RTHK and Shenzhen Media Group Sign MOU for Greater Bay Area Broadcasting Collaboration

RTHK signs Memorandum of Understanding with Shenzhen Media Group

Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and the Shenzhen Media Group (SZMG) today (October 9) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on co-operation in areas including programme resources, talent exchanges and programme production. The two broadcasters aim to jointly promote the further integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), showcasing the latest developments and vibrancy of the GBA to the world, and telling the good stories of the country and the GBA.

Building on the MOU, the two broadcasters have agreed to collaborate across multiple areas to jointly strengthen the broadcasting influence in both cities. The co-operation agreements cover the following:

(1) RTHK and SZMG will share a range of quality programmes produced by each side, including television dramas, history and culture documentaries, biographical documentaries and popular science programmes, enriching the choices of audiences in both cities;

(2) To plan the joint production of GBA-themed television and radio programmes covering culture, tourism and performing arts;

(3) To strengthen news and current affairs information sharing, with the two sides jointly conducting news coverage and producing feature programmes during the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen; and

(4) To jointly produce special programmes celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2027 to promote people-to-people connectivity.

The Director of Broadcasting, Ms Angelina Kwan, signed the MOU with the Party Secretary of the Party Committee and President of SZMG, Ms Shang Boying, in Shenzhen. Ms Kwan said the partnership fully harnesses the respective strengths of the broadcasting organisations in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, jointly providing richer and higher-quality broadcasting content for audiences in the GBA. RTHK will continue to expand its collaboration network with more Chinese Mainland media organisations and leverage Hong Kong's unique advantage of being closely connected with the Chinese Mainland and the world to tell the good stories of the country, the GBA, and Hong Kong on the global stage, enhancing international communication capacity.

In addition to signing MOUs with Chinese Mainland media organisations, RTHK is also seeking opportunities to broadcast more of its own programmes across various media platforms in the Chinese Mainland. Among them, the sports documentary "Out of Bounds" has successfully launched on Migu, the Mainland's largest online sports platform, as well as the online media platforms of several Mainland football associations. The programme offers audiences across China a glimpse into the daily lives, training, and matches of Hong Kong footballers playing for the Chinese Football Super League, illustrating how football connects different Chinese Mainland cities with Hong Kong. RTHK will continue to produce more quality programmes to foster cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.

RTHK signs Memorandum of Understanding with Shenzhen Media Group Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

RTHK signs Memorandum of Understanding with Shenzhen Media Group Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival's "Canvas of Sound" presents Middle Eastern music and improvisatory calligraphy for cross-disciplinary dialogue

The fourth Asia+ Festival will present the "Canvas of Sound" on October 23 and 24, a cross-disciplinary music performance in which Pakistani-born visual artist Tazeen Qayyum will join Syrian-born musicians Feras Charestan and Basel Rajoub to combine Middle Eastern music with live Arabic calligraphy, creating a stirring piece that refreshes the mind.

Charestan brings out the shimmering tones of the qanun, while Rajoub draws the resonant depth of the duclar. Together with percussion and saxophone, they weave a musical tapestry of Middle Eastern music. Qayyum's calligraphy fuses Arabic, Persian and Urdu scripts. Improvising in response to melodies, she lets sound and brushwork echo one another, bringing four themes - hope, kindness, justice and peace - to life on canvas. Each work is created spontaneously during the performance, making every canvas unique, and will be displayed the following day.

Curated by the Aga Khan Music Programme, the gallery edition of the "Canvas of Sound" premiered in 2024 at the National Museum of Qatar in Doha. Its stage edition has received an overwhelming response at the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, and will be performed in Hong Kong as its Asian premiere.

The "Canvas of Sound" will be held at 8pm on October 23 and 24 at the Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre. Tickets priced at $260 and $400 are available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288 or use the mobile ticketing app URBTIX. A meet-the-artist session will be held after both performances.

In addition, the programme features a range of fringe activities, including a display of canvases, a workshop and an outreach performance. For details, please refer to www.asiaplus.gov.hk/2026/en/canvas-of-sound.

Presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Asia+ Festival is held annually from September to November. Themed "Traditions Recast", this year's festival brings together over 30 countries and regions, and presents more than 100 performances and related activities, showcasing the artistic essence of Asia and countries and regions along the Belt and Road. For programme enquiries and ticketing concessions, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.asiaplus.gov.hk.

Asia+ Festival's "Canvas of Sound" presents Middle Eastern music and improvisatory calligraphy for cross-disciplinary dialogue Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival's "Canvas of Sound" presents Middle Eastern music and improvisatory calligraphy for cross-disciplinary dialogue Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival's "Canvas of Sound" presents Middle Eastern music and improvisatory calligraphy for cross-disciplinary dialogue Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Asia+ Festival's "Canvas of Sound" presents Middle Eastern music and improvisatory calligraphy for cross-disciplinary dialogue Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases