Young music campers to showcase achievements in concerts
Over 400 young musicians and choristers who participated in the 2025 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp will perform a Chinese and Western music repertoire in two concerts to be held in August to showcase the achievements of their training at the camp.
Presented by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the 2025 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts, entitled "Summer Echoes", will be held at 3pm on August 3 at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and 7.30pm on August 10 at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. The concerts are part of the International Arts Carnival (IAC) summer programmes.
Six camp resident musicians, namely the Concertmaster and Resident Conductor of Chinese Orchestra of Xi'an Conservatory of Music, Gao Wei; the Music Director of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Dr Anthony Spain; Professor in Choral Conducting and Head of the Conducting Department at the Bulgarian National Academy of Music, Professor Theodora Pavlovitch; Assistant Conductor of the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra, Guo Pan; internationally acclaimed cello virtuoso and music educator, Chu Yi-bing; and former Head of Open Conservatorium at the Queensland Conservatorium of Griffith University, Dr Ralph Hultgren, will serve as the conductors at the two concerts. Music Office Instructor Mr Wong Cheuk-yin will also perform as a suona soloist at the first concert.
The first concert will be performed by the Children's Choir, Chinese Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. Programme highlights include Lyondev's energetic choral piece "Ergen Deda", Čopi's uplifting "Gloria" in "Missa Brevis", "Ode to Qilin" that praises the auspicious beast in ancient mythology, "Rage of River" and "Ode to Peace" from Zhao Jiping's "Symphony No. 2 'Ode to Peace'", depicting the turbulence and grief of war and aspirations for peace, and Brahms' captivating "Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90".
TheJunior Chinese Orchestra, Junior String Orchestra, and Junior Symphonic Band will perform an array of fascinating music pieces in the second concert. Highlights include composer Kuan Nai-chung's "Eagle and Chicks' Chase", a movement from Kuan's work "Scenes from Childhood" that depicts his amusing childhood experiences, a Music Office-commissioned work; "The Charm of Poetry" that blends Jiangnan silk and bamboo music with modern compositional techniques; Tchaikovsky's classic "String Quartet No.1 in D major, Op. 11"; Elgar's heartfelt "Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20", Hogg's "Momentum" written in honour of his trumpet teacher; and the world premiere of Dr Hultgren's "A Tallis Triplum".
The Hong Kong Youth Music Camp is a major annual summer activity held by the Music Office, providing diversified training to young musicians in a relaxed setting.
Tickets for the concerts priced at $70, $90 and $110 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2796 7523 or 3842 7784 or visitwww.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/traineesevents/musicnconcert/2025hkymcc.html
For details of other IAC programmes, please visitwww.hkiac.gov.hk.
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
