Adelaide's OzAsia Festival Features Stunning Hong Kong Dragon Lantern Along River Torrens

2025-10-25 09:50 Last Updated At：09:58

Hong Kong Dragon shines bright at OzAsia Festival in Adelaide

Glowing along Adelaide's River Torrens, the striking 40-metre-long Hong Kong Dragon Lantern is once again a major highlight of the Moon Lantern Trail at this year's OzAsia Festival from October 17 to November 2. The display showcases Hong Kong's unique position as a cultural bridge between East and West, while also honouring the growing creative collaboration between Hong Kong and Australia.

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Hong Kong Dragon shines bright at OzAsia Festival in Adelaide Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Hong Kong Dragon shines bright at OzAsia Festival in Adelaide Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The OzAsia Festival, organised by the Adelaide Festival Centre, stands as a leading international arts festival in Australia. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) is proud to once again be part of the Festival, bringing Hong Kong's creativity to Adelaide through the stunning Hong Kong Dragon Lantern showcased at the Festival's iconic Moon Lantern Trail.

Speaking at the OzAsia Festival Opening Night, the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, said that the Sydney ETO has long supported initiatives that advance Hong Kong's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The Sydney ETO was pleased to support contemporary art platform Hong Kong Soul at the Adelaide Fringe and the Hong Kong String Orchestra performing in Adelaide earlier this year. These exchanges strengthen cultural ties and foster lasting friendship between Hong Kong and South Australia.

He introduced the key measures announced in "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address" to promote the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism, generating fresh economic momentum and further enhancing Hong Kong's global appeal. Mr Chong noted that the Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports infrastructure project ever built in Hong Kong, has already opened its doors and hosted a series of major events. Hong Kong will also cohost the National Games with Guangdong and Macao, which will take place next month.

Mr Chong remarked that with direct flights between Adelaide and Hong Kong soon to resume, there is no better time to experience Hong Kong's vibrant energy and cultural dynamism.

Held annually over three weeks (October 17 to November 9), the OzAsia Festival is Australia's leading contemporary arts festival that engages with Asia. This year's festival presents a rich programme spanning theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, cuisine, and cultural events from across the region. The vibrant line-up features more than 200 artists from Australia and abroad including Hong Kong, with six world premieres to be staged.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Adelaide's OzAsia Festival Features Stunning Hong Kong Dragon Lantern Along River Torrens

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