Cantonese Opera Day Returns with Exciting Performances and Activities on November 30 at Hong Kong Cultural Centre

LCSD's Cantonese Opera Day 2025 to be held November 30 with online registration for free admission tickets for workshops and talks to start from tomorrow

The annual Cantonese Opera Day, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), returns to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) this year with outdoor and indoor performances. Under the theme "Cantonese Opera Fun, Legacy for the Future", a full afternoon of exciting performances and activities will be offered to the public on November 30 (Sunday), including excerpts of Cantonese opera, a fairy-tale adaption told in Cantonese opera, a trail performance workshop, demonstration workshops, talks, booth activities, autograph sessions, guided tour sessions, Chinese music performances and an exhibition. Admission is free, while online registration is required for certain activities starting tomorrow (November 12) on a first-come, first-served basis.

Now in its 23rd edition, this year's Cantonese Opera Day features a range of highlights. At the HKCC Foyer, "Young Stars in the Making" will present children's performances of Cantonese opera excerpts. The young performers will have the opportunity to model on a catwalk, showcasing the features of their costumes and makeup. Meanwhile, the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong will present a "Fairy-Tales Told in Cantonese Opera" with the play "The Monkey King's Tricks to Borrow the Iron Fan" from "Journey to the West", a captivating performance full of charm and artistry.

At the HKCC Piazza Area, winners of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Cantonese Opera Competition and young Cantonese opera students will take the stage for the "Cantonese Opera Arias Busking & Experience Sharing Session". Alongside live excerpts, they will present a demonstration of basic skills and a medley of classic tunes, followed by a sharing session among students and their parents. The "Amazing Debuts" segment will feature emerging talent performing a series of classic excerpts, while the LCSD's Music Office will present talented young musicians performing well-known Cantonese melodies and classic Chinese music pieces.

In addition, the "Cantonese Opera Carnival" will offer various family-friendly booth workshops. Participants can create their own handcrafted cultural and innovative products - from making Cantonese opera-themed magnets, tote bags, to hairpin accessories, multipurpose cards, coasters, paper doll crafting of opera characters and colouring activities. A photo corner with Cantonese opera costumes and props will also be available for memorable snapshots.

The popular "Cross-Generation Stars Autograph Session" will feature renowned artists including Yuen Siu-fai, Wan Fai-yin, Lee Lung, Leung Siu-ming, Cheng Wing-mui, Chan Wing-yee, Wang Zhiliang, Leung Sum-yee, Leung Jackie, and Liang Zhenwen. Opera fans can meet their idols and take photos together.

To enable citizens to learn more about Cantonese opera, a world intangible cultural heritage item, from multiple perspectives, the Cantonese Opera Day will include a "Families' Workshop on Cantonese Opera" where parents and children can don costumes and props to experience the joy of performing guided by instructors, with a chance to showcase their learning on the HKCC Foyer stage later that day. The "Workshop on Stylised Movements and Postures of Cantonese Opera" will let participants try the horsewhip and tasseled-spear techniques, illustrating the dedication behind stage artistry. Demonstration workshops on Cantonese opera make-up and dress-up will also be held. This year, a new interactive Cantonese opera music workshop on wind, plucked, bowed and percussion will also be introduced, where instructors from the School of Chinese Opera, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, will explain the characteristics of instruments and ensemble arrangements, with chances to try playing specialised instruments. Topics of the talks will include the work of the stage manager - the commander behind the scene - as well as the aesthetics and organisation of actors' costume trunks.

The "Elegant and Gentle, the Legend of the Young Master: Yam Kim Fai" exhibition, which is curated by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, will be held at the Foyer Exhibition Area, offering a glimpse into the enduring legend of Yam, dubbed as the "Opera Fans' Lover".

Guided tours in Cantonese, English and Putonghua will be available throughout the day, introducing basic knowledge of Cantonese opera and leading participants through performance zones, workshops and exhibitions. Moreover, participants can redeem a souvenir by collecting stamps at designated locations while stocks last.

Online registration is required for certain activities, including "Workshop on Stylised Movements and Postures of Cantonese Opera", "Families' Workshop on Cantonese Opera", Cantonese opera make-up and dress-up demonstration workshops, the "Interactive Cantonese Opera Music Workshop - Wind, Plucked, Bowed and Percussion", and the two talks. Registration will open tomorrow at 10am (https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1926.html#tab_10_0). Each person may register for up to two programmes, with a maximum of two spaces per programme. Admission is free for all programmes and on a first-come, first-served basis.

For venues and time of the performances and activities of Cantonese Opera Day 2025, please see the Annex. For related event and online registration information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1926.html or call 2268 7325.

In support of Cantonese Opera Day 2025,the Hong Kong Film Archive is presenting an exhibition titled "75 Years of Cinematic Glamour - An Exhibition of Sil-Metropole Film Stills and Posters". In addition, a free screening of "Butterfly Beauty" (1959) will be held on November 30 at 7pm. Please visit the above-mentioned website for more information.

Source: AI-found images

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.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases