Hong Kong Launches First Intangible Cultural Heritage Month with Vibrant Celebrations and Events in June 2025

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths

In support of the annual Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on the second Saturday of June designated by our country, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch the first Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month (Hong Kong ICH Month) in June. The opening ceremony for the Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 was held today (May 31) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that starting this year, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will designate June as Hong Kong ICH Month, thereby deepening the implementation of the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. Hong Kong ICH Month also aims to present a vibrant annual mega Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) event through a series of engaging programmes. With the theme "ICH Around Town", the inaugural Hong Kong ICH Month will fully showcase that despite Hong Kong's relatively small geographic size, ICH can be found everywhere. He said the programmes will give the public and tourists a greater insight into ICH, and enable their first-hand experience of the cultural richness of ICH as well as the pleasure .

Other officiating guests included the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Chairperson of the Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee and Legislative Council Member, Dr Starry Lee; Legislative Council Member Mr Kenneth Fok; the Chairperson of the ICH June and Legislative Council Member, Professor Lau Chi-pang; the Chairperson of the ICH Advisory Committee, Professor Ricardo Mak; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; and the Head of the ICHO, Ms Judith Ng.

Moreover, the ICHO is launching the ICH Carnival at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza today and tomorrow (May 31 to June 1) with the aspiration of rolling out ICH festive events across the territory, kicking off the Hong Kong ICH Month 2025. The Carnival offers diverse performances of Hong Kong ICH items, such as lion dance and Engor parade, Cheung Chau floating colours and dragon dance parade, Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau in Sai Kung, Cantonese opera excerpts, Nanyin, Yip Man Wing Chun, Tai Chi, Pixiu dance, and dragon boat dance. There are also more than 10 interactive experiential booths, at which members of the public can participate in and learn the techniques of crafting flower boards and wooden furniture, and making Chinese brushes and clay sculptures, etc. ICH organisations and practitioners will also provide demonstrations on-site. Admission is free. For details of the Carnival, please visit the website: www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025_fiesta.html.

​Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, and organised by the ICHO of the LCSD with ICH June as the strategic partner. Delightful programmes include 80 ICH performances, 60 interactive experiential booths and 20 "ICH Highlight Tours", covering over 100 ICH items and bringing together over 50 ICH practitioners, including representative bearers of the national ICH. ​

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 kicks off with a Carnival of exciting performances and interactive experiential booths Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Notice on appointments to advisory and statutory bodies

A Government spokesman said today (January 12) that Mr Chan Kin-por recently sought approval from the Chief Executive to suspend his three public positions as appointed by the Chief Executive, until the completion of the work of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (Independent Committee). Mr Chan made this request to allow himself more time to dedicate to the work of the Independent Committee. After due consideration, the Chief Executive has agreed to and approved this request. The three public positions are: (1) Chairman of Independent Commission Against Corruption Advisory Committee on Corruption; (2) Non-executive Director of Urban Renewal Authority Board; and (3) Member of Honours and Non-official Justices of the Peace Selection Committee.

On December 12, 2025, the Government established the Independent Committee to examine the causes of the incident and related issues, ascertain the facts, and make recommendations on preventing similar tragedies and on improvement measures. The Independent Committee is chaired by Mr Justice David Lok, with Mr Chan Kin-por and Dr Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen serving as members. The Independent Committee held its first meeting on December 19 last year and aims to complete its work within nine months of commencing operations.

Mr Chan Kin-por wrote earlier to the Chief Executive, expressing his wish to suspend the aforementioned three public positions until the Independent Committee completes its work, in order to dedicate more time and focus to the Independent Committee's tasks. The Chief Executive has agreed to and approved the request.

A Government spokesperson said that since the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, both the Government and the wider community have been highly concerned about the causes of the incident and the follow-up work. The scope of the Independent Committee's work is extensive, particularly concerning systemic issues related to bid-rigging and connected interests. Given the numerous issues involved and their complex nature, the Government will fully co-operate with the Independent Committee to ensure that it can complete its work and compile its report within nine months. The Government extends its gratitude to Mr Chan for accepting the appointment as a member of the Independent Committee and for his professional and conscientious approach to the Committee's work. When the Independent Committee's work is completed, the Government looks forward to Mr Chan's continuous contribution through his aforementioned public positions.

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