Hong Kong Celebrates 20th Asian Games Success at Commendation Ceremony for Medal-Winning Athletes

Commendation Ceremony for Hong Kong, China Delegation to 20th Asian Games held today

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (October 26). He presented certificates of commendation to the medallists in recognition of their outstanding performance in the Games.

The ceremony was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC). The Hong Kong, China delegation of some 580 athletes competed in 38 events and won 54 medals, comprising 11 gold, 19 silver and 24 bronze medals. Both the number of gold medals and the total medal tally were the highest achieved by the delegation at the Asian Games.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said that the athletes' outstanding performance exemplified the hard work and dedication of countless people. He thanked the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the SF&OC, national sports associations, coaches and medical teams for their wholehearted guidance and assistance, adding that their comprehensive support provided staunch backing to the athletes.

He also said that the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to sports development. Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, announced last month, clearly sets out the direction of developing elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong's status as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism and developing sports as an industry, including enhancing athletes' overall standards through the HKSI's elite training system. In the latest Policy Address, he proposed supporting the HKSI in launching a new three-year Sports Executive Training Programme to broaden career pathways for retired athletes and nurture professional management talent for the sports sector.

Other guests attending the ceremony included Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Mr Sun Shangwu; the President of the SF&OC of Hong Kong, China, Dr Timothy Fok; the Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games, Mr Wong Po-kee; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law; the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum; the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, the Commissioner for Sports, Ms Polly Chong; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan.

The Asian Games were held from September 19 to October 4. The list of medallists of the Hong Kong, China Delegation is set out in the Annex.

The Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games was held at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (October 26). Photo shows athletes sharing their experiences of competing in the Games. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games was held at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (October 26). Photo shows athletes sharing their experiences of competing in the Games. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games was held at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (October 26). Photo shows athletes sharing their experiences of competing in the Games. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games today (October 26). Photo shows (front row, from 10th left) the Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games, Mr Wong Po-kee; the Honorary Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Mr Edgar Yang; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the President of the SF&OC, Dr Timothy Fok; Mr Lee; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Sun Shangwu; and the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, with athletes and other guests at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games was held at the Kowloon Park Sports Centre this afternoon (October 26). Photo shows athletes sharing their experiences of competing in the Games. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, speaks at the Commendation Ceremony for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 20th Asian Games today (October 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Tan Dun WE-Festival" to feature first joint performance by two top national art troupes in grand symphonic choral concerts in Hong Kong in December

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the 2026 "Tan Dun WE-Festival" in early December. Curated by Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion and internationally renowned composer and conductor Tan Dun, the Festival features the first joint performance by two prestigious national art troupes - the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) and the CNSO Chorus,in Hong Kong, presenting timeless masterpieces by Beethoven and Mozart, as well as well-known pieces of Tan. Two symphonic choral concerts blending Eastern and Western classical elegance will be staged, alongside a free concert paired with a pre-concert symposium. Tickets will go on sale from October 28 (Wednesday).

"9&9" (December 2)

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This opening concert will feature Tan's "9" (Hong Kong premiere), the world's first choral concerto. Rooted in the "Nine Songs" by Chu poet Qu Yuan from "Chu Ci" while reconstructing the exact core orchestra and choral size as the premiere of Beethoven's "Symphony No.9", the work infuses distinctive Eastern percussion and chanting into a Western orchestral framework, reimagining the sacrificial ritual music of the ancient Chu people. This masterpiece initiates a transcendent, cross-temporal musical dialogue with the "Symphony No. 9", which comes next on the programme. Joining the performance are four outstanding vocalists - soprano Louise Kwong, mezzo-soprano Niru Liu, tenor Li Yi and bass Yang Yi.

"Mozart and Ode To Joy" (December 3)

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The second concert will open with the grand and spirited strains of Beethoven's Overture to "The Creatures of Prometheus". This is followed by Mozart's sublime classic, "Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat", which will be performed by rising stars violinist Nina Wong and violist Yan Lok Hoi. The second half features another rendition of the choral concerto "9", culminating in Beethoven's immortal "Ode to Joy", which highlights the perfect harmony of Eastern and Western philosophy and artistic form.

The two above-mentioned concerts will be held at 8pm at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $250, $350, $450 and $550 will be available from October 28 (Wednesday) onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 30 per cent early bird discount will be offered from October 28 to November 10 for any purchase of standard tickets for the concerts.

"Feng Ya Song & Ode to Joy - A Transcendent Dialogue between Tan Dun and Beethoven" (December 5)

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The Festival also extends its reach with a free pre-concert symposium and a subsequent concert to be held at the Hall of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The pre-concert symposium will host a dialogue between the Director and Executive Director of the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Germany, Malte Boecker, and Tan. In the subsequent concert, young violinists Nina Wong and Alvin Chan, violist Lawrence Wong and cellist Nie Jiapeng will perform Tan's string quartet "Feng Ya Song" and works inspired by Beethoven. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

First held in 2023, the "Tan Dun WE-Festival" leverages this East-meets-West musical celebration to establish Hong Kong as an international stage for cultural and arts exchanges, showcasing the city's unique advantage as a melting pot of Chinese and Western cultures. This year, numerous local young musicians have been invited to participate in the Festival, sharing the stage with artists from various regions to ignite creativity and deliver fresh artistic visions.

For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/music/programs_2026.html.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the 2026 "Tan Dun WE-Festival" from December 2 to 5, curated by Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion and internationally renowned composer and conductor Tan Dun. Photo shows Tan. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases