DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (May 26) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.
In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:
- Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
- Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
- Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
- Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
- Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
- Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.
In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:
- Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
- The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
- Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.
The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.
Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
- Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
- While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
- Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.
If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For more health information, the public may visit the CHP's heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather report and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.
Hot weather in Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026
Leading wusheng (martial male) actors from four major Peking opera troupes in Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Hubei will gather in Hong Kong in late June for the "Showcase of Peking Opera Actors in Full Armour Roles", kicking off the Chinese opera series of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2026, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). The three-day programme will feature classic plays such as "'The Battle at Changbanpo' and 'The Incident at Hanjin Crossing'", "The Pulley", "Zhong Kui Marrying His Sister off" and "On Iron Cage Mountain". Many of these plays draw on tales of loyalty and righteousness from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "The Water Margin" and "The Story of Yue Fei", showcasing the finest martial traditions from northern and southern schools. This programme is also the opening event of the 14th Chinese Opera Festival (COF) and is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2026.
Peking opera wusheng can primarily be classified into two subtypes: changkao and duanda. Changkao wusheng refers to military males who wear dakou (warrior's armour) and thick-soled boots to portray commanding generals, placing equal emphasis on combat techniques and stylised movements. Duanda wusheng, by contrast, wear fitted costumes and light footwear, mainly depicting heroic fighters that perform martial art routines through agile, swift, and acrobatic movements.
Details of the three performances are as follows:
"Lin Chong on the Run", "'The Battle at Changbanpo' and 'The Incident at Hanjin Crossing'"
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Date and time: June 26 (Friday), 7.30pm
"Lin Chong on the Run" is a well-known Peking opera featuring duanda wusheng roles. Zhao Hongyun, an emerging actor of the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, will portray Lin Chong's desperate journey to Liangshan from "The Water Margin", capturing the sorrow of a fallen hero with a balanced focus on vocal and acting skills. "'The Battle at Changbanpo' and 'The Incident at Hanjin Crossing'" is an iconic martial piece adapted from the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", in which a succession of wusheng actors will perform. Xi Zhonglu, hailed as "the foremost wusheng in Peking opera of our time", will command the stage with the imposing aura of Guan Yu in the hongsheng (red-faced male) tradition. Wei Xuelei and Chen Lin, class one performers from the Jingju Theater Company of Beijing and the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company respectively, will share the role of Zhao Yun who rescues the lord amid fierce martial scenes. Both plays illustrate the dynamic range of wusheng artistry in Peking opera.
"The Pulley", "Wu Song Checking in at the Inn", "Rescuing His Sister at the Bright Sun Mansion"
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Date and time: June 27 (Saturday), 7.30pm
"The Pulley" is regarded as a touchstone of wusheng mastery. In this performance, Wang Daxing, a class one actor from the Tianjin Peking Opera Theatre, will demonstrate his formidable command of challenging routines such as "qiba" (a stylised suite of movements to depict arming for battle), "extended combat" and "overturning the pulleys" technique to breathe life into the last tragic battle of Southern Song General Gao Chong. Lu Jialiang, an outstanding young actor from the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, will demonstrate agile fist movements in the Gai school classic "Wu Song Checking in at the Inn", detailing a humorous encounter through a fight between Wu Song and Sun Erniang. Class one performer Wang Xilong will portray the spoiled aristocrat Gao Deng in a painted-face role in "Rescuing His Sister at the Bright Sun Mansion", displaying the arrogance and dominance of Gao through elegant martial sequences such as "tangma" (horse-riding) and "drunken fighting". The three plays put the diverse artistry of various Peking opera schools on full display.
"Zhong Kui Marrying His Sister Off", "Seven for a Righteous Cause", "At the Crossroads", "On Iron Cage Mountain"
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Date and time: June 28 (Sunday), 2.30pm
"Zhong Kui Marrying His Sister Off" is a representative Li school wusheng piece that combines singing, line delivery and martial choreography. Wang Xilong carries the Li school mantle, delivering a nuanced portrayal of the complex, bittersweet emotions of the occasion. Both "Seven for a Righteous Cause" and "At the Crossroads" are renowned plays of the Gai school. In the former, Lu Meng, a class one actor from the Hubei Provincial Peking Opera Theatre, will lead an outstanding ensemble cast to showcase the chivalrous spirit of outlaw heroes through vigorous martial choreography, while the latter features Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company performers Hao Shuai and his long-time partner Hao Jie, vividly presenting the most celebrated comic-action duets between wusheng and wuchou (martial comic) roles. The finale, "On Iron Cage Mountain", is a major painted-face wusheng showcase. Xi Zhonglu will unleash a dazzling array of combat choreography to manifest the fearless spirit of Shu Han General Jiang Wei.
The three performances will be held at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC). Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets priced at $260, $360, $460 and $560 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. The CCF 2026 offers various discount schemes, such as group booking discounts, package booking discounts and the newly introduced "Generations Together 1+1" discount. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.ccf.gov.hk/en/programme/showcase-of-actors-in-full-armour-roles-in-peking-opera.
A number of free extension activities will be organised for this programme. A meet-the-artists session (in Putonghua) entitled "Face-to-Face with Peking Opera Actors in Full Armour Roles" will be held at 7.30pm on June 25 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, HKCC. The speakers include Xi Zhonglu, Wei Xuelei and Wang Daxing, while Chinese opera researcher Sheng Yihui will be the moderator. A backstage tour (in Putonghua) will be held at 4pm on June 26 (Friday) at the backstage of the Grand Theatre of the HKCC. Since the spaces for online registration of these two extension activities are full, those who are interested may wait at the venue's entrance for a standby space on the day of the session. Any unclaimed spots will be released 10 minutes after the session begins on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition, a demonstration performance of Peking opera will be held at 3pm on June 27 (Saturday) at the Foyer of the HKCC, featuring young actors Ren Zicheng and Liu Hanxiye from the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company who will perform "The Young Cowherd". "The Art of Peking Opera Actors in Full Armour Roles Exhibition" will be held from June 10 to 28 at the Foyer Exhibition Area of the HKCC. All are welcome.
The programme will also feature a session under the "Chinese Culture for All: A Special Performance Series" to be held at 10am on June 25 (Thursday) at the Grand Theatre of the HKCC, with free admission specially for local primary and secondary school students. Actors from the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company will introduce the makeup, costumes and stylised movements of different wusheng roles in Peking opera, offering a comprehensive insight into this art form. Interested schools can call 2268 7325 for details.
The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's sense of national identity and cultural confidence, thereby facilitating patriotic education. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Chinese Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2026 will be held from June to September. It will host various forms of distinctive stage programmes and related extension activities, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, talks, workshops, as well as community and school activities, affording the public and visitors more opportunities to appreciate and experience the beauty of fine traditional Chinese culture. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2026, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Top wusheng actors to gather in Hong Kong in June to showcase loyalty and righteousness at Chinese Culture Festival 2026 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
