Hong Kong Showcases Vibrant Arts at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) supported three Hong Kong performance programmes at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, highlighting the city's vibrant arts scene. The performances featured the One Table Two Chairs Charitable Foundation, zheng musician Wan Xing and a cappella group Yat Po Singers.

The Director-General of the London ETO, Miss Fiona Chau, addressed the audience before two performances staged on August 20 (Edinburgh time). She highlighted Hong Kong's vision of further enhancing its role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is firmly committed to nurturing home-grown talent and expanding global opportunities for our artists. We are investing in world-class arts infrastructure, such as the new 50 000-seat stadium at the Kai Tak Sports Park, and have launched flagship events such as the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo in 2024, which gathered leading artists and institutions from around the world," Miss Chau remarked.

Noting the growing connections between Hong Kong and Edinburgh, particularly in the cultural and business sectors, Miss Chau welcomed Edinburgh enterprises to explore the diverse business opportunities that Hong Kong has to offer. She highlighted the introduction of a two-tier liquor duty system in Hong Kong last year as an example of the city's strategy to facilitate business. This initiative has encouraged the trade and auctions of high-end liquor in Hong Kong, thereby giving impetus to the development of other high value-added sectors such as logistics and storage, tourism, as well as high-end food and beverage consumption. These developments open the door for even broader collaboration between Edinburgh and Hong Kong.

Running from August 1 to 25 in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom (UK), the Festival showcased three Hong Kong programmes: "Cantonese Opera x Children's Interactive Theatre: Dic Dic Chang Chang Playground" by One Table Two Chairs Charitable Foundation; "Rock Hard – A Theatrical A Cappella Adventure" by Yat Po Singers; and "Waves of Tradition: A New Horizon in Scottish-Chinese Music" by Wan and two UK musicians, Eleanor Dunsdon and Gregor Black. These performances underscored Hong Kong's vibrant cultural contributions and its role in international cultural exchanges.

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong performers bring East-meets-West creativity to Edinburgh Festival Fringe Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects case of suspected illicit motor spirit

Hong Kong Customs on March 9 detected an illicit motor spirit case involving a fishing vessel in the waters off So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun, and seized 1 260 litres of suspcted illicit motor spirit. A man aged 75 was arrested.

In the afternoon on March 9, Customs identified and intercepted a suspicious fishing vessel being towed with two sampans during a sea patrol in the northwest area of Hong Kong waters. The batch of illicit motor spirit, with an estimated market value of about $38,000 and a duty potential of about $7,600, was found on the three vessels upon search. The 75-year-old captain of the fishing vessel, suspected of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), was arrested.

Under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any illicit fuel activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects case of suspected illicit motor spirit Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases