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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the Vocational Training Council (VTC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today (September 29) to deepen collaboration, which will inject new impetus into the sustainable development of correctional services and the promotion of talent training.

     Witnessed by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, and the Chairman of the VTC, Mr Tony Tai, the MOU was signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services (Rehabilitation and Management), Mr Ng Chiu-kok, and the Executive Director of the VTC, Mr Donald Tong.

     The MOU establishes a collaboration framework between the CSD and the VTC to jointly explore innovative development initiatives in multiple areas over the next three years. These include researching the application of new energy in correctional work; introducing innovative design concepts and technological elements to promote rehabilitation work and community and crime prevention education; and providing VTC students with diverse learning experiences to gain professional knowledge and practical skills in correctional work, preparing them for future careers in related professions. The collaboration not only provides VTC students with valuable learning opportunities but also enhances synergy between the CSD and the VTC and their collaboration in talent training and vocational and professional education and training (VPET), jointly nurturing more competitive professionals to meet Hong Kong’s long-term development needs.

     In his speech, Mr Wong said that the CSD has been seeking collaboration with various professional institutions to foster cross-sector innovation. The signing of the MOU will contribute to the sustainable development of correctional work and the enhancement of custodial work, rehabilitation work and community and crime prevention education. In addition, the CSD and the VTC will work more closely in talent training and VPET to nurture more professional talent for the CSD and Hong Kong, contributing to society.

     Mr Tai said that as the largest VPET provider in Hong Kong, the VTC is committed to providing high-quality and up-to-date pre-employment and in-service training to equip young people and working adults with the latest knowledge and skills. He expressed gratitude to the CSD for its continuous support for the VTC and VPET. The signing of the MOU marks a new milestone in the collaboration between both parties in the field of VPET. He firmly believes that the collaboration will not only benefit VTC students, persons in custody and CSD staff but will also bring long-term benefits to Hong Kong society.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, convened the first working meeting of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis today (September 29), focusing on discussing and guiding the future directions and strategies of the three working groups to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis. The three working groups will commence work as soon as possible and fully advance the accelerated development of Northern Metropolis according to the instructions given.
 
Mr Lee stated at the meeting that the Northern Metropolis possesses unique geographical advantages, with its land area and planned population intake accounting for about one-third of Hong Kong’s total. It serves as a new engine for Hong Kong’s economic development, possessing enormous development potential and economic value. It will create many jobs, increase income and enhance Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness. He emphasised that expediting the high-efficiency development of the Northern Metropolis is an urgent and strategic priority for Hong Kong’s future development. The Government must spare no effort to seize development opportunities, advance Hong Kong’s economy towards a new phase of high value-added growth and strong competitiveness.
 
Mr Lee pointed out that over the past three years, the Government has formulated development plans as well as accelerated construction for the Northern Metropolis. The main purpose of establishing the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, personally led by him, is to elevate the decision-making level of Northern Metropolis development, streamline administrative procedures, remove barriers, break through bottlenecks, and adopt new thinking to achieve construction goals that are safe, cost-effective, and time-saving. The Committee also aims to enact dedicated legislation to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis.
 
The 2025 Policy Address announced the establishment of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, under which three working groups would be set up. The Committee seeks to strengthen supervision and promote the development of the Northern Metropolis at full steam, focusing on advancing dedicated legislation, facilitating industry and enterprise establishment, finalising development strategies for the Northern Metropolis University Town, and expediting the approval and implementation of land and construction projects. The Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis is chaired by the Chief Executive. The three working groups are the Working Group on Devising Development and Operation Models, led by the Financial Secretary, responsible for designing development and operation models tailored to the nature and scale of each designated development area in the Northern Metropolis; the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, which specialises in researching the development model for the Northern Metropolis University Town; and the Working Group on Planning and Development, led by the Deputy Financial Secretary, which is tasked with managing the whole process from planning to execution.
 
Mr Lee also directed the three working groups to convene meetings and commence work as soon as possible, report detailed work plans to the Committee, and formulate plans for matters that can be advanced in the short term.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     To facilitate the holding of flag-raising ceremonies on October 1 in celebration of the 76th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China, the Police will implement special traffic arrangements in phases in Wan Chai North, Central and Tin Hau from early hours of September 30.

A. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed, except for authorised vehicles:

(I) From 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1:

– Expo Drive;
– Expo Drive Central;
– Expo Drive East;
– The slip road leading from Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel to Expo Drive; and
– Eastbound Lung Wo Road between the Wan Chai portal of Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel and Fleming Road.

(II) From 5.30am to 1pm on October 1:

– Westbound Lung Wo Road between the Wan Chai portal of Central-Wan Chai Bypass and Expo Drive East; and
– Lung Tat Path.
 
(III) From 6am to 8am on October 1:

– Lung Wo Road between Edinburgh Place and Tim Wa Avenue.

(IV) From 6.30am to 7.30am on October 1:

– Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lai Yin Lane.

B. Traffic diversions

During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

(I) From 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1:

– Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road heading for Fleming Road and Hung Hing Road will be diverted to southbound Lung Hop Street, and those heading for Island Eastern Corridor should enter eastbound Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel via eastbound Lung Wo Road;
– Traffic turning right from northbound Lung Hop Street can only enter eastbound Central-Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel via eastbound Lung Wo Road; and
– Traffic from Central heading for Wan Chai will be diverted via Man Po Street, eastbound Yiu Sing Street and eastbound Lung Wo Road.

(II) From 5.30am to 1pm on October 1:

     Traffic along westbound Hung Hing Road heading for westbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted via southbound Fleming Road, northbound Fleming Road, westbound Harbour Road, Fenwick Pier Street roundabout, westbound Fenwick Pier Street and northbound Lung Hop Street.

(III) From 6am to 8am on October 1:

– Traffic along eastbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted to southbound Edinburgh Place;
– Traffic along westbound Lung Wo Road will be diverted to southbound Tim Wa Avenue;
– Traffic along eastbound Harcourt Road cannot enter Tim Wa Avenue; and
– Traffic along southbound Tim Wa Avenue cannot make a U-turn to northbound Tim Wa Avenue.

(IV) From 6.30am to 7.30am on October 1:

     Traffic along westbound Causeway Road must proceed straight ahead.

C. Suspension of parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas

     The metered parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas on Expo Drive, and the on-street parking spaces and pick-up/drop-off areas on Expo Drive East will be suspended from 0.01am on September 30 to 1pm on October 1.

     All metered, motorcycle and disabled parking spaces on Tung Lo Wan Road between Causeway Road and Lin Fa Kung Street West will be suspended from 10pm on September 30 to 8am on October 1.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.  

     The Police will implement appropriate arrangements, subject to the prevailing traffic and crowd conditions. Motorists are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of police officers on site.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met China Media Group (CMG) President and Editor-in-Chief Shen Haixiong at Government House to exchange views on strengthening co-operation in the field of communications.

Mr Shen is leading a delegation to Hong Kong to attend a ceremony marking the deepening of co-operation between CMG and various sectors in the city.

Welcoming Mr Shen and his delegation, Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to CMG for supporting the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government continually.

Noting that CMG’s countrywide broadcasting services wield extensive influence both domestically and internationally, the Chief Executive said its diverse range of news reports and programmes enables Hong Kong citizens to better understand the country’s history and development, enhancing their sense of national identity.

​Mr Lee also outlined that under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys the dual advantage of having national and global opportunities. The reshaping of the global trade order prompts Mainland enterprises to shift from concentrating on a single market towards proactively tapping into emerging markets.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will further enhance Hong Kong’s role in “bringing in and going global”, especially serving as a platform for overseas expansion, and deepening international exchanges and co-operation to better integrate into overall national development.

Hong Kong will deepen co-operation with CMG by leveraging its international communication network to jointly tell the world good stories of China and Hong Kong, and contribute to the country’s high-quality development.

​Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong will, for the first time, co-host the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games with Guangdong and Macau this year.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to closely collaborate with CMG to present audiences with a variety of exciting competitions and athletes’ sportsmanship, he added.

Director of Information Services Apollonia Liu also attended the meeting.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that the Minimum Allowable Wage for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong will be increased by 2.2%, from $4,990 to $5,100 per month.

The new minimum wage level will apply to all FDH contracts signed on or after September 30. FDH contracts signed today or earlier at the existing rate will still be processed by the Immigration Department, provided that the applications reach the department no later than October 27.

The Government explained that in reviewing the minimum wage it had, in accordance with an established mechanism, considered factors including Hong Kong’s general economic performance and labour market conditions over the past year, the city’s near-term economic outlook, affordability to employers, the basic living needs of FDHs, and the views of stakeholders.

It added that it has also reviewed the food allowance in lieu of free food, and decided that the level should remain unchanged, at no less than $1,236 per month.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) will be in full operation from November and present the EKCC Opening Season programmes from November to February, 2026. The programmes will bring together Chinese Mainland, local and international creative talent with unique theatre experiences through the convergence of arts and technology. The EKCC Opening Season will feature 17 exciting programmes, including the opening programme, an original Cantonese musical “HighLights – The Memories of Charles Kao”, which will premiere at The Hall on November 15.
 
Original Cantonese Musical “HighLights – The Memories of Charles Kao”
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     The musical is directed and written by renowned writer Erica Li, with pop musician Johnny Yim as the composer and music director, and starring renowned musical actor Jordan Cheng, singers Mischa Ip, Gigi Yim, Hedy Chan, and Brian Chow.
 
     Incorporating cutting-edge multimedia arts technology and featuring 20 delicate original pop songs, the musical chronicles the story of the father of fibre optics and Nobel Prize laureate for physics, Professor Charles Kao. As a brilliant and selfless scientist and educator, he pursued knowledge relentlessly and was steadfast in his beliefs. Kao was a devoted son, a loyal husband, and an open-minded father. In particular, his lifelong love story with his wife underscores the profound power of love and dedication in humanity.
 
“Lucie in the Sky”: Dancing alongside drones
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     The Asia premiere of “Lucie in the Sky” is a collaboration between the Australasian Dance Collective from Australia and Swiss drone pioneer Verity Studios. With six dancers dancing alongside drones choreographed to emulate complex human emotions, the work explores and examines the delicate power dynamics, dependence, and desire between human and machine with an unprecedented stage language.
 
“Little Murmur”: A dance from the heart that strikes a chord within
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   Performed worldwide, the acclaimed “Little Murmur” is a solo dance theatre created by British dancer-choreographer Aakash Odedra that is inspired by his childhood experiences. In collaboration with choreographer Lewis Major, the work features visual projections developed by Ars Electronica Futurelab and unique soundscape to present a journey of self-discovery filled with wondrous imagination.
 
“Alt-Escape”: Propels digital art performance
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     Created by Canadian musician-creative duo Video Phase, “Alt-Escape” presents an inventive fusion of digital technologies and live music, with laser displays, live improvisation and body movements. With fluid rhythms, futuristic visuals and electrifying soundscapes, the show propels digital art performance and audience experience to bold new heights.
 
“Incremental Changes”: Diverse musical styles with synchronised imagery
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     Austrian keyboardist-visual programmer Gerard Peter, making his Hong Kong debut, will perform “Incremental Changes” alongside drummer Aaron Thier to present a performance of diverse musical styles blending progressive rock, jazz, neoclassicism, and electronic music. With digitised imagery tailored for the grand opening of the EKCC, this concert blends together original music and cutting-edge technology.
 
     Other highlights of the Opening Season include “Strangely Familiar”, a new work by Singapore’s acclaimed T.H.E Dance Company; “Pulse/Pulse/Pulse”, a multimedia performance jointly created by Dimension Plus, Jazz Society and Ivanhoe Lam; “Cankramati (Into the Macrocosm)”, a theatrical meditation production by multimedia artist Tsang Man-tung; “Song From Far Away / Far Away From Song” by Ivanhoe Lam; “The Storyville Mosquito”, a multimedia performance by Kid Koala from Canada; and “Sound Everywhere in the Universe” by Reframe Theatre.
 
     Apart from ticketed events, there is also an array of free events to celebrate the EKCC grand opening with the public, including “Passage of Abundance” by Desmond Leung and Thomas Lo, a virtual oasis that blends music and visual arts into an interactive playground; “Bioluminescence” by Oliver Shing, an architectural projection mapping work inspired by the history of East Kowloon; a scenographic installation inspired by Time, “Tides of Time” by Wong Chi-yung; the finale showcase of the first edition of Arts Tech Trainee Programme of the EKCC, “Just Kid-ing”; and “Tecformance – 2025 Hong Kong Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism Architecture”.
 
     Programme tickets, unless otherwise specified, will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from October 3 (Friday). For details, please visit the EKCC website: www.ekcc.hk.
 
As a new and world-class performance venue, the EKCC is the first venue under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department committed to advocating the integration of arts and technology, as well as a flagship performance venue for long-running performances. The EKCC is not only equipped with cutting-edge professional stage technology, its facilities are designed for flexible stage setups that facilitate experimentation and innovation, fostering the development of the sector as an industry and enhancing cultural tourism. There are five performing facilities at the EKCC, namely, The Hall, suitable for large-scale events (1 200 seats); The Theatre, with a thrust stage design that creates a more intimate and interactive performance environment (536 seats); The Turns, suitable for full-wall projection to facilitate the creation of a more dynamic immersive experience in dance and theatrical productions (160 to 176 seats); The Beats, equipped with professional audio mixing, amplifying systems and soundproof walls (120 seats); and The Lab, a versatile arts technology testbed studio with flexible configurations of seats between 243 and 353.
 
     The EKCC is located at 60 Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kowloon. For more information, please visit the EKCC website above.
 
     “Strangely Familiar” and “The Storyville Mosquito” are also one of the programmes of Asia+ Festival 2025 and the “Cheers!” Series 2025 respectively.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee and senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony and a National Day reception on October 1 to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The flag-raising ceremony will be held at 8am at Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Community leaders and members of uniformed groups will attend the ceremony. No public viewing area will be set up.

The Police Band will perform at the ceremony and a choir from Hotung Secondary School and King’s College will sing the national anthem under the lead of singers Lam Kwok-ho and Li Yang. The performances will be followed by a fly-past and a sea parade by the disciplined services.

The National Day reception, led by the Chief Executive, will be held at the Grand Hall on Level 3 of the Convention & Exhibition Centre after the flag-raising ceremony.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Golden Bauhinia Square and the nearby area during the events.