Hong Kong ETO Supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Cultural Concerts in Hanoi, Strengthening Ties with Vietnam.

Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam.

The tour runs from August 2 to 23, comprising 11 performances in nine cities, including Hanoi, Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo. This year's orchestra comprises about 100 young musicians from 13 countries and regions across Asia, namely the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, etc.

The first Hanoi concert was held at the Ho Guom Opera House yesterday evening (August 12). Under the baton of guest conductor John Axelrod and featuring pianist Stephan Xie, winner of the 2025 Tianjin Juilliard Piano Festival, the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien", Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3" and Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 5". The concert attracted an audience of about 700 and was well received.

As part of its efforts to promote cultural exchanges and deepen Hong Kong's ties with Vietnam, the Singapore ETO invited the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr He Wei, and his wife, Ms Sun Chang, as well as representatives from the Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local business and cultural sectors, chambers of commerce and the Hong Kong community in Vietnam, to attend the concert.

The Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, also attended the concert in Hanoi this evening to show her support for the AYO. She also met Hong Kong members of the orchestra to learn more about their participation in the tour and offered encouragement to the young musicians.

Ms Hung said that the Singapore ETO was pleased to support the AYO in bringing its young musicians and music to audiences in Vietnam. The Hanoi concerts not only provide the young musicians with valuable opportunities to showcase their talent on an international stage, but also promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Vietnam through music.

She added that Hong Kong, as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges, has a vibrant arts and cultural scene with strong international connections. The Singapore ETO will continue to support Hong Kong artists and arts groups in reaching out to audiences in Southeast Asia and promote exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and the region.

The AYO will stage its second concert at the Ho Guom Opera House today (August 13), under the baton of its Principal Conductor, Joseph Bastian, and will feature pianist Anna Tsybuleva.

Founded in Hong Kong, the AYO brings together outstanding young musicians from across Asia through auditions. Each summer, members of the orchestra undergo an intensive period of rehearsals and training before embarking on an international concert tour, performing under distinguished conductors and alongside renowned soloists. Since its inaugural concerts in 1990, the AYO has performed extensively in Asia and beyond and has played an important role in nurturing young musical talent and fostering cultural exchange through music.

Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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 (August 13) 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;
• Seek shade;
• 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 theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.

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