Asia+ Festival Celebrates Cultural Richness with Performances from 23 Asian Countries in Hong Kong.

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today

To develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, this year's Asia+ Festival, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), continues to collaborate with consulates general and overseas cultural organisations in Hong Kong to stage the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances. This afternoon (November 10), a vast range of stage performances were held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and Foyer. A total of 23 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions participated in this edition. Artistic talent gathered to showcase their cultural riches through ethnic music and dances, costume displays, handicrafts and special snacks. The event was filled with cheers and attracted over32 000 citizens and tourists.

Addressing the Asia+ Festival ceremony, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the festival was recognised as one of the items on the list of People's Livelihood and People-to-people Connectivity Projects at the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Asia+ strives to establish itself as an international cultural brand that contributes to cultural bonding and integration between countries and regions.

Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Pan Yundong; the Acting Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam; the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, and representatives from Consulates-General in Hong Kong of the participating countries of the Asia+ Festival. The ceremony was followed immediately by a series of ethnic stage performances, giving local audiences a glimpse of the diverse charms of Asian cultures.

Among the participating countries, Kuwait arranged for over 20 members from the Kuwaiti Orchestra Team and the Hamad Bin Hussein Folklore Performance Group to fly in from Kuwait to perform traditional Middle East instruments and ethnic dances for the first time. The groups also performed on November 8 and 9 at different places across the territory, as part of the Kuwaiti Culture, Art and Literature Week. This was a testament to Hong Kong's strengths as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Besides these offerings, the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances also feature the "Sartorial Splendour - National Costume Exhibition" until November 17 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer. On display are beautiful costumes and accessories that Asian people wear during festive events and celebratory performances. These include Bangladesh's Saree bridal gown, Kazakhstan's nomadic tribal clothing; Sri Lanka's village wedding costumes; China's bridal dress with dragon and phoenix embroideries; as well as wedding attire from Russia, Indonesia, Korea, Nepal and more. Members of the public are welcome to visit for free.

This year, a total of 23 countries andregions took part in the Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances, namely Hong Kong, China; Macao, China; Bangladesh; Cambodia; Indonesia; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea; Kuwait; Laos; Malaysia; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; the Philippines; Russia; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Türkiye and Vietnam.

​ Additionally, an online programme recapturing today's highlights will be broadcast on November 24 on the LCSD's Community Programmes Office website (www.cpo.gov.hk/activity/en-aecp-2024-carnival/).

The second Asia+ Festival is running from September to November, highlighting the arts and cultures of nearly 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions. Apart from stage programmes, there are also thematic exhibitions, an outdoor carnival, film screenings, outreach activities and more, numbering over 100 in total. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visitasiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/.

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Over 20 countries and regions showcase cultural riches at Asia+ Festival's Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Trade instructed to temporarily suspend importing and selling certain batches of raw oysters from French brand Josephine

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (April 8) instructed the trade to suspend the import of raw oysters from French brand Josephine produced and packed between March 5 and 25, 2026. The trade should also immediately stop using or selling the batches of the product concerned produced and packed during this period should they possess any of them.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission on suspected gastroenteritis cases in the Netherlands that may be related to consumption of raw oysters from French brand Josephine produced and packed between March 5 and 25, 2026. For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately instructed the trade to temporarily suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of the raw oysters concerned. As a precautionary measure, the brand concerned has voluntarily removed from shelves the raw oysters concerned. So far, the CFS has not received any referral cases of food poisoning or food complaint related to ingestion of the raw oysters concerned."

The spokesman said the trade should also stop selling the raw oysters from French brand Josephine produced and packed during the above-mentioned period if they possess them. The CFS has also stepped up the collection of raw oyster samples for testing.

The spokesman pointed out that as oysters feed by filtering a large volume of seawater, pathogens can accumulate in them if they are grown in or harvested from contaminated water. Raw or partially cooked oysters are high-risk foods. Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.

The CFS has informed the French authorities and also notified the local trade. It will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. An investigation is ongoing.

Source: AI-found images