Carnival of Care and Harmony Held to Promote Multiculturalism and Inclusion in Hong Kong

Carnival of Care and Harmony held today

The Carnival of Care and Harmony, organised by the Home Affairs Department, was held today (August 23). Through multicultural performances, interactive game booths, and sharing of service users' experiences, the event promoted interaction among people of different ethnicities, and showcased to the community the messages of care and inclusion.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiated the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Other officiating guests included the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said friends from non-ethnic Chinese communities may still encounter challenges in their daily lives in Hong Kong, such as language barriers and cultural differences. Government bureaux and departments are dedicated to providing a wide range of support services to help them integrate more fully into society and realise their potential, so that Hong Kong can truly become a home for all.

Mr Chan also said that there are currently 10 Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities, located in districts with larger populations of non-ethnic Chinese communities, running a diverse range of services and activities. Among these, a total of 12 "Ethnic Minority Care Teams", led by social workers, have been established at each of the Support Service Centres, where they proactively conduct home visits and reach out to ethnic minorities; a "Youth Network" and a "Women's Network" have also been established at every Support Service Centre, which organise targeted programmes such as career training, exchange visits to the Mainland and health seminars specifically for ethnic minority youth and women, helping them build social connections, integrate into the community, and deepen their understanding of the country's development.

At the event, four young service users from the Support Service Centres shared their experiences of participating in the "Youth Network" Mainland exchange tours. They visited Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen to deepen their understanding of national history and culture, and gained insight into the country's development opportunities through technology park, museum, and space centre visits.

The Carnival of Care and Harmony featured performances of different ethnic groups that included dancing and traditional musical instrument performances, as well as interactive booths that allowed participants to learn about Hong Kong's multiculturalism through hands-on activities. The event not only provided a platform for interaction, it also deepened the public's understanding of people from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures, promoting the spirit of care, respect, and inclusion.

The Carnival of Care and Harmony, organised by the Home Affairs Department, was held today (August 23). Photo shows a multicultural performance at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Carnival of Care and Harmony, organised by the Home Affairs Department, was held today (August 23). Photo shows a multicultural performance at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Carnival of Care and Harmony, organised by the Home Affairs Department, was held today (August 23). Photo shows young service users from the Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities sharing their experiences of participating in the "Youth Network" Mainland exchange tours at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Carnival of Care and Harmony today (August 23). Photo shows Mr Chan (second right) and the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To (third right) touring the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Carnival of Care and Harmony today (August 23). Photo shows Mr Chan (front row, centre) and the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To (front row, left) touring the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, speaks at the Carnival of Care and Harmony today (August 23). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Carnival of Care and Harmony, organised by the Home Affairs Department, was held today (August 23). Photo shows the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (seventh right); the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To (seventh left) and other guests at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Carnival of Care and Harmony today (August 23). Photo shows Mr Chan (centre); the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To (fifth left) and other guests at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SITI at Award Presentation Ceremony of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2026

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Award Presentation Ceremony of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Asia-Pacific Robot Contest (ABU Robocon) 2026 today (August 23):

Mr Ahmed Nadeem (Secretary General of the ABU), Angelina (Director of Broadcasting, Ms Angelina Kwan), Cordelia (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Ms Cordelia Chung), esteemed judges, brilliant young innovators, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. It is my honour to join you today at the ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2026 as Hong Kong proudly hosts this flagship competition again after 14 years.

This year's theme, "Kung Fu Quest", perfectly blended traditional martial arts with cutting-edge technologies in robotics. Thank you and congratulations to all participants, for letting us witness agility, precision, and strategy reimagined through your brilliant engineering. The robots you built showhow technological innovation can bridge culture and modernity, while your passion and teamwork embody perseverance that defines both martial arts and scientific discovery.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is fully committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T (innovation and technology) centre. We are enhancing the I&T ecosystem across the full spectrum, from upstream basic research, to midstream and downstream industry development. Seeing your incredible creations today reinforces our confidence in the future. Bright young talents like you would provide impetus to I&T development, and we spare no effort in providing support to turn your boldest ideas into reality. Through innovation hubs like the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, we offer comprehensive incubation, mentorship and business-matching support. Wherever you come from, Hong Kong is an ideal place to unlock your potentials, to groom your passions and to realise your aspirations.

To all our participants tonight, you are all champions in my eyes. Carry this "Kung Fu" spirit of discipline and continuous self-improvement into your future journeys. Keep questioning the impossible, and never stop innovating!

Finally, I wish you all a memorable evening and all overseas participants an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, speaks at the Award Presentation Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2026 today (August 23). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases