Exciting Music and Dance Lineup in "Hong Kong Artists" Series This Fall

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026 presents four recitals to showcase cultural vitality of Hong Kong's new generation

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present exceptional music and dance programmes under its "Hong Kong Artists" Series this year. Taking the lead from September to November, four recitals will bring together a number of outstanding local musicians performing on percussion, saxophone, piano and dizi, showcasing the musical pulse and cultural vitality of Hong Kong's new generation. Tickets for the recitals will go on sale at URBTIX from 10am this Wednesday (June 17).

Brief introductions of the recitals are as follows:

Percussion Recital by Elise Liu and Friends

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Date and time: September 13 (Sunday), 8pm

Under the theme "The Voice Within", percussionist Elise Liu has invited four of her musical confidants - percussion elites Karen Yu, Samuel Chan and Eugene Kwong, alongside soprano Rachel Kwok - to join her in performing a selection of contemporary percussion masterpieces, including Cerrone's "Goldbeater's Skin", Jodlowski's "Time & Money" and Honstein's "Hymning". The recital blends the multifaceted timbre of percussion, the ethereal poetry of the soprano voice and avant-garde electronic music elements to weave a deeply stirring percussion soundscape that resonates with the soul.

Liu holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Haute École de Musique Lausanne. She was awarded the "Young Musician of the Year" at the 70th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. She has also clinched first prizes in several prominent competitions, including the Australian Marimba Competition and the Italy Percussion Competition.

Saxophone Recital by Charles Ng

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Date and time: October 8 (Thursday), 8pm

The recital features a diverse repertoire blending elements of electronic music and percussion. Saxophonist Charles Ng will perform masterful compositions by Chen Gang, Reich, Swerts and more. Major highlights of the programme include the Asian premieres of Farias' "Cuaderno de la Pampa" and Preinfalk's "Little Bitter Sweet Symphony", as well as the world premiere of "Celestial Architecture", a joint creation by Ng and local composer Charles Kwong. At this concert, the multifaceted musical landscapes of the contemporary saxophone will be unveiled.

Ng is currently a member of the world-renowned, Austrian saxophone quintet Five Sax, as well as the co-director of the Dawn of Asia Saxophone Project. He performs frequently with various orchestras across the globe and has been invited to conduct masterclasses at major institutions and music festivals. He currently teaches at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Piano Recital by John Lee

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Date and time: October 27 (Tuesday), 8pm

The recital presents piano miniatures spanning the Baroque, Romantic and 20th-century eras. Young pianist John Lee will perform masterworks by Bach, Rachmaninov, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Puccini, alongside a selection of classic miniatures radiating Viennese and Spanish dance flair. These include Kreisler's "Liebesleid" and "Liebesfreud", together with pieces from Granados' "Goyescas". He will also perform virtuoso jazz-infused works, including Wild's "Embraceable You" from "7 Virtuoso Etudes based on George Gershwin" and Trenet's "En avril, à Paris", showcasing his formidable pianistic technique and artistic vision.

Lee graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and furthered his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in the United Kingdom (UK), where he obtained his Master of Music degree with Distinction. He was awarded first prize in the Watford International Piano Competition in the UK and the Clamo Music International Piano Competition in Spain. His collaborative performance of Rachmaninov's work with the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Región de Murcia in Spain was met with critical acclaim.

Dizi Recital by Candy Yau Kwan-lam

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Date and time: November 9 (Monday), 8pm

The recital features a selection of 10 dizi pieces infused with regional musical styles of Guangdong, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Henan, Hebei, Tibet and Xinjiang. The programme includes timeless classics such as "Wujiang Scenery", "Birds in Shade" and "Three Five Seven", alongside contemporary masterpieces like "Wilderness" and "Horizon". Young dizi performer Candy Yau will be joined by her harmonious musical collaborators, including Chan Kai-him (huqin), Lam Pui-kuen (huqin), Lo Hok-chun (percussion),Chan Wing-hei (yangqin), Chan Sze-tung (ruan) and Liu Tsz-shing (piano), to present the rich expressiveness of dizi music, integrating wind, bowed and plucked strings, percussion and piano accompaniment, offering music lovers a musical feast that traverses the landscapes of the country.

Yau won the gold award in the fifth "Song Ting Cup" National Dizi and Xiao Invitational Competition (Professional Youth category). She currently serves as a guest musician for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, as well as a member of the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble and a Music Office Part-time Instructor (Dizi).

The above-mentioned recitals will be held at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall with tickets priced at $220. Tickets will be available from June 17 (Wednesday) onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 25 per cent early bird discount will be offered from June 17 until July 7 (Tuesday) for each purchase of two or more standard tickets of the music programmes under the "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026. Package discounts and Group Booking discounts are also available. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1985.html.

In addition to the above-mentioned music programmes, the "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026 will present more dance programmes. Programme details and booking schedules will be announced in due course.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present four recitals under its "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026 from September to November. Photo shows dizi performer Candy Yau. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present four recitals under its "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026 from September to November. Photo shows pianist John Lee. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present four recitals under its "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026 from September to November. Photo shows saxophonist Charles Ng. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present four recitals under its "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2026 from September to November. Photo shows percussionist Elise Liu. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Three property owners fined nearly $230,000 in total for not complying with statutory orders

Three owners were convicted and fined $225,320 in total at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (June 12) for failing to comply with statutory orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The first case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 32 square metres on the roof of a village house on a lot at D.D. 115, Yuen Long. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the unauthorised building works (UBWs) and the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was convicted and fined $102,600 in total, of which $62,600 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.

The second case involved alteration of two adjoining units into mini-storage units in an industrial building on San On Street, Tuen Mun. As the alteration and addition works obstructed the means of escape and means of access for firefighting and rescue, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations, two removal orders and two repair orders were served on the two owners under section 24(1) and section 26 of the BO. Failing to comply with the statutory orders, the owners were prosecuted by the BD and were convicted and fined $122,720 in total, of which $62,720 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.

A spokesman for the BD said today (June 15), "UBWs, including the unauthorised alterations causing obstruction to the means of escape and means of access for firefighting and rescue, or affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building, may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders and repair orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building and public safety."

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. Moreover, failure to comply with a repair order without reasonable excuse is also a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of level 5 ($50,000 at present) and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $5,000 for each day that the offence continues.