Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Property owner of mini-storages fined over $280,000 for not complying with removal order and repair orderIssued at HKT 15:00
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Oil Street Art Space stages “Eying East, Wondering West – Square Word Calligraphy Classroom on the Move” exhibition featuring world-renowned artist Xu Bing (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Oil Street Art Space stages “Eying East, Wondering West – Square Word Calligraphy Classroom on the Move” exhibition featuring world-renowned artist Xu Bing
Xu is internationally recognised as one of the most innovative and influential contemporary artists. One of his signature works, Square Word Calligraphy, is a unique writing system integrating Eastern and Western cultures. Xu was appointed in March 2024 as Hong Kong’s Ambassador for Cultural Promotion and launched his inaugural commissioning art initiative, the above exhibition, early this year.
Oi! is an art space located in the North Point neighbourhood. Picking the two-storey Oi! Glassie as the exhibition venue, Xu fully utilises its transparent design to allow passers-by to glimpse the exhibition gallery, attracting them to visit the classroom to explore the Square Word Calligraphy. At the same time, audiences inside the gallery can look outward, bringing them closer to the neighbourhood, connecting art to the community.
The classroom on the 1/F Oi! Glassie features the textbook “An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy (Hong Kong Edition)”. With its design inspired by the exercise books commonly used by local students, the textbook’s content covers expressions, greetings, idioms and proverbs relevant to everyday life in Hong Kong, as well as local food, etc. Visitors use brushes and copybooks to learn and write the “Special Edition for Hong Kong Square Word Calligraphy”. There are also interactive installations which engage audiences with an interactive programme to construct Square Words from the database, creating their own calligraphy works.
Square Word seal carving and fan design workshops will be organised during the exhibition period, bringing audiences the pleasure of learning Square Word Calligraphy from multiple perspectives.
The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Art Promotion Office and Oi!. Admission is free. For details of the exhibition and special programmes, please visit the website at www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/xb_oil.htmlIssued at HKT 15:00
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National Day Fireworks Display to be held at 8pm on October 1 (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The National Day Fireworks Display will light up the sky over Victoria Harbour at 8pm on October 1 (Wednesday) to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
More than 30 000 firing shells will be discharged in an approximately 23-minute extravaganza. The event is co-ordinated by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and is sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
The theme for this year’s fireworks display is “Victoria Harbour Fireworks Shine Across the Motherland”. The display will be divided into eight scenes, each with its own characteristics. Highlights include the first scene, “Fireworks Bloom to Celebrate National Day”, which will open the show with images of peony, golden chrysanthemum and silver glittering spherical fireworks. Accompanied by passionate music, the scene expresses the fighting spirit and rejuvenating strength of the Chinese. The fourth scene, “Always Lovable Giant Pandas”, features multiple giant panda face patterns blooming in the sky, paired with green salute fireworks that symbolise bamboo forests. This highlights the concept of the panda economy, bringing a message of hope to Hong Kong. The fifth scene, “Inherited Affection for Family and Motherland”, features a grand display of colourful salute fireworks and heart-shaped fireworks, symbolising the deep affection of the Chinese people for their motherland. In addition, there are several segments of the fireworks display themed respectively around the globally popular animated film “Nezha”, the Dongjiang water supply, the Shenzhou-20 space mission, and the 15th National Games. The fireworks display will reach its climax in the grand finale, “Forging Ahead on the Road to Rejuvenation”, with flourishes of golden, silver and red fireworks streaking across the Victoria Harbour night sky. This finale expresses best wishes for the prosperity and strength of the great motherland and for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.
The display can be viewed from many vantage points on both sides of the harbour, including Tsim Sha Tsui, the Mid-Levels, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and the Hung Hom Bypass.
To enhance their fireworks experience, viewers are invited to tune into Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 (FM 97.6 to 98.9) for synchronised music.
To facilitate the Police’s implementation of special crowd management measures at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade area for the National Day fireworks display on October 1, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Space Museum will close earlier at 5pm on that day.
Citizens are urged to help keep public areas clean and to show respect for public property. They are also urged to show consideration to others to make the event a safe one.
Moon-watching tips for Mid-Autumn Festival 2025
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on October 6 (Monday) this year. While the full moon will occur on the day following the Mid-Autumn Festival (October 7), weather permitting, a bright and round moon can still be observable at night during the Mid-Autumn Festival period.
To facilitate moon watching by the public, the times of moonrise, transit, moonset and full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival period are listed in the table. At transit, the moon passes the local meridian, reaching its highest elevation for the night due south.
| October 5 (Sunday) – the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival | |
| Moonrise | 4.50pm |
| Transit (elevation 64 degrees) | 10.54pm |
| Moonset | 5.03am (next morning) |
| October 6 (Monday) – Mid-Autumn Festival | |
| Moonrise | 5.27pm |
| Transit (elevation 72 degrees) | 11.43pm |
| Moonset | 6.05am (next morning) |
| October 7 (Tuesday) – the day following the Mid-Autumn Festival | |
| Full moon (the moon is below the horizon of Hong Kong at this moment) | 11.48am |
| Moonrise | 6.06pm |
| Transit (elevation 79 degrees) | 0.34am (next morning) |
| Moonset | 7.10am (next morning) |
Please refer to the 9-day Weather Forecast issued by the Hong Kong Observatory and the Weather Information for Astronomical Observation webpage for the latest weather conditions and the astronomical observing conditions during the Mid-Autumn Festival period to plan moon-watching activities.
Note: At full moon, the moon is completely illuminated as seen from the Earth, with the moon and the sun located on the opposite sides of the Earth.
AFCD launches “Fish enJoy” Scheme to promote development of leisure fisheries (with photos)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
AFCD launches “Fish enJoy” Scheme to promote development of leisure fisheries Issued at HKT 14:30
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Family scheme applications open
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The 2025-26 round of the Funding Scheme on the Promotion of Family Education is open for applications from now to October 28, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau announced today.
Launched by the bureau and the Family Council last year, the scheme subsidises non-profit-making community family education projects. By doing so it aims to raise public awareness of family education and its importance, promote family values, and enhance social harmony and the well-being of families.
Applications are invited from interested eligible bodies and non-governmental organisations.
The scheme covers various themes, including education for new parents, parent-child education, maintenance of family relationships, strengthening of family cohesion and solidarity, inheritance of good family values and traditional virtues, and other marriage-related subjects, in order to meet the needs of different families.
Applicants may also apply for funding to organise suitable projects with other family-related themes, having regard to specific community needs or concerns.
Proposed projects may feature more than one theme provided that the themes are family-related.
The funding cap for 12-month and 18-month projects is $800,000 and $1,200,000 respectively.
Talent office director named
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) today announced Felix Chan as its new Director, with effect from Thursday.
Congratulating Mr Chan, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun stressed that talent is Hong Kong’s prime resource, adding that he looked to Mr Chan to lead HKTE in proactively recruiting, attracting and retaining talent, thereby supporting the city’s development as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
In his new role, Mr Chan will lead HKTE on visits to Mainland cities, including Beijing, and to overseas countries including the UK and Switzerland, with a view to strengthening global promotion and talent attraction efforts.
HKTE will engage with local partners, renowned universities, chambers of commerce and trade associations. It will also match Hong Kong enterprises with local talent and work with them to promote Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities.
Mr Chan possesses rich experience in business management and in promoting Hong Kong. He was General Manager of Business Development at the Tourism Board from 2020 to 2025. He has also held various management positions at the Trade Development Council and multinational corporations.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Attended the 2025 Sydney Teachers’ Day Celebration
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
On 28 September, Taiwan’s Teachers’ Day, Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs Wu were delighted to join Sydney OCAC Council Member Shirley Chen at the 2025 Teachers’ Day Celebration, to thank and celebrate our dedicated Mandarin teachers.
On behalf of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, ROC (Taiwan), DG Wu presented certificates of recognition to long-serving teachers, praising their commitment to preserving Mandarin and culture overseas, as well as their contribution to Australia’s multicultural landscape.
TECO Sydney extends heartfelt appreciation to all teachers on this special day — thank you for your dedication and care.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu Attended the Double Tenth Basketball Championship in Ryde
Source: Republic of China Taiwan
The Double Tenth Basketball Championship lit up the Ryde Community Sports Centre on 27 September, with 100 players from 18 teams joining the fourth key event in Taiwan’s National Day celebrations.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu joined Ryde City Council Mayor Trenton Brown, Councillors Keanu Arya and Justin Li, MP Jordan Lane, NSW Shadow Assistant Minister for Multiculturalism, Willoughby City Councillor Michelle Chuang, Ku-ring-gai Councillor Barbara Ward, and friends to cheer on the teams.
DG Wu thanked the Double Tenth Celebration Committee, the City of Ryde, and Distinguished Citizens Society International for making the event possible, and highlighted the spirit of perseverance, teamwork, and unity should be upheld by everyone.
Mayor Brown spoke about plans to expand indoor facilities, while MP Lane announced funding for an automated system to adjust the hoops—making future games even more fun, especially for the kids.
After intense showdowns, champions and runners-up were crowned. DG Wu and Mayor Brown presented trophies, praising the MVPs for not only their skills but also their resilience and team spirit.
Funding Scheme on Promotion of Family Education 2025-26 opens for application from today
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Funding Scheme on Promotion of Family Education 2025-26 opens for application from today
Launched in October 2024, the Scheme seeks to subsidise non-profit-making community family education projects to raise public awareness of family education and its importance, and further promote family values to enhance the well-being of families and social harmony.
The Scheme covers various family-related themes, such as education for new parents, parent-child education, maintenance of family relationships, strengthening of family cohesion and solidarity, inheritance of good family values and traditional virtues, and other marriage-related subjects, etc, in order to meet the needs of different families. Apart from the above-mentioned themes, applicant organisations may apply for funding to organise suitable projects with other family-related themes having regard to the concern or needs of the community. A proposed project may feature more than one theme provided that they are family-related. The funding cap for each 12-month and 18-month project is $800,000 and $1,200,000 respectively.
Details of the Scheme including the application guide and application form are available on the website of the Scheme (www.pfe.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:00
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