Hong Kong Children's Choir Celebrates Cultural Exchange Tour in Australia and New Zealand

2025-07-12 13:43 Last Updated At：13:58

Sydney ETO supports music tour of Hong Kong Children's Choir

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) supported the Hong Kong Children's Choir (HKCC) in presenting a series of performances and cultural exchange programmes across Australia and New Zealand in July to promote Hong Kong's vibrant art and culture scene and showcase the artistic excellence of Hong Kong's youth.

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Sydney ETO supports music tour of Hong Kong Children's Choir Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Sydney ETO supports music tour of Hong Kong Children's Choir Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Following its previous appearance in Australia in 2017, the HKCC commenced its concert tour in Hobart, Australia, where it participated as the guest choir at the "Festival of Voices" from July 3 to 7. The tour continued with a charity concert in Sydney on July 9, in support of CanRevive's cancer support service. The tour concluded in Auckland, New Zealand, with two performances: the "Dreams to Dream" concert yesterday (July 11) and the "Echoes of Culture" choral concert today (July 12).

To mark the Sydney leg of the tour, the Sydney ETO hosted a pre-performance reception at Hong Kong House on July 9. About 100 guests from various sectors, including leaders from the local arts and cultural community, politicians and business leaders attended the event.

In his welcoming remarks, the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, welcomed the HKCC and highlighted the longstanding ties between Hong Kong and Australia. "Events like these resonate far beyond the concert hall. They remind us that our relationships are not only built on trade and economic exchange, but also on shared values, artistic collaboration, and community spirit," he said.

Mr Chong said that the National 14th Five-Year Plan has expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Government is committed to further strengthening Hong Kong's role as Asia's events capital. "With the official opening of the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park, we are welcoming a diverse array of large-scale international events, from major concerts and rugby matches to world-class football," he added.

In celebration of the HKCC's debut visit to New Zealand, the Sydney ETO also hosted a pre-performance reception yesterday (July 11) ahead of the "Dreams to Dream" concert in Auckland, further fostering cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Founded in 1969, the HKCC has grown into a diversified arts organisation for children. The HKCC has gained international acclaim for its performances and is widely recognised as one of the world's leading children's choirs.

Beef Samples Contain Sulphur Dioxide; Food Factory Suspended Following Safety Violations

Beef and beef congee samples found to contain sulphur dioxide

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 6) that two beef samples collected from a licensed food factory in North District were found to contain sulphur dioxide, contravening the provisions on preservative of the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD) (the Regulation). The CFS is following up on the incident. The food factory concerned has suspended its business.

A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to the earlier announcement that a beef congee sample taken from a licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen, was found to contain sulphur dioxide, a follow-up investigation by the CFS revealed that the beef concerned was suspected to be supplied by the licensed food factory mentioned above. The CFS has immediately taken follow-up action and collected beef samples from the relevant food factory for testing. The test results showed that the two beef samples contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 7 700 parts per million (ppm) and 8 300 ppm respectively."

"As instructed by the CFS, the concerned licensed general restaurant in Wah Kwai Estate, Aberdeen has earlier stopped the sale of the relevant beef congee. The CFS had collected another beef congee sample for follow-up investigation before the restaurant concerned stopped selling the relevant product, and the test result showed that the beef congee sample contained sulphur dioxide at a level of 540 ppm," the spokesman added.

The CFS has informed the food factory concerned of the irregularities and instructed it to stop the sale of the products concerned and discard relevant raw materials. During an inspection to the food factory concerned, stains were detected in several areas of the premises, and a gap at the door was found. Prosecution was then initiated to the relevant person; and a Notice of Elimination of Vermin was issued under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) Section 47(1), requiring the person-in-charge of the premises to adopt necessary procedures to remove any items causing rodent infestation within specified time frame, failing which prosecution will be instituted.

According to the Regulation, contravening relevant provisions on preservatives is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.

Sulphur dioxide is a preservative which can be used in a variety of foods including dried vegetables, dried fruits, pickled vegetables and salted fish products, but under the Regulation it is not permitted in fresh or chilled meat. Individual meat traders have been found illegally using sulphur dioxide to make meat look fresher. Sulphur dioxide is water-soluble, and most of it can be removed through washing and cooking. However, susceptible individuals who are allergic to this preservative may experience breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea after consumption.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incidents and take appropriate action. Prosecution will be instituted for the violation of the Regulation. The investigation is ongoing.

Hong Kong Children's Choir Celebrates Cultural Exchange Tour in Australia and New Zealand

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