MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The “Tan Dun WE-Festival”, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will feature two performances of “Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi & Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble” concert in June as part of the pre-festival events of this year’s Chinese Culture Festival (CCF). Under the artistic direction and baton of Tan Dun, Hong Kong’s Ambassador for Cultural Promotion (ACP) and internationally renowned composer and conductor, two all-female percussion ensembles will take the Hong Kong stage to present both the “Daliuzi”, a traditional percussion music of western Hunan’s Tujia ethnic group, and contemporary percussion music. The concert will also feature the world premiere of two tea-inspired compositions written by Tan, showcasing how percussion music transcends time and bonds the East and the West, while telling the good story of China’s intangible cultural heritage in the new era. The programme is also one of the performing arts programmes of the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2025.

Tujia “Daliuzi”, primarily featuring gongs and cymbals, is a kind of ensemble of traditional folk musical instruments of ethnic Tujia people from western Hunan. It was inscribed onto the first national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Enlightened by an impressionable field trip in western Hunan, Tan blends the “Daliuzi” with tea-making techniques such as leaf-whistling, tea-picking and grinding to create a new composition “TEA-liuzi · Mystical Xiangxi”, and has invited the Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi to come to Hong Kong for the world premiere of this work. The ensemble will also perform several folk pieces, which include “The Hen Lays Eggs”, “Pheasant Leaving the Mountain”, “Pigeons Taking a Bath” and “Ducks Flirting with Water”, demonstrating the exceptional skills and expressive character of the unique musical artistry of the Tujia people.

The newly established Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble, spearheaded by Tan, will make its debut at this concert. The ensemble comprises four outstanding local young female percussionists, namely Karen Yu, Elise Liu, Eugene Kwong and Emma Ng. They will perform another world premiere of “Tea Music: Water, Wind, Ceramic” by Tan, as well as “Credo in Us” by contemporary avant-garde, experimental composer John Cage. Tan has also composed a new “Concerto for Piano and Four Percussionists” for this ensemble that will perform alongside pianist Liu Muyu, showcasing the varying rhythms and rich sonorities of percussion music.

Tan is an internationally renowned Chinese composer, musician and conductor, and was appointed by the UNESCO as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2013. He has made an indelible mark on the world’s music scene, which earned him many prestigious honours, including the Grammy Awards, the Academy Awards and the Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale. Tan has led some of the world’s most esteemed orchestras, and composed more than 100 musical works over the years. His famous works include the film scores of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Hero” as well as the award ceremony music for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He has been awarded the title of Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in December 2024, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to global culture and the arts. Tan has been appointed as Hong Kong’s first ACP by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau since January 1, 2023.

Chinese Culture Festival 2025: “Tan Dun WE-Festival”: “Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi & Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble” concert will be staged at 8pm on June 4 and 5 (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $380 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Group booking discount and package booking discount are available for purchasing selected CCF stage programmes, the “Chinese Opera Film Shows” of the COF 2025 and the “Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters” lecture. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/daliuzi-and-percussion-ensemble.

The above-mentioned programme also offers a pre-concert symposium (in Putonghua), entitled “A Dialogue between Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi & Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble”, to be held at 7pm on June 5 at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, during which Tan will engage in a discussion with members of the Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi and the Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble. Interested audience members can attend the pre-concert symposium by presenting the tickets of “Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi & Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble” concert. Admission is free. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

First held in 2023, the “Tan Dun WE-Festival” features musicians, dancers and ensembles from the Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world that reveals fresh new approaches to music, dance and visual arts, turning the city into an international stage for cultural and arts exchanges. The Festival also attracts people from both East and West to gather in the city, showcasing the essence of Hong Kong’s East-meets-West cultural DNA. The Festival returns this year with the theme of tea culture. Apart from the above-mentioned programme, it also includes Tan Dun | “Tea: A Mirror of Soul” on May 30 and 31, and “Lost Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Manuscripts: ‘The Vanishing Mogao Caves'” on June 7.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from both the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, “Tan Dun WE-Festival”, film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee will lead his second delegation to the Middle East, visiting Qatar and Kuwait on Saturday.

As part of the delegation, Federation of Hong Kong Industries Chairman Steve Chuang hopes to expand business prospects, establish ties with the chambers of commerce in the two countries, and sign Memoranda of Understanding with local innovation and technology enterprises.

He noted that as oil-dependent economies, both countries are seeking economic transformation, presenting excellent opportunities for Hong Kong to springboard into their markets.

Citing Qatar National Vision 2030 and Kuwait Vision 2035, Mr Chuang said both countries were stepping up measures to foster innovation and technology.

“How to focus on smart cities, green energy, and how to provide better financial services – all of this actually is a perfect match for our expertise in Hong Kong.”

As Hong Kong companies have had little business engagement with Qatar and Kuwait in the past, Mr Chuang plans to visit Hong Kong enterprises in the region to assess their development and gain insights into the local culture and religious practices. 

“The Middle East’s halal culture, in particular, involves a vastly different lifestyle from ours, which leads to significant differences in business operations.”

The federation took a delegation to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last year to deepen mutual understanding and co-operation.

Mr Chuang said the trip showed that Hong Kong firms have begun looking towards the Middle East, while the Middle East has developed an interest in both Hong Kong and Mainland China businesses.

“We are already seeing tangible results from some Hong Kong enterprises making inroads in the Middle East – from a mobile delivery app launching operations in Dubai and preparing to enter Saudi Arabia, to a 3D-printed clay reef tile startup that has secured Saudi sovereign wealth funding for local production.”

He suggested that Hong Kong could utilise its roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, for example, in assisting Middle East services and products to tap into the Mainland market or providing platforms for Mainland ventures to showcase their expertise to international audiences.

Mr Chuang suggested that with escalating tensions over US tariffs creating global uncertainty, Hong Kong businesses should broaden their reach to the Global South, including the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“The timing of the Chief Executive’s Middle East visit is perfect,” he added.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Transport Department today iterated that the Government will always listen to the views of the taxi trade, as it announced a meeting is being arranged with a view to enhancing service quality in the sector. 

The department stressed that the Government’s policy objectives are clear: taxi services must be improved; online car hailing platforms must be regulated; and illegal hire car services must be combated in accordance with the law.

It added that the Government will maintain liaison with the taxi trade, joining hands to work on enhancements. In recent years, the Government has enacted various measures, including introducing systematic management and technology under the taxi fleet regime, a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system, and a two-tier penalty system.

The department said that while the Government is open-minded on the use of online or mobile applications to obtain personalised point-to-point transport services, it is imperative to ensure that passenger transport services supported by the use of such platforms comply with laws and regulations.

The Government will this year formulate legislative proposals for the regulation of online car hailing platforms, the vehicles that provide associated services, and licensing requirements for drivers.

Police have been gathering intelligence via different channels in relation to the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward. If sufficient evidence is discovered that proves vehicles without the necessary permits are being used for such carriage, Police will take appropriate enforcement actions.

The Government is studying further improvements to the relevant legislation to strengthen efforts to combat illegal carriage, including disqualifying the drivers concerned.

Where sufficient evidence is available to show that a vehicle has been involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, it may be impounded even if the identity of the driver cannot be confirmed.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on next Wednesday (May 14) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Bill will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     The Second Reading debate on the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 will also resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On Government motion, the Secretary for Justice will move a proposed resolution under the Fatal Accidents Ordinance. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 1.
 
     On Member’s Bill, the Second Reading debate on the City University of Hong Kong (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.
 
     On Members’ motions, Michael Tien will move a motion on “Actively dovetailing with national and global trends and studying the reform of the curriculum framework for primary and secondary schools”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2.
 
     Yiu Pak-leung will move a motion on “Reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international tourism hub and consolidating its position as a world-class premier tourism destination”. The motion is set out in Appendix 3.
 
     Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.
 
     The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs seized about 60 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $13 million, in Kwai Chung on April 10.
 
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected a seaborne consignment, arriving in Hong Kong from Canada and declared as carrying wooden floors, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds concealed inside 34 wooden floor sections.

Customs officers subsequently conducted a controlled delivery operation on April 11 and arrested two men in Sham Shui Po, aged 39 and 49, both claiming to be drivers.

On May 7, Customs further arrested a 30-year-old man, who was suspected to be connected with the case, in Tsuen Wan.
 
The investigation is ongoing.
 
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).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) today (May 9) said that the Government will, as always, be open to listen to the views of the taxi trade and a meeting is being arranged to maintain close communication, with a view to enhancing the service quality of personalised point-to-point transport.

     “The Government’s policy objective has been very clear: taxi service has to be improved, online hailed car platforms have to be regulated while illegal hire car services have to be combated in accordance with the law. We will continue to combat the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward activities to safeguard the safety and interests of the public. We will maintain liaison with the taxi trade in parallel to set out the Government’s stance and work directions in detail, joining hands to offer ideas and suggestions on enhancing personalised point-to-point service,” the spokesman said.

Improvement of taxi service

     The Government is determined to enhance the quality of taxi services and has put forward various measures in recent years through a multi-pronged approach. Among them, systematic management and technology have been introduced under the taxi fleet regime. The Government will also mandate taxis to provide e-payment means and install in-vehicle cameras, dash cameras and global navigation satellite systems in all taxi compartments through legislative amendments, thereby improving passengers’ riding experiences. Meanwhile, the Government has introduced the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system and the two-tier penalty system to enhance the deterrent effect against illegal acts by taxi drivers. The taxi fleet operators are working intensively and the Government hopes that they will soon commence operations to provide quality taxi service.

Regulation of online hailed car platforms

     The spokesman reiterated that, while the Government is open-minded in respect of the use of different communication technologies via online or mobile applications to obtain personalised point-to-point transport services through online hailing services, it is imperative to ensure that the passenger transport services supported by the use of the platforms concerned comply with the laws and regulations, thereby safeguarding the safety and interests of passengers.

     The TD is conducting a study on the overall demand and supply of personalised point-to-point transport services. The Government will, after holistically considering the report of the Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under the Transport Advisory Committee and the views and relevant data collected, formulate legislative proposals on the regulation of online car hailing platforms, vehicles that may provide services complying with the regulations, and relevant licensing requirements for the drivers within 2025.

Combating illegal hire car services in accordance with the law

     The spokesman stressed that the Government is determined to continuously combat the illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward activities. The TD has again issued letters to warn various platform operators recently that their services must comply with relevant legislative provisions. Upon receipt of suspected cases, the TD will refer them to the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) for follow-up, subject to the situation.

     The HKPF has been taking enforcement actions against illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward through gathering intelligence via different channels. If there is sufficient evidence proving suspected vehicles without a valid hire car permit are being used for illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, the HKPF will immediately take appropriate enforcement actions. In addition, the Government is studying further improvements to the relevant legislation to strengthen efforts in combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, including disqualifying the driver concerned from driving. Furthermore, when sufficient evidence is available to show that the vehicle concerned has been involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward, it may be impounded even if the identity of the driver cannot be confirmed. The proposed legislative amendments will be submitted to the Legislative Council in due course.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee will lead a delegation on a visit to Kuwait and Qatar. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Chairman Agnes Chan, who will join the delegation, noted that both are high income Middle Eastern countries with a young population, indicating strong spending power.

“For the past decade, they have focused on the traditional oil and gas industry. Now, they are diversifying into technology and wealth management, areas in which they seek improvement. This is why a government-led visit to these countries is significant.

“As an international financial centre, Hong Kong aims to leverage this visit to promote itself as the primary listing hub for Middle Eastern firms.”

She added that the major chambers of commerce joining the trip are hoping to play a role at the business level by facilitating networking events and providing market insights for firms to exchange views on business practices, while for their part, the enterprises must fully understand the local culture, regulatory frameworks and investment strategies of the various locations.

Ms Chan also suggested increasing direct flights between Hong Kong and major Middle Eastern cities to reduce travel time and enhance exchanges between the two regions.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region