Outstanding Hong Kong Arts and Cultural Programmes and Exhibitions Set to Shine at 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival

Outstanding Hong Kong arts and cultural programmes and exhibitions set to shine at 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival

The 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, jointly presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Government of the Macao SAR, runs for approximately six weeks across theGreater Bay Area (GBA) starting today (October 31). The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has curated 23 local and visiting programmes and exhibitions to support Hong Kong arts groups and artists in bringing high-calibre productions to Chinese Mainland GBA cities, thereby showcasing Hong Kong's unique charm as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Festival held this evening (October 31) in Shenzhen, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, saidthat Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, promulgated this year, proposes to deepen the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA and leverage its unique role as a bridge connecting China and the wider world to become a first-class bay area worldwide, and arts and cultural exchange is an important means of building such a connection. The official establishment of the Organising Committee of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival this year marks a new milestone in the development of the Festival, creating a more far-reaching impact for the Festival through collaboration, and showcasing the cultural integration, vitality and charm of the GBA in full.

The LCSD is jointly presenting three highlight programmes with arts organisations in the GBA, with the first two having received funding from the China National Arts Fund. These include "ChoreoMusica Soiree" - copresented by the LCSD and Guangzhou's Xinghai Concert Hall, with Hong Kong cross-disciplinary artist Tsang Man-tung as artistic director - being staged in Guangzhou, and the musical "Pan Yu Lin" by Actors' Family to debut in Shenzhen, which chronicles the legendary life of Pan Yu-lin, a Chinese female Western painter. In addition, "The Unfettered Hour" by Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio, will bring to Shenzhen a solo play depicting life choices through poetic staging.

In addition, the LCSD will also support a number of local arts groups, including the Hong Kong String Orchestra and the Hong Kong Guaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble, to perform across GBA cities during the Festival. Alongside the performances, the exhibition "75 Years of Cinematic Glamour - An Exhibition of Sil-Metropole Film Stills and Posters (Qianhai's Station)", organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Authority of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of the Shenzhen Municipality, and the Sil-Metropole Organisation Limited, will also be unveiled.

The LCSD is also organising a wide range of programmes and activities in Hong Kong. Visiting programmes include the "Taksu - The Spirit of Gamelan" by Malaysia's leading percussion ensemble, Hands Percussion, joining forces with Gamelan Yuganada from Bali, Indonesia, and the contemporary acrobatic theatre "Teh Dar" by Lune Production from Vietnam, as well as a multimedia dance production "Sál" by fuse* from Italy, and more. Members of the public are welcome to participate in the large-scale free programmes such as Cantonese Opera Day, Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+, and Muse Fest HK 2026, as well as visit different ongoing exhibitions at LCSD museums.

For details of the activities of the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival and ticketing arrangements, please visit www.cxlo.gov.hk/en/6th-gbaf.

Outstanding Hong Kong arts and cultural programmes are set to shine at the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival starting today (October 31). Photo shows a performance scene from the musical "Pan Yu Lin" by Actors' Family. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Outstanding Hong Kong arts and cultural programmes and exhibitions are set to shine at the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival starting today (October 31). Photo shows a performance scene from the solo play "The Unfettered Hour" by Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Outstanding Hong Kong arts and cultural programmes are set to shine at the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival starting today (October 31). Photo shows a performance scene from "ChoreoMusica Soiree". Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Outstanding Hong Kong arts and cultural programmes are set to shine at the 6th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival starting today (October 31). Photo shows the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, attended the opening ceremony of the Festival this evening and gave a speech. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CAS stages concert to celebrate its band's 50th anniversary

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Aid Service (CAS) Band, the CAS today (November1) held the "CAS Band 50th Anniversary Concert" at the Academic Community Hall of HongKong Baptist University (HKBU). The concert featured the premiere of the CAS song "United We Stand", showcasing the spirit of "Serving the Community with Passion, Courage and Commitment". More than a thousand serving and retired CAS members, together with their family members, attended the event to mark this important milestone.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk,expressed gratitude to the Organising Committee for the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the CAS Band for their careful planning and efforts, which contributed to the success of the event. He remarked that over the past half-century, the CAS Band has grown from a small-scale unit into a music group widely recognised by society today. This journey has been forged by the dedication of successive members, bears testimony to the passing of the torch within the Band, and reflects the CAS's steadfast belief in serving society and caring for the community.

Other guests attending the event included the Interim Provost of HKBU, Professor Liu Jiming; the Commissioner of the CAS, Mr Victor Pang; and the Chief Staff Officer of the CAS, Mr Leung Kwun-hong.

The concert featured a rich and diverse programme. The CAS Band, together with HKBU students, performed a series of wellknown pieces, including "only you cannot be replaced", "The Brave Chinese" and "My People, My Country".

Members of the CAS Cadet Corps also presented "You Raise Me Up" and a Chinese drum performance. HKBU students gave performances including piano solos, flute and clarinet duets, as well as Chinese dance. The concert concluded with all performers joining in a mass choir rendition of classic songs, such as "Ode to the Motherland" and "Beneath The Lion Rock", bringing the event to a successful close.

Source: AI-found images