Great Entertainment Group partners with Mast International from Korea to expand Hong Kong operations, boosting job creation and business partnerships
Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (May 8) that a long-term local entertainment business, Great Entertainment Group (GEG), has created a new joint venture - Harbour Mast Productions Limited - with Mast International, a Korean entertainment business in Hong Kong, as part of the companies' long-term expansion plans in the region.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, "We are excited to see the expansion of GEG in Hong Kong and welcome Mast International to the city. This initiative will not only enrich Hong Kong's vibrant entertainment industry, but also significantly contribute to job creation and stimulate our local economy by fostering new business partnerships in the city."
Harbour Mast Productions will be the official promoter of Cirque du Soleil's legendary show KOOZA, as it returns to Hong Kong for the first time in seven years. Cirque du Soleil chose Hong Kong as the city to kick off its relaunch in Asia. The show will then travel to Busan and Seoul in Korea following the performances in Hong Kong.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of GEG, Mr Randy Bloom, the KOOZA Tour travels with more than 115 cast and crew, along with 60 family members. This represents a investment in Hong Kong of more than 8 000 room nights, transport, food and beverage and entertainment during the two months that the show will be in the city. In addition to the travelling crew, the show requires approximately 200 local hires.
Mr Bloom added that with over 10 years of history and experience in producing entertainment events in Hong Kong, GEG decided to expand in the city where it has traditionally created its own local events, including the annual AIA Carnival, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel (HKOW) and well-known events such as The Grounds in the HKOW event space. He noted that Mast International, with its decades of experience bringing worldwide live entertainment events to Asia, was seen as the natural partner to join in this effort. The aim is to bring more and more high-quality events and entertainment to come to Hong Kong, serving as a gateway to the region.
Mr Bloom said, "We hear and support the Government's policy for mega events. We want to support the development of the entertainment industry and demonstrate our commitment to enhancing what Hong Kong can offer as a city for events both local and internationally. We have great trust in Hong Kong as a city."
The Chief Executive Officer and President of Mast International, Mr Yong Kim, added, "As a long-time producer and promoter of events in Asia, Mast recognises the opportunities afforded by the growth of the live events industry in Hong Kong. As our company continues to grow, we aim to expand and create more diverse experiences for people in Hong Kong. By bringing global entertainment around the world and into the city, we can offer a wider range of engaging entertainment options. Notably, the globally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil will be making its first appearance in Hong Kong since 2018 and will kick off a multi-destination Asia Tour."
GEG is a multi-award-winning group of companies with expertise in creating and producing exceptional live entertainment events and experiences in Asia. To date, GEG has engaged over 20 million consumers across over 500 events, pioneering some of the largest, most successful and enduring events and experiences.
Mast International was founded as a subsidiary of Mast Media Limited in 2006. Since then, the company has successfully presented seven shows of Cirque du Soleil in Korea. Mast International has promoted other various international spectacles, sporting events, exhibitions, pop concerts, ballets and plays, etc, including the legendary French musical, "Notre-Dame de Paris".
For more information about GEG, please visit www.geg.asia.
For more information about Mast International, please visit www.mastent.co.kr.
To obtain a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720325905295.
Great Entertainment Group partners with Mast International from Korea to expand Hong Kong operations, boosting job creation and business partnerships Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Great Entertainment Group partners with Mast International from Korea to expand Hong Kong operations, boosting job creation and business partnerships Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB reminds parents to choose primary schools under Central Allocation process for their children
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (January 12) reminded parents that children who have joined the Primary One Admission (POA) System for 2026 but have not yet secured a discretionary place can take part in the Central Allocation process for a Primary One (P1) place in a government or aided primary school. Parents concerned should make their choice of schools within the period from January 19 to 25.
Digitalisation of POA
---------------------------
In line with the Smart Government strategy, the EDB has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to "iAM Smart+" may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 19 to 25 through the ePOA. Please refer to the related videos and Parent's Guide on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging into an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform.
Making school choices at Central Allocation Centres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The EDB will send letters to parents on January 14 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 24 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 25 (Sunday)) stated in the letter.
Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 19 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.
Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre if possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 25. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who have submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling out in advance.
In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements.
Unable to submit application within specified choice-making period
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to the Central Allocation Centre to proceed with the related procedures.
To apply for POA 2026 for their children after January 25, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.
Change of residential address
--------------------------------------
An EDB spokesman reminded parents that, if they have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future, they are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.
The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address by parents for their children's POA application. The EDB will take action against false address cases.
Mechanism of Central Allocation
----------------------------------------
Central Allocation is composed of two parts. Part A, which takes up 10 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation, is for unrestricted school choices. Parents can choose up to three government or aided primary schools in any school net. Part B takes up the remaining 90 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation. Parents of applicant children residing in the school net concerned are to select schools from the "Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (Primary One Admission 2026)" of their school net, while parents of applicant children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong are to select schools from the "2026 Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (For Applicant Children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong)". Parents should fill in the Choice of Schools Form in the order of their preference.
The mechanism of the Central Allocation is based on parents' choices in general. The computer-programmed allocation will first process the school choices in Part A and then the school choices in Part B. For oversubscribed schools, the order of priority in allocating places will be determined by random numbers generated by the computer for individual applicants to ensure fairness.
For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB's 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088.
Release of Central Allocation results
----------------------------------------------
For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+", they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 3. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 3 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post on June 3 and 4.
Source: AI-found images
