Hong Kong Music Students Join RondoFest 2026 with Support from Singapore ETO

Singapore ETO supports Hong Kong music students' participation in RondoFest 2026

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam.

Following nominations by various institutions and selection through audition, the 10 Hong Kong music students joined 160 other selected young musicians from 12 countries and regions to form the RondoFest Festival Orchestra. The orchestra toured Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, as well as Hanoi in Vietnam, from May 29 to June 11, taking part in performances and a wide range of cultural exchange activities, including masterclasses, outreach, forums and networking opportunities.

This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Prior to the performance, Ms Hung visited the students during their rehearsal session and encouraged them to make full use of the valuable opportunities for exchange, collaboration and professional development, while forging friendships and connections that extend beyond the stage. Ms Hung added that the Singapore ETO's support for the students' participation reflects Hong Kong's steadfast commitment to nurturing emerging artistic talent and promoting international cultural exchange.

Founded in Malaysia in 2019, the RondoFest Music Festival is a renowned classical music platform in Southeast Asia positioned as a capacity-building programme that provides world-class learning and performance opportunities for musicians, while championing artistic excellence and exchange as well as youth development. The festival has been engaging Hong Kong music talent through collaboration with various institutions and music groups, including the HKAPA and the Asian Youth Orchestra.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows Ms Hung visiting the students during their rehearsal session prior to the tour concert, and encouraged them to make full use of the valuable opportunities for exchange, collaboration and professional development, while forging friendships and connections that extend beyond the stage. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows Ms Hung visiting the students during their rehearsal session prior to the tour concert, and encouraged them to make full use of the valuable opportunities for exchange, collaboration and professional development, while forging friendships and connections that extend beyond the stage. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows Ms Hung visiting the students during their rehearsal session prior to the tour concert, and encouraged them to make full use of the valuable opportunities for exchange, collaboration and professional development, while forging friendships and connections that extend beyond the stage. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows the tour concert. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows the tour concert. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows the tour concert. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) supports 10 Hong Kong music students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in participating in the Hanoi stop of the RondoFest 2026 in Vietnam. This evening (June 10), the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, attended the tour concert "RondoFest plays Mahler 2" in Hanoi to show support for the Hong Kong students. Photo shows the tour concert. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards

The Department of Health (DH) today (July 14) convened the 14th Meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) to review the reference standards for 16 types of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) commonly used in Hong Kong, and to discuss the future development of the HKCMMS. Over 60 experts from the Chinese Mainland, overseas and Hong Kong attended the meeting.

Since 2002, the DH has been implementing the HKCMMS project in phases to develop standards for commonly used CMM in Hong Kong to ensure their safety and quality.

In his opening remarks, the Director of Health and the Chairperson of the IAB, Dr Ronald Lam, said, "One of the key initiatives of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) under the DH is the implementation of the HKCMMS. With the publication of the Volume 12 of the HKCMMS, standards for 357 types of CMM have been established so far. They have become widely recognised international reference standards for Chinese medicine testing and certification, thereby promoting the high-quality scientific development of Chinese medicine. In addition, the work of GCMTI is closely aligned with national priorities. The National 15th Five-Year Plan made it clear that we need to 'advance the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine' and 'promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine'. It also calls for us to 'strengthen the conservation and utilisation of Chinese medicine resources', 'improve the quality of Chinese medicine, and build up and strengthen the Chinese medicine industry'. These are exactly the goals that the HKCMMS Project is helping to achieve - by setting rigorous quality standards for CMM and conducting applied research and development on testing methods that underpin the entire industry, establishing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a bridgehead for the global expansion of Chinese Medicine."

Dr Lam emphasised that the success of the HKCMMS project depends on the active collaboration of stakeholders across different sectors. He expressed his sincere appreciation to the four research partners attending the meeting, commending their dedicated contributions to advancing the project's research efforts. They were the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the China Medical University. He also thanked the Government Laboratory for conducting inter-laboratory verification studies. Dr Lam emphasised that these collaborations are crucial for establishing a rigorous and solid scientific foundation for the HKCMMS and gaining international credibility. The DH is also deeply grateful to the National Medical Products Administration, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission for their continuous valuable advice and support in developing the HKCMMS. To align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to advance the inheritance, innovation and high-quality development of Chinese medicine, expand and promote Chinese medicine culture, the DH will continue to steadfastly promote the development of Chinese medicine and better integrate into and serve the overall national development.

The two-day meeting brought together experts from the Chinese Mainland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as representatives from research institutions, the DH and the Government Laboratory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The 16 types of CMM commonly used in Hong Kong that were discussed at the meeting included Bambusae Caulis in Taenias, Pyrolae Herba, Natrii Sulfas, Dichroae Radix, Dioscoreae Hypoglaucae Rhizoma, Cynanchi Atrati Radix et Rhizoma, Jasmini Flos, Tinosporae Caulis, Inulae Flos, Haematitum, Lasiosphaera seu Calvatia, Vespae Nidus, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Aconiti Kusnezoffii Folium, Meliae Cortex and Tripterygii Wilfordii Radix.

Previous editions of the HKCMMS can be accessed at the website of the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office of the DH.

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH convenes 14th Meeting of International Advisory Board on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases