Tag Archives: China

     The Education Bureau (EDB) held the Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China – Kaleidoscope of the Arts event today (September 17). Representatives of outstanding schools and winners from the 2024 Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival, Schools Dance Festival, and Hong Kong School Drama Festival were invited to celebrate National Day and share the festive blessings of the Mid-Autumn Festival through various forms of art performances such as music, speech, dance, and drama.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, participated in the Kaleidoscope of the Arts event via video, extending his congratulations on the country’s continued prosperity, stability and peace. He highlighted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s commitment to promoting cultural development and transforming Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The event today showcased students’ remarkable achievements in the field of arts and their profound understanding of Chinese culture. He hopes that students will tell good stories of China and Hong Kong through arts. 

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms Michelle Li, said that Kaleidoscope of the Arts is one of the signature events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Through diverse forms of arts, including music, speech, dance, and drama, the students demonstrated the charisma of traditional Chinese culture and at the same time showcased the artistic talents of Hong Kong students. This demonstrates the important role of students in inheriting and promoting splendid traditional Chinese culture. The EDB will continue to enhance Hong Kong students’ understanding and recognition of traditional Chinese culture, ensuring that the essence of Chinese culture continues to pass on from generation to generation in Hong Kong, an international hub with the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. 

     Kaleidoscope of the Arts brought together over 200 primary and secondary school students from 14 schools, showcasing their exceptional artistic abilities through Cantonese opera, Chinese dance, recitation, choir, storytelling, instrumental performances and drama. This event promoted the society’s understanding and support of arts education in schools as well as students’ learning of the arts, showing how arts education helps students achieve all-round development in the areas of ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics, realising the principles of whole-person education. The highlights of the event will be broadcast on RTHK TV 31 at 8pm on October 6 and 13.

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     The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, today (September 17) held a courtesy meeting with the newly appointed Head of Office of the European Union (EU) to Hong Kong, Mr Harvey Rouse, at the Customs Headquarters Building. This was the Mr Rouse’s first visit to Hong Kong Customs since assuming his post early this month.
      
     In the meeting, the two reviewed the strong economic and trade connections and the close relationship between the EU and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the ongoing collaborative efforts of Hong Kong Customs and the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission on Customs administrative assistance and enforcement co-operation. Both sides also discussed and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, such as combating cross-boundary drug trafficking, protecting intellectual property rights, and implementing the Authorized Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
      
     Ms Ho stressed that Hong Kong Customs has been committed to maintaining close collaboration with international and regional partners to promote trade facilitation and uphold the position of Hong Kong as an international trade centre and logistics hub. While welcoming the visit from the Head of Office of the EU to Hong Kong, Ms Ho expressed her belief that facilitating international trade and safeguarding community safety through customs co-operation benefits both the HKSAR and EU member states, and meets the expectations of the international community stakeholders.
      
     This meeting reinforced the close ties and strengthened the foundation for continued co-operation and joint development between Hong Kong Customs and the Office of the EU to Hong Kong. Hong Kong Customs will maintain close contact with the Office of the EU to Hong Kong. Regarding the Customs enforcement and co-operation items discussed during the meeting, Hong Kong Customs invites the Office of the EU to Hong Kong to communicate with relevant Customs administrations and law enforcement agencies of the EU for follow-up discussions.

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     The Heritage Fiesta 2024, to be held by the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office (CHO) of the Development Bureau from October to November, will feature 11 declared monuments and graded historic buildings, reflecting Hong Kong’s prominent role as an East-meets-West cultural hub. A related roving exhibition will be held from October this year to January next year.
      
     A spokesman for the CHO said today (September 17), “Of the declared monuments and graded historic buildings featured in the event, eight are first-time joiners. These historic buildings have rich and diverse cultural backgrounds or demonstrate a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. Among them, Bethanie Campus of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and Ohel Leah Synagogue have once received honours from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. We hope to encourage members of the public to explore and appreciate the values and significance of Hong Kong’s built heritages as well as their histories and cultures through this event.”
      
     The Heritage Fiesta will be held from October 1 to November 30 at the following 11 locations with free guided tours:
                                             

• Bethanie Campus, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (The Bethanie)            
• Christ the King Chapel (St. Paul’s Convent)
• First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hong Kong
• Former French Mission Building
• Fringe Club (South Block, Old Dairy Farm Depot)
• Hindu Temple in Happy Valley
• HKRep Education Hub (Ex-Portuguese Community School (Escola Camões))
• Jamia Mosque
• Main Building of St. Stephen’s Girls’ College
• Nos. 88 & 90 Staunton Street
• Ohel Leah Synagogue

 
     Dates and venues of the roving exhibition are as follows:
 

2024
October 1-13	Event Hall, UG/F, Citywalk 2, Tsuen Wan
October 15-21	Covered Piazza, Times Square, Causeway Bay
October 15-31	Shui Wo Street Public Library Tiu Keng Leng Public Library
October 26 – November 26	Lobby, 1/F, Immigration Tower, Wan Chai
November 2-14	Lai Chi Kok Public Library Tung Chung Public Library
November 16-30	Tuen Mun Public Library Sheung Shui Public Library
December 2-15	Tai Po Public Library North Kwai Chung Public Library
December 17-30	San Po Kong Public Library Kowloon Public Library
2025
January 2-14	Chai Wan Public Library Sha Tin Public Library
January 16-27	Cheung Chau Public Library Ngau Chi Wan Public Library

     On the first day of the event (October 1), free workshops and a free community music performance will be held at some of the participating historic buildings. To complement the event, public lectures featuring the participating historic buildings will be organised by the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.
      
     Booklets of the event will be available for free at the aforementioned exhibition venues as well as the following distribution outlets: the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, the Sam Tung Uk Museum, PMQ, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals’ temples, visitor centre of the Hong Kong Tourism Board in Tsim Sha Tsui, customer services centres at Hong Kong International Airport, and the venues of the 13 revitalisation projects under Batch I to V of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (www.heritage.gov.hk/en/revitalisation-scheme/index.html).
      
     For details of the Fiesta and roving exhibition, as well as enrolment of the guided tours/related activities, please refer to the CHO’s website and online event booklet (www.heritage.gov.hk/en/about-us/events-and-promotions) and the Instagram page “@HKHeritageLIVE” (www.instagram.com/hkheritagelive/). Details of the public lectures will be available on the website of AMO (www.amo.gov.hk/en/visitor-centre/education-programmes/education-activities/index.html). For enquiries, please call 2906 1559. read more

     To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) will jointly present the “Resounding Chimes．Magnificent Works in a Prosperous Age” concert on October 1 (Tuesday) at 3pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Concert Hall. The concert will feature an ancient traditional instrument, the bianzhong on signature Chinese music works. A free guided appreciation session will be offered before the concert.

     The bianzhong was an important percussion instrument in ancient China. Comprised of rows of bronze bells of various sizes and tone colours, the bianzhong produces rich and penetrating sounds, earning it the title “King of Chinese Instruments”. Under the baton of Maestro Yan Huichang, a National Class One Conductor and the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Life of the HKCO, the Principal Percussion of the HKCO, Luk Kin-bun, will play the bianzhong at the concert, performing “Three Variations on a Plum Blossom Melody” with the HKCO. The concert will also feature several classic pieces, including the wind and percussion folk music piece from Shanxi “The Grand Victory”, the lively “Impressions of Hainan” which includes a rendition of the festivities of the Li ethnic group, and the moving dialogue “A Pure Heart”. The concert will conclude with “Opus in Celebration of Prosperous Times” featuring a duet performance of the bianzhong and organ, the Western “King of Instruments”, performed by Wong Ching-yin along with the HKCO, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with a magnificent flourish.

     To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the concert tickets are priced at $75 and are now available on URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). The first 75 senior citizens at the age of 75 who successfully register at the website of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will be offered two complimentary tickets to feel the charm of the sound of the traditional bianzhong. Members of the public can join a free pre-concert guided appreciation session which introduces the history of the bianzong with a live demonstration to be held at the HKCC Concert Hall at noon. They can also appreciate selected bells of the bianzhong at a close distance and take photos with this ancient instrument, which will be displayed at the Level 2 Foyer of the HKCC.

     Registration for the complimentary tickets and free pre-concert guided appreciation session will start from tomorrow (September 18) at 10am on a first-come, first-served basis. For details of the registration and the programme, please visit the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra website (www.hkco.org/en/Concerts/Resounding-Chimes-Magnificent-Works-In-A-Prosperous-Age.html). read more

     To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is organising a number of activities including the use of fee-charging leisure and cultural facilities for free to share the joy with members of the public.
 
     Cultural programmes to be held on the National Day (October 1) include:
 

• Admission to all museums and art space of the LCSD will be free (except for the Space Theatre’s shows at the Hong Kong Space Museum). Each museum will distribute souvenirs to the first 75 visitors that day. (Note: The Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum is now closed temporarily for upgrading the permanent exhibition galleries, and for maintenance and renovation works. The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre will be closed on that day.);
• The opening time of the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence (MWRCD) will be advanced to 7.30am and the Hong Kong Adventure Corps, the Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps and the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps will participate in the flag raising ceremony on the National Day at the museum, followed by drill performances at 9am and 11am. Game booths will also be set up at the MWRCD for public enjoyment;
• The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) will invite the Music Assembly to perform at the museum from 2.30pm to 3.30pm on that day;
• The Hong Kong Science Museum will hold the Science Fun Day activities which include guided tours, science demonstrations and game booths;
• The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) will organise traditional Chinese costumes activities and give souvenirs to visitors in traditional Chinese costumes; 
• The Conservation Office will organise special guided tours in which members of the public will be led by conservation officers to visit the conservation laboratories located in the HKMoA and the HKHM. For more details of the above-mentioned museum activities and ways to join, please refer to the following website (www.museums.gov.hk/en/web/portal/home.html); and
• The “Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China – Resounding Chimes．Magnificent Works in a Prosperous Age” concert will be held at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at 3pm with a concessionary ticket price of $75. The first 75 senior citizens at the age of 75 who successfully register at the website of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will be offered two complimentary tickets to feel the charm of the sound of the traditional bianzhong. Members of the public can also join the guided appreciation session which introduces the history of the bianzhong with a live demonstration before the concert at noon. Registration for the complimentary tickets and a guided appreciation session will start from September 18 on a first-come, first-served basis.

 
     On leisure services and sports programmes:
 

• The Enjoy the Fun Carnival@National Day will be held between 2pm and 5pm at Kwun Tong Promenade. There will be Games stalls and performances. Members of the public can sign up on-site;
• The four-day “Let’s Go Green in Celebration of the National Day” thematic exhibition and game booths will be held between 10am and 6pm on the National Day at the arcade of Kowloon Park and Green Education and Resource Centre; and
• The following leisure facilities will be open to public for free use:
   

         – Indoor leisure facilities: badminton courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, netball courts, volleyball courts, squash courts, table tennis tables, American pool tables, billiard tables, sport climbing walls*, bowling greens, golf facilities, fitness rooms*, activity rooms and dance rooms;
         – Outdoor leisure facilities: tennis courts, tennis practice courts, bowling greens, batting cages, sport climbing walls*, archery ranges* and golf facilities (excluding camp facilities, sports grounds as well as artificial and natural turf pitches);
         – Public swimming pools (excluding Wan Chai Swimming Pool (only for group training purposes)); swimming pools temporarily closed for annual maintenance, namely the Island East Swimming Pool, Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool, Tsing Yi Southwest Swimming Pool, Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool and Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool; and Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool, which is temporarily closed for redevelopment); and craft at water sports centres* (recreational kayaks, pedal-driven boats, sampans and colour boats at Chong Hing Water Sports Centre are available for free use by campers only).
 
     The sessions for free use of facilities on October 1 will be allocated through balloting via SmartPLAY. During anytime from today until September 20, members of the public can submit a balloting application via SmartPLAY for booking sessions available for free use on October 1. Each user can submit a total of three balloting choices in one application. The computer balloting results will be announced by September 23. Successful applicants will be notified by the SmartPLAY system and no confirmation is required by the applicants. Members of the public, who have not been allocated with or applied for the balloted free sessions, can book the remaining free sessions, if any, via SmartPLAY on a first-come, first-served basis at a later stage. Each person can only book one free session for October 1 irrespective of the type of leisure facilities, either from balloting or first-come, first-served booking.
 
     *Citizens who book these types of facilities must hold the relevant qualification certificates. For details, please visit the thematic website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/freeuseday/conditions.html.
 
     No prior booking is required for public swimming pool facilities. Members of the public may line up at the entrances of swimming pools before the start of a session. Free admission is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     All users of the leisure facilities shall observe the Conditions of Use of LCSD Recreation and Sports Facilities (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/condition/index.html), including the no-show/not present during the use of the booked sessions (“not present”) penalty. Please call 2414 5555 for enquiry or visit the thematic website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/freeuseday/index.html.
 
     In addition to the above-mentioned special activities to be held on October 1, the LCSD has also arranged the following noteworthy events before and after the National Day:
 

Date	Name of the event	Venue
Exhibition:
From today	“Brothers in Arms: War of Resistance Activities of the East River Column in Shenzhen and Hong Kong” thematic exhibition	Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence
From September 27	“Glorious Voyage: Splendid Achievements of the People’s Republic of China in Its 75 Years” exhibition series	Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) and Hong Kong Science Museum
From September 27	“The Glorious and Momentous Days – Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” thematic book exhibition	Hong Kong Central Library, six major libraries and the HKMH
From September 27	“China’s Lunar and Mars Exploration” special exhibition	Hong Kong Space Museum
From late September	“Trendsetting Travel in China” Display showcasing the national achievements	Covered walkway of Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park
From October 19	“Celebrating National Day – Auspicious Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Greater Bay Area” exhibition	Hong Kong Heritage Museum
Performing arts programmes:
From today until September 18   From today until October 6	Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals 2024 Mid-Autumn Lantern Display 2024	Victoria Park and Tsing Yi Park     Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza
September 29	Community care programme We Care, “We Love, We Celebrate 75!”	Hong Kong Cultural Centre
October 4	“Celebration of National Day – A Thousand Youths in Chinese Costumes”	Queen Elizabeth Stadium
October 19	The opening programme “Sound River” of the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival	Hong Kong Coliseum
Leisure and sports programmes:
September 22	“Celebrating the National Day – Harbour Run For Fun” and “People and Pets in Celebration of the National Day”	Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) and Tamar Park
From September 28 to October 1	“Let’s Go Green in Celebration of the National Day” thematic exhibition and game booths	Arcade of Kowloon Park and Green Education and Resource Centre

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