Over 400 young musicians to perform at Music Office Annual Gala with fine music
More than 400 young musicians from the band, orchestras and choir of the Music Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will perform at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall at 3pm on March 8 (Sunday) to present fine music at the 2026 Music Office Annual Gala.
An array of Chinese and Western music will be presented by the Music Office Youth Choir, the Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra under the batons of Music Office instructors Lai Wing-yan, Dr Joseph Kam, Lee Sing-wan and Kwok Kin-ming.
The programme includes enchanting choral works, "Locus Iste", "Across the Vast, Eternal Sky" and "Measure Me, Sky!"; fascinating strings works, Vivaldi's "Concerto No. 10 in B minor" and Purcell's "Chacony in G minor"; band pieces "Sheltering Sky", which exudes a sense of serene simplicity, and the exciting "Ride" by Samuel R Hazo; gaohu concerto "The Bauhinia", a celebration of the harmony of family and the prosperity of society; the masterpieces, Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien" and Emmanuel Chabrier's "España", depicting the richness of the Southern European flair and sentiment.
Awards of the year will be presented to the most outstanding trainees and members of the Music Office's band, orchestras and choir at the concert.
Tickets priced at $100, $130 and $150 will be available starting on February 8 at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2796 1003 or 3842 7784 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/traineesevents/musicnconcert/MOAG26.html.
Photo source: lcsd.gov.hk
ExCo Non-official Members congratulate successful launch of manned Shenzhou-23 spacecraft
The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (May 24) warmly congratulate the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceship. They extend their highest respect to all crew members, including Dr Lai Ka-ying, the first payload expert from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. This mission is the first manned spaceflight during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the first time a Hong Kong expert has participated, which is a truly momentous occasion. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent with this invaluable opportunity to take part in the country's aerospace endeavours. Dr Lai has successfully undergone the rigorous selection and training process to become one of the country's fourth batch of astronauts, and China's fourth female astronaut to reach space, contributing Hong Kong's strength to the national aerospace endeavours. She has exemplified the Lion Rock spirit of rising to challenges with resilience and perseverance. Her courage and determination are truly admirable, and all Hong Kong citizens are immensely inspired and proud of her. The understanding and support of her family are also essential for her to participate in this mission with resolution. I am deeply grateful for their support and commitment.
"The HKSAR Government is actively developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and supporting promising research projects through various funding schemes. As an example, the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO) camera, developed under a project led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and funded by the Government's Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology, has successfully arrived at China's Tiangong Space Station, becoming Hong Kong's first scientific payload aboard the station. This fully demonstrates Hong Kong's innovation and technology edge and talent advantages."
Non-official Members of the Executive Council expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the country for its high recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent, development and achievements, as well as its profound emphasis, care and support for Hong Kong's scientific and technological development. They firmly believe that the HKSAR Government will seize this historic moment to nurture more outstanding innovation and technology talent for the country and Hong Kong, and better integrate into and serve the country's overall development.
Source: AI-found images
