Local Cantonese opera elites to present two classic Three Kingdoms operas in July
The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD),will present two classic Three Kingdoms Cantonese operas "Zhou Yu Thrice Humiliated" and "The Battle of Changbanpo" in July. Under the artistic direction of veteran Cantonese opera artist Yuen Siu-fai, the productions will feature his long-time stage partner Wan Fai-yin, and Lee Lung, acclaimed as "the living Zhao Yun (Zhao Zilong)", alongside a dedicated cast of local Cantonese opera elites. The performances will take audiences back to the Three Kingdoms era of fierce rivalries and showcase the classic singing style and enduring legacy of Cantonese opera artistry. This programme is also one of the programmes of the 13th Chinese Opera Festival (COF).
Details of the performances are as follows:
"Zhou Yu Thrice Humiliated"
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Date and time: July 26 (Saturday), 7.30pm
The "Zhou Yu Thrice Humiliated" depicts the battle of wits and strategy between Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang. Zhou's repeated attempts were all thwarted by Zhuge's brilliance and to no avail in the end. Feeling infuriated, Zhou passes away, lamenting on the co-existence of Zhuge and Zhou in this world. Some of the arias in the play are performed in classic singing style (using Zhongzhou dialect), while the three climactic battle scenes employ long-unseen classic performance practices. Yuen Siu-fai, Lee Lung and Wan Fai-yin will portray Zhou Yu, Zhao Zilong and Lady Sun Shangxiang respectively, while young actors Alan Tam and Wan Yiu-sing will take on the roles of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. Gathering some of the three generations' local elites to perform on the same stage, thereby passing down the invaluable traditions of Cantonese opera.
"The Battle at Changbanpo"
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Date and time: July 27 (Sunday), 7.30pm
"The Battle at Changbanpo" was originally devised by Yuen Siu-fai for the reopening of Ko Shan Theatre in 1996. The story recounts Cao Cao's pursuit of Liu Bei at Changbanpo after defeating Lu Bu, focusing on Zhao Yun's heroic fest of charging seven times through Cao's army alone to rescue his master's infant heir. This time, the production again stars Lee Lung, who originally played Zhao Zilong, alongside Yuen Siu-fai as Liu Bei. A new generation of actors has also been cast, including Alan Tam as Lu Bu and Ng Kwok-wa as Zhang Fei. The play has a cast that covers the full range of role types, with some arias preserved in classic singing style. The performers will showcase the Xiqu art skills of the Southern School and the Northern School, enhanced by live music and powerful rhythms of gongs and drums to deliver the dramatic moments of the play.
The two performances will be held at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Lyrics and part of the dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $180, $280, $380 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Group booking discounts and package booking discounts 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 visitwww.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/cantonese-opera-zhou-yu-thrice-humiliated-by-zhuge-liang-and-the-battle-at-changbanpo.
The programme will also feature a meet-the-artists session (in Cantonese) to be held at 7.30pm on July 24 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speakers include Yuen Siu-fai, Lee Lung and Wan Fai-yin, while Barbara Tang will be the moderator. Admission is free. Since the quotas for online registration are full, those who are interested may wait at the venue's entrance for a standby quota on the day of the session. Any unclaimed spots will be released 10 minutes after the session begins on a first-come, first-served basis.
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 is 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.
Local Cantonese opera elites to present two classic Three Kingdoms operas in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Local Cantonese opera elites to present two classic Three Kingdoms operas in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Local Cantonese opera elites to present two classic Three Kingdoms operas in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Update on chikungunya fever
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that, as of 5pm today (January 11), no new cases of chikungunya fever (CF) had been recorded.
Latest surveillance data
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Hong Kong has recorded a total of 82 confirmed CF cases last year. Among them, 11 were local cases, and the rest were imported cases.
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of December 10, 2025, a total of 502 264 CF cases and 186 CF-related deaths have been reported in over 40 countries/territories. Cases have been reported in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the northern hemisphere has entered the winter season, temperatures in subtropical and some temperate regions remain elevated due to climate change, creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, CF outbreaks continue to occur in many countries worldwide. The risk of imported cases persists. Members of the public should check the situation of the destinations before travelling abroad, especially when travelling to Southeast Asian countries.
Government's comprehensive follow-up actions
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Given that some local cases of CF have visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area in November last year, the trails are currently closed until further notice. Relevant government departments continue to conduct large-scale mosquito control and prevention efforts along the trails, and the CHP appeals to the public not to enter the area in order to reduce the risk of contracting CF and to avoid exposure to chemicals or interfering with the mosquito control operations. Since the confirmation on December 10, 2025, of a case involving a person who had visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails on November 30, 2025, no further local cases have been recorded to date. The CHP continues to urge individuals who have recently hiked along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2373), which operates from 9am to 6pm.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has been continuously conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails and the surrounding area. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and a robot dog is being put on trial to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could cause stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. The FEHD has been collaborating with the Kwai Tsing District Office, the Lands Department and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. Pamphlets have been distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations and take personal protective measures. The FEHD has also held meetings of the interdepartmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to co-ordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
Continuously strengthening prevention and control
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The FEHD and relevant departments have comprehensively enhanced the mosquito control operations in Hong Kong since July last year, and this has continued. Among these, the FEHD has conducted vector investigations and targeted mosquito control operations against the imported and local cases. In light of the local case, the FEHD has immediately conducted follow-up actions, including:
carrying out intensive fogging in scrubby areas within a 250-metre radius of the relevant locations to kill adult mosquitoes;
carrying out inspections of the locations, removing stagnant water, applying insecticides and disposing of abandoned water containers every week with a view to preventing mosquito breeding; and
enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.
The abovementioned measures will be continued. Furthermore, the Government will further enhance the mosquito control efforts in addition to the existing measures.
Preventive measures to be taken by the public
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Members of the public should use DEET-containing insect repellents or other effective active ingredients properly to prevent mosquito bites, but the following precautions should be taken when using them:
read the label instructions carefully first;
apply right before entering an area with a risk of mosquito bites;
apply on exposed skin and clothing;
use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children (for children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent);
apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent;
reapply only when needed and follow the instructions; and
in addition to DEET, there are other insect repellents available on the market containing different active ingredients, such as IR3535 and picaridin. When using any insect repellent, the public should follow the usage instructions and precautions on the product label.
The FEHD also appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, and properly disposing of containers such as empty cans and lunch boxes. The FEHD also advises members of the public and property management agencies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems, and may visit the following pages for more information: the CF page of theCHPand theTravel Health Service, the latestTravel Health News,tips for using insect repellents, and the CHPFacebook Page,Instagram AccountandYouTube Channel, and also theMosquito Prevention and Control dedicated pageof the FEHD.
Source: AI-found images
