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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta), the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) and the Film Development Fund, the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Jakarta opened today (October 23) at Jakarta Film Week, showcasing the diversity and creativity of Hong Kong cinema.

     The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Jakarta, organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, features screenings of four Hong Kong movies and four short films in a wide range of genres including action, suspense, family and music, offering Indonesian audiences a multifaceted view of Hong Kong’s vibrant film industry. The selection includes the animated film “Another World”, “Possession Street”, “Band Four” and “Stuntman”, as well as short films “Sweet, Sour, and Bitter…”, “Once Upon a Time There Was a Mountain”, “Bric-A-Brac” and “Sound of Silence”.
 
     Speaking at the Hong Kong Night reception this evening, the Director-General of HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to supporting the development of Hong Kong’s film industry and has further deepened international exchanges and co-operation in recent years, supporting the industry’s participation in renowned film festivals worldwide and further strengthening Hong Kong’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

     Miss Cheng said, “The Film Development Fund has supported over 120 films that involved more than 110 new directors and producers. As highlighted in the 2025 Policy Address, CCIDA will enhance publicity, exchanges, and business matching overseas and on the Mainland, and will continue to work closely with the industry to foster the sustainable growth of Hong Kong’s film market.”

     The reception was attended by director Jack Lai of “Possession Street”; director Albert Leung of “Stuntman”; film score composer Day Tai of “Band Four”; art director Delon Siu of “Sweet, Sour, and Bitter…”; and Festival Director of Jakarta Film Week, Ms Rina Damayanti, together with over 100 guests from creative communities across different countries.

     The Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation – Jakarta is being held from October 23 to 26. In addition to the film screenings, Tai will conduct a masterclass to share his creative journey and professional insights with industry players and local audiences. Other filmmakers will join respective post-screening talks and panel discussions to interact with film enthusiasts. More details of the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation are available at www.afa-academy.com/20251017_en/.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (October 23) reminds grave sweepers to pay attention to special traffic and transport arrangements that will be implemented during the Chung Yeung Festival. The FEHD also reminds the public that the newly commissioned Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance in Sha Tin has established a “smoke-free worship” environment. The burning of joss sticks and paper offerings is strictly prohibited throughout the premises. The public is encouraged to pay tribute with fresh flowers instead of traditional offerings.

     The newly constructed Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance at On Hing Lane, Shek Mun in Sha Tin commenced operations on September 26. With an area of about 24 000 square metres, the facility provides approximately 40 000 niches, a Garden of Remembrance for ash scattering covering about 3 110 square metres in area, and a Garden of Forever Love with 300 spaces for the placement of abortuses under 24 weeks of gestation. The services are now open for public application.

     To ensure effective enforcement of the “smoke-free worship” requirement, the FEHD has introduced robots equipped with artificial intelligence to serve as “Smoke-free Ambassadors” and “Service Ambassadors”. “Smoke-Free Ambassadors” conduct daily patrols and will immediately alert staff and issue real-time broadcast warning messages to visitors upon detecting smoke or flames. Meanwhile, “Service Ambassadors” deliver mobile customer service and broadcasting information to visitors.

     The architectural design of the Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance fully utilises the natural terrain and environmental features of the site. Plants and trees are arranged as natural barriers through landscape design, allowing the facilities to blend harmoniously with the surroundings, creating a tranquil, solemn and people-oriented environment that is both comfortable and convenient for the public.

     The columbarium building adopts sustainable architectural design principles, incorporating natural lighting to minimise the impact on the natural landscape. The design features include a piazza, solar panels, a green rooftop and a rainwater recycling system for irrigation. The facility is also equipped with various energy-efficient installations and renewable energy technologies. Auxiliary facilities such as crutch hooks at service counters, baby care rooms, and barrier-free facilities are provided to cater to the diverse needs of visitors.

     The FEHD has long been committed to promoting green burials and encouraging environmentally friendly handling of cremated ashes. The Shek Mun Garden of Remembrance features ash scattering lawns themed with various flowers and trees to create a natural landscape, complemented by commemorative plaques that offer visitors a serene and peaceful environment to mourn their beloved ones. The site also includes farewell and memorial facilities, such as a ceremonial room adorned with floral installations themed on “Four Seasons”, allowing families to conduct simple remembrance rituals prior to ash scattering. Additionally, the Serenity Pond, a Chinese-style imitation of a stone-textured water feature located beside the Garden of Remembrance and Garden of Forever Love, is piloting a memorial experience named “Connect by Folding”. Family members and friends may write blessings for the deceased on flower-shaped paper, fold them, and place them into the water as a symbolic gesture to express remembrance and affection for the deceased.

     For more information about the Shek Mun Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance, please visit the FEHD webpage www.fehd.gov.hk.

     Furthermore, the FEHD officially commissioned a Garden of Remembrance at the Sandy Ridge Cemetery yesterday (October 22), designated for the scattering of ashes from unclaimed bodies. Four pebble-paved trenches allow FEHD staff to scatter unclaimed ashes in a dignified manner. Commemorative plaques inscribed with the corresponding year and memorial facilities are also provided for public tribute and remembrance. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In support of the 2025 National Games, the Hong Kong Science Museum (HKScM) will launch the “Bank of China (Hong Kong) Presents: National Development and Achievements Series – Approaching Perfection: The Intersection of Sports and Science” exhibition from tomorrow (October 24) to February 25 next year. The exhibition presents the history of the National Games and the competition events to be held in Hong Kong in the 2025 National Games. It offers a scientific perspective of various sports disciplines and the keys to success, seeking to deepen members of the public’s understanding of sports science.
 
Addressing the opening ceremony today (October 23), the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, cohosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the first time, will be launched in November and December respectively this year. This is the first time for Hong Kong to be a cohost of a national sports event. Relevant government departments will strive to stage a “simple, safe and wonderful” Games with concerted efforts and active preparation, and encourage members of the public to join in various ways, and ignite their passion for sports.
 
Mr Cheuk said that the exhibition aims to showcase the country’s remarkable sports achievements, demonstrate how innovative technologies assist athletes to scale new heights, and encourage the public to develop a healthy and active lifestyle. It is also the second exhibition of the National Development and Achievements Series. Members of the public can better understand the country’s remarkable accomplishments in sports development while participating in this major sports event.
 
Other officiating guests included Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Mr Stephen Chan Man; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Chairperson of the Science Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Alexander Wai; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; Deputy Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) Ms Cora Ho; and the Museum Director of the HKScM, Mr Patrick Lau. Tenpin bowling athlete Wu Siu-hong, fencing athlete Nicholas Edward Choi, swimming athlete Stephanie Au and wushu athlete Juanita Mok also attended the ceremony.
 
Featuring more than 20 interactive exhibits, the exhibition invites visitors to experience the essence and enjoyment of various sports, such as the spin of rugby, the jumps of beach volleyball, the speed of track cycling, the precision of golf, the attacks of fencing, and the defence of basketball. Visitors can also take part in the fitness tests in the “Sports for Wellness” zone to better understand their own physical condition. In addition, the exhibition covers sports psychology, sports medicine, sports nutrition, etc, enabling members of the public to understand the concept of sports comprehensively and learn how to integrate sports into everyday life.
 
The exhibition also presents Hong Kong athletes’ medals and equipment, including the track-cycling gear of Lee Wai-sze and the gold medal won by Wu Siu-hong at the IBF World Bowling Championships, which highlight athletes’ relentless efforts and pursuit of excellence in the spirit of sportsmanship.
 
The HKScM will invite athletes to share their experiences in their personal journeys, and will organise a series of educational programmes, including talks, workshops, and scientific demonstrations. There will be free Cantonese guided tours of the exhibition every Saturday and Sunday (with three sessions daily) from November 8 to February 22, 2026.
 
The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department as the second edition of the National Development and Achievements Series. It is organised by the HKScM, and exclusively sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong). Details of the exhibition and activities are available at the HKScM website hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/sports2025.html. 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat, made a visit to the Lhasa Customs District starting October 19, with the visit concluding today (October 23).

During the visit, Mr Chan met with the Director General in the Lhasa Customs District, Mr Wang Honghan, and exchanged views on the promotion of economic and trade connections and, exchanges between Hong Kong and Xizang, as well as strengthening efforts in anti-smuggling of national cultural heritage and enhancement of collaboration between the two customs administrations. Mr Chan also visited the Gyirong Port and Shigatse International Land Port to learn more about the boundary facilities, and the cargo monitoring and customs clearance process of the South Asia Freight Train in Xizang.

Mr Chan said that the markets of the two sides enjoyed a foundation of complementarity and mutual benefits. He hoped this visit would serve as an opportunity to fully implement the spirit of the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping and leverage Hong Kong’s pivotal role in facilitating “bringing in and going global” under the principle of “one country, two systems” to enhance industrial competitiveness on both sides. Mr Chan also expressed his gratitude to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Lhasa Customs District for their arrangements for the visit.

Mr Wang also pointed out that there was a vast scope for co-operation between the two customs administrations for mutual benefits, hoping that a long-term close co-operative relationship between both sides could be established through this meeting.

Mr Chan also met with relevant leaders of the Xizang Autonomous Region during the visit to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation led by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, today (October 23) visited the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong’an New Area in Hebei to study the development experiences of major new areas on the Mainland and to advance the planning, construction and investment promotion for the Northern Metropolis.

The Beijing Municipal Administrative Center and the Xiong’an New Area in Hebei are the new “two wings” established in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei co-ordinated development strategy. In the morning, the delegation visited the planning exhibition hall, the Yunhe Business District and the Beijing Library of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center to learn about the planning, industry development, business environment, canal-side development and conservation, as well as the construction of public cultural facilities there. Accompanied by member of the Party Leadership Group of the Beijing Municipal Government and Vice Mayor of Beijing Mr Tang Wenhong, the delegation also toured the Tongzhou campus of the Renmin University of China to learn about its campus planning and smart campus management.

In the afternoon, the delegation proceeded to the Xiong’an New Area in Hebei to tour the comprehensive service centre of Xiong’an’s start-up area and the command centre of Xiong’an Intercity Railway Station along the east-west axis to better understand the planning and construction of both the start-up area and the integrated transport hub of Xiong’an Intercity Railway Station. Accompanied by member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice-Governor of the People’s Government of Hebei Province, Mr Zhao Dachun, delegation members also visited a construction site at the Xiong’an campus of the University of Science and Technology Beijing to understand its development.

Upon arriving in Beijing yesterday (October 22), the HKSAR delegation also visited the Liangma River in Chaoyang District to study the Liangma River restoration and improvement project, the development of the local night and waterfront economy, and cruise at the Blue Harbor Pier. The delegation will continue its visit to the Xiong’an New Area tomorrow (October 24).

The visit is co-ordinated by the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, while arrangements for the activities are made by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and the People’s Government of Hebei Province. Members of the delegation include the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; and the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Kevin Choi; as well as representatives from the Education Bureau, the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Invest Hong Kong and relevant government departments. The delegation also comprises senior management members from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the MTR Corporation Limited, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, and the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee, and representatives from the business, finance and banking sectors.