Tag Archives: China

     Cantonese opera was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. As part of the first Hong Kong ICH Month, the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Culture Services Department (LCSD) will launch the Discovering ICH Through Cinema programme, screening Cantonese opera-themed film classic “The Dutiful Daughter Chu-chu” (1966) with free admission on June 21 (Saturday) for audiences to revisit the precious legacy of Cantonese opera.
 
     Connie Chan Po-chu plays the lead role of Chu-chu, who earns money by disguising herself as a Japanese acrobat in an amusement park in order to support her mother in the hospital. After meeting Cantonese opera actor Wong, played by Lam Kar-sing, Chu-chu is inspired by Wong and decides to learn Cantonese opera from Wong and his master Pak, played by the “King of Wusheng” Lan Chi Pak, to make an honest living.
 
      Much of the film focuses on Chu-chu’s Cantonese opera training sessions under Wong and Pak, which are realistic and compelling portrayals of how the traditional art form is preserved and passed on through generations. Lam, who is also the film’s operatic director, showcased his solid Cantonese opera skills, embodying the awe-inspiring charisma and essence of the art form. The appearance of Lan Chi Pak in modern attire in the film is also a rare sight on screen.
 
     The film will be screened in three time slots at noon, 3pm and 6pm on June 21 at the HKFA Cinema, accompanied by pre-screening talks hosted by film critic Grace Ng.
 
     Admission is free with tickets to be distributed starting from June 1 (Sunday) at the information counter of the HKFA on Mondays and from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm. Each person can receive up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. Limited walk-in seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and members of the public are welcome to queue up at the 1/F Foyer of the HKFA 45 minutes before the screening begins. Each person can register for one ticket while stocks last.
 
     For programme details, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ich-month-2025/pe-event-2025-chu-chu.html or call 2739 2139.
 
     Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the LCSD, with ICH June as a strategic partner. For details of the programmes, please visit the website www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025.html.

    

     The Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced that a WSD-registered consumer of five flats with subdivided units in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, was convicted yesterday (May 28) of failing to comply with the Water Authority’s request to provide relevant information or documents for a suspected case of overcharging for water, in contravention of regulation 47A of the Waterworks Regulations. The consumer pleaded guilty to five counts of the offence at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts.
 
     A spokesman for the WSD said that the Waterworks (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (the amended WWO) has strengthened the power of the Water Authority in evidence collection and information disclosure during the investigation of suspected cases of overcharging for water. The Water Authority can request the landlords, their agents, etc to provide the tenancy agreement, receipt or payment record for charges for water. Failure to comply with such a request can be an offence, and the offender is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and a further fine of up to $1,000 for each day the offence continues. It is anticipated that there will be more prosecution cases. The maximum penalty for overcharging tenants of subdivided units (SDUs) for water has been raised to $25,000 to deter this illegal act. Moreover, providing false or misleading information to the Water Authority is also an offence with a maximum penalty of a $25,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment. 
 
     The WSD spokesman strongly appealed to landlords to apply for the installation of separate water meters for their SDUs, which can greatly reduce the risk of contravening the amended WWO. The WSD encourages the public to report any illegal act of overcharging SDU tenants for water for follow up and investigation by the department. The public can call the WSD Hotline 3468 4963 or WhatsApp 5665 5517 to apply for the installation of separate water meters for SDUs. The WhatsApp hotline also handles matters relating to water overcharging in SDUs. Alternatively, the public can call the WSD Customer Enquiry Hotline 2824 5000 to report water overcharge cases. After calling the hotline and choosing a language, they can press “7” for reporting to staff directly.  read more

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) conducted a joint enforcement operation on May 27 against an unlicensed travel agent. Customs officers arrested a 62-year-old male proprietor of the agent who was suspected of providing a travel agent service on which a false trade description was applied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO). Additionally, he was also suspected of carrying on a travel agent business without a licence, in contravention of the Travel Industry Ordinance, and the TIA is conducting follow-up investigations into the matter.
      
     Customs and the TIA earlier received information that the travel agent, claiming to possess a travel agent licence, provided tour services to customers but in fact the agent did not hold a valid travel agent licence.
      
     An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
      
     Customs reminded traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase services from reputable shops. Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied or offered to be supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO 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/en). read more

     The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will stage Henan Yuediao opera, a regional operatic genre rarely seen by Hong Kong audiences, for the first time in late June. Shen Xiaomei, currently the leading exponent of the Yuediao opera, will lead a group of outstanding artists from the Henan Provincial Yue Diao Art Protection and Inheritance Center to Hong Kong to perform the classic plays “Jiang Wei Surrenders” and “Li Tianbao Gets Married”, showcasing the unique and traditional artistic charm of Yuediao opera with the best line-up of the troupe. This programme is also one of the 13th Chinese Opera Festival (COF) and the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2025 events.

     Henan Yuediao is one of the three major Chinese opera genres in Henan Province. With a history of more than 300 years, it was inscribed onto the First National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. Known for its distinctive vocal styles and intricate musicality, Yuediao opera is celebrated for possessing the rich artistic charm of “nine vocal tones, 18 variations, and 72 ending utterances”. The Shen School of Henan Yuediao has gained acclaim for its “Three Kingdoms” repertory, and Shen Fengmei, the founder of the Shen School, was famous for her unique portrayal of Zhuge Liang in female “xusheng” (bearded male) roles. 

     Details of the two performances are as follows:

“Jiang Wei Surrenders”
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Date and time: June 27 (Friday), 7.30pm

     The “Jiang Wei Surrenders” represents the pinnacle of the Shen School. Set beyond Tianshui Pass, the play unfolds as young general Jiang Wei of the Wei dynasty outwits Zhuge Liang, causing the experienced warrior Zhao Yun to retreat in defeat, which prompts Zhuge Liang to recruit and subdue this exceptional talent. Shen Xiaomei, the heritage bearer of the Shen School and the first Yuediao performer to receive the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, excels in portraying Zhuge Liang, the legendary strategist known for his composure in adversity, capturing his intellectual essence through nuanced singing and expressive interpretation. In this performance, Shen, together with her disciples Hu Hongbo and wenwu xiaosheng (young civil and military male) Nie Lai dynamically portraying the far-sighted leadership of old Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei’s martial prowess and inner turmoil respectively, will let audiences immerse in the “Three Kingdoms” tales. 

“Li Tianbao Gets Married”
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Date and time: June 28 (Saturday), 7.30pm

     “Li Tianbao Gets Married” is an enduring classic of Henan Yuediao comedy that delivers a light-hearted and witty story. Zhang Zhongshi, a wealthy man who falsely claims his daughter has died to escape an arranged marriage with the impoverished Li Tianbao. When Li arrives to mourn her supposed passing, an unexpected series of comedic mishaps ensues. Shen Xiaomei and her disciple Zhao Yanlin bring Li Tianbao to life on stage with their exquisite vocal artistry, perfectly capturing the character of a passionate lover. Liu Zhiyou, playing the comedic role of Zhang Zhongshi, uses exaggerated and humorous movements along with a constant stream of witty dialogue to vividly portray the greedy and selfish image of a rich man. The absurd yet fantastical plot twists in the play mirror the myriad facets of human life. 

     Originally established as the Henan Yue Opera Troupe in 1949, the Henan Provincial Yue Diao Art Protection and Inheritance Center is recognised as one of the Protection Works Units among the first batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage at National Level. Under the guidance of the late master of Yuediao opera, Shen Fengmei, the troupe has garnered national recognition, particularly for its distinguished interpretations of works from the Three Kingdoms repertoire. The Center carries the vital mission of safeguarding and perpetuating Yuediao opera’s intangible heritage through traditional and contemporary performances.

     The two performances will be held at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $190, $290 and $390 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 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/henan-provincial-yue-diao-art-protection-and-inheritance-center/.

     A meet-the-artists session entitled “The Signature Singing Style and Vocal Techniques of the Shen School in Henan Yuediao” (in Putonghua and Cantonese) will be held at 7.30pm on June 26 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include Shen Xiaomei, Liu Zhiyou, Hu Hongbo, Zhao Yanlin and Nie Lei, while Chinese opera researcher Chan Chun-miu will be the moderator. Admission is free and online registration is required (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1839.html#tab_13_0). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

     The programme will also feature a session under the “Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series” at 10.30am on June 27 (Friday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall, with free admission specially for local primary and secondary school students. Artists of the troupe will perform selected excerpts from “Jiang Wei Surrenders” and “Li Tianbao Gets Married”, accompanied by easy-to-follow demonstrations and guided appreciation, allowing students to closely experience the profound artistry of the Shen School’s female “xusheng” (bearded male) roles and their distinctive interpretations of “Three Kingdoms” repertoire. Interested schools can call 2268 7325 for details. This session is sponsored by the Chamber of Young Snow.  

     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 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 COF, “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.

        

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:
 
     The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (May 29) announced the launch of a direct investigation operation to examine the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities to align with its efforts to develop green tourism and the pursuit of the ideas of “tourism is everywhere” and “sightseeing all over Hong Kong”.
 
     In recent years, the Government has actively promoted green tourism to attract visitors from around the world to explore Hong Kong’s natural landscapes. Some hiking routes, such as Dragon’s Back, have been hailed by international media as the best in the city. Country parks and ancillary facilities, including hiking trails, toilets, rubbish bins, emergency distress facilities, drinking water stations, and signage, are primarily managed and maintained by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), while the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Home Affairs Department are also engaged in related work. In addition, the AFCD, in collaboration with the Tourism Commission, has implemented the Enhancement of Hiking Trails programme since 2018 to improve the ancillary facilities of hiking trails in country parks, which are popular with and appealing to tourists.
 
     However, the Office has noted from media reports the relevant departments’ failure to properly manage and maintain ancillary tourist facilities in countryside areas.  Issues include inadequate toilets and poor hygiene conditions, and scattered and rarely updated information on transportation and location of toilets and water filling stations in country parks. Moreover, there have been incidents where damaged hiking trails remained unrepaired and neglected, and fallen trees were unremoved for months after typhoons, extremely heavy rain or landslides, posing potential risks to hikers and visitors. Furthermore, the Office has from time to time received complaints about the slow progress of countryside facility maintenance and insufficient supporting resources, such as delays in rain shelter repairs and insufficient publicity for visitor centres.
 
     Mr Chan said, “Proper management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities not only helps protect the safety of hikers and visitors but also enhances the outdoor experience for members of the public and tourists, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s appeal as a green tourism hotspot. I have noticed that, for example, during the recent Labour Day Golden Week with many people and tourists travelling to the countryside to enjoy the beautiful mountains and coastal scenery of country parks, problems such as garbage accumulation and traffic congestion emerged. I consider it essential to examine how to improve the ancillary facilities in the countryside, so as to ensure that all these facilities function effectively and are maintained in safe and good condition, and information for visitors is accurate and clear. In this light, I have decided to launch a direct investigation operation to examine the work of the AFCD and other relevant departments on the management and maintenance of countryside ancillary tourist facilities, the dissemination of information on hiking activities and countryside facilities, particularly safety-related information for hikers, as well as the division of responsibilities and co-ordination among different departments regarding the management and maintenance of relevant facilities. Where necessary, pertinent recommendations will be made for improvement.”
 
     The Ombudsman welcomes views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by June 29, 2025:
                
Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre
              168–200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Fax:        2882 8149
Email:     di483@ombudsman.hk