrant art and culture scene and showcase the artistic excellence of Hong Kong’s youth.
 
     Following its previous appearance in Australia in 2017, the HKCC commenced its concert tour in Hobart, Australia, where it participated as the guest choir at the “Festival of Voices” from July 3 to 7. The tour continued with a charity concert in Sydney on July 9, in support of CanRevive’s cancer support service. The tour concluded in Auckland, New Zealand, with two performances: the “Dreams to Dream” concert yesterday (July 11) and the “Echoes of Culture” choral concert today (July 12).
 
     To mark the Sydney leg of the tour, the Sydney ETO hosted a pre-performance reception at Hong Kong House on July 9. About 100 guests from various sectors, including leaders from the local arts and cultural community, politicians and business leaders attended the event.
 
     In his welcoming remarks, the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, welcomed the HKCC and highlighted the longstanding ties between Hong Kong and Australia. “Events like these resonate far beyond the concert hall. They remind us that our relationships are not only built on trade and economic exchange, but also on shared values, artistic collaboration, and community spirit,” he said.
 
     Mr Chong said that the National 14th Five-Year Plan has expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Government is committed to further strengthening Hong Kong’s role as Asia’s events capital. “With the official opening of the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park, we are welcoming a diverse array of large-scale international events, from major concerts and rugby matches to world-class football,” he added.
 
     In celebration of the HKCC’s debut visit to New Zealand, the Sydney ETO also hosted a pre-performance reception yesterday (July 11) ahead of the “Dreams to Dream” concert in Auckland, further fostering cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and New Zealand.
 
     Founded in 1969, the HKCC has grown into a diversified arts organisation for children. The HKCC has gained international acclaim for its performances and is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading children’s choirs.