Countryside Harvest Festival 2026 Celebrates Ecology and Culture with Music in Hong Kong's Lai Chi Wo

Countryside Harvest Festival 2026: "Hong Kong Soundscape - Opera & Dance" One-day Music Festival held today

The Countryside Conservation Office (CCO) under the Environment and Ecology Bureau held the Countryside Harvest Festival 2026: "Hong Kong Soundscape - Opera & Dance" One-day Music Festival today (March 1) at Lai Chi Wo, Sha Tau Kok, adjacent to Yan Chau Tong in Mirs Bay. The event, for the first time, combined countryside ecology, village culture and world-class performing arts, bringing participants a fresh rural tourism experience.

Last year's Countryside Harvest Festival, held for the first time in Kuk Po, drew enthusiastic participation from the public. This year, the CCO sustained the efforts and staged a music festival in Lai Chi Wo, one of the oldest Hakka walled villages in the Northeast New Territories. The festival is presented in collaboration with internationally renowned conductor and composer Tan Dun, along with leading local, Mainland and overseas musicians and dancers.

Last December, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced that Hong Kong's Mirs Bay was selected as a national "Outstanding Example of Beautiful Bays". Today's performance was not only available for viewing on-site but also broadcast live through multiple online platforms. Through music and art, local and worldwide audiences could together appreciate the beautiful scenery of Hong Kong's northeastern waters and experience diverse cultures and the beauty of nature.

Since its establishment in 2018, the CCO has been committed to promoting the conservation and revitalisation of remote villages in the New Territories through various means. In addition to organising festive events, the CCO also carries out work on nature conservation, restoration of historic buildings, and cultural revitalisation, improving the rural environment and supporting countryside recreational facilities. Last year, the CCO also announced simplified guides to licence applications to assist organisations in applying for guesthouses or food business licenses in remote countryside areas.

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, delivered a speech at the event. Other officiating guests included Legislative Council (LegCo) Member Mr Perry Yiu; LegCo Member Ms Vivian Kong, LegCo Member and Advisory Committee on Countryside Conservation member, Ms Julia Lau; the District Officer (North), Ms Winkie Chick; and the Chairman of Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee, Mr Lee Koon-hung.

In addition to on-site viewing, the event was also broadcast live via multiple online platforms, including Brand Hong Kong, CCTV HK PLUS, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Phoenix TV, and Radio Television Hong Kong. Members of the public can visit the CCO webpage (cco.gov.hk) to review highlights of the event.

Photo shows the performance of the music festival, "Tan Dun & Yang Liping's Immersive Music and Dance: The Rite of Spring – Samsara". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows internationally renowned conductor and composer Tan Dun (first right), who is also the Director of the music festival, and leading musicians and dancers presenting "Tan Dun & Yang Liping's Immersive Music and Dance: The Rite of Spring – Samsara". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows (from left) the Chairman of Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee, Mr Lee Koon-hung; Legislative Council (LegCo) Member and Advisory Committee on Countryside Conservation member, Ms Julia Lau; LegCo Member Mr Perry Yiu; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Director of the music festival, internationally renowned conductor and composer Tan Dun; LegCo Member Ms Vivian Kong; the District Officer (North), Ms Winkie Chick; and the Head of the CCO, Professor Stephen Tang, officiating at the opening ceremony of the music festival. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the music festival. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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