30 per cent early bird discount for Asia+ Festival stage programmes to end on September 3
The second edition of the Asia+ Festival will be held from September to November, highlighting the arts and culture of nearly 30 countries from Asia, the Middle East and Belt and Road regions.
The festival is offering Stage Programmes Booking Discount Schemes, including package booking, group booking and "Middle Eastern Series" package booking discounts. An additional 5 per cent discount is available for full-price tickets for selected programmes purchased through any of the above schemes on or before September 3. The biggest discount amounts to 30 per cent. For details of the discount schemes, please refer to Booking Guide on the festival website. Audiences should act quickly to take advantage of the early bird discount.
The Asia+ Festival is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. This year its scale is even larger, showcasing over 100 performances and activities.
The booking discount schemes are applicable to the nine stage programmes below:
1. Opening Programme:"The Accountants"
British cross-disciplinary artist Keith Khan, Mainland Chinese choreographer Xie Xin and Indian choreographers Terence Lewis and Mahrukh Dumasia come together for this uplifting and high-tech visual spectacle.
2. "The Woven Sounds"
Iranian ethnomusicologist and musician Mehdi Aminian performs rarely seen traditional Persian instruments with his ensemble, reviving a folk custom of carpet weavers who would sing while working.
3. "After the Rain"
Local group Toolbox Percussion, media arts collective Dimension Plus and Singaporean composer Lee Jiayi transform the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs into a striking chamber for a site-specific multimedia music journey.
4. Elīna Garanča Gala Concert
Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, hailed as the finest "Carmen" in 25 years, performs a fine selection of opera excerpts and songs in her Hong Kong debut.
5. "+1+1+1+"
Japanese media arts pioneer Daito Manabe, choreographer MIKIKO and her dance company ELEVENPLAY co-create a hyperreal digital odyssey with holographic projection in this arts tech showpiece.
6. Piano Recital by Krystian Zimerman (limited tickets left)
Widely regarded as one of the world's greatest pianists, Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman returns after a 12-year hiatus to perform two recitals with partly different programmes.
7. "Post Capitalistic Auction"
In this alternative yet authentic auction co-created by Mainland Chinese artist Jingyi Wang and local curator Kyle Chung, audience members will have the opportunity to bid in tangible or intangible ways they can think of.
8. Concert by Kinan Azmeh
Syrian-born award-winning clarinettist Kinan Azmeh, with a distinctive voice that blends Arabic and Western influences, will be joined by percussionist John Hadfield and five emerging local musicians in his Hong Kong debut.
9. "Atonement"
This suspenseful production by Malaysian theatre group MUKA Space is adapted from "Den Skyldige", the Best Film at the Robert Awards. It also won five awards at the prestigious ADA Drama Awards in its home country.
Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). The telephone booking hotline number is 3166 1288; audiences may also use the mobile ticketing application URBTIX. For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/.
30 per cent early bird discount for Asia+ Festival stage programmes to end on September 3 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
30 per cent early bird discount for Asia+ Festival stage programmes to end on September 3 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
30 per cent early bird discount for Asia+ Festival stage programmes to end on September 3 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
30 per cent early bird discount for Asia+ Festival stage programmes to end on September 3 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security), Mr Kan Kai-yan, inspected the passing-out parade for 29 probationary inspectors and 164 recruit police constables at the Hong Kong Police College today (September 14) and witnessed the moment they became new members of the Force.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Mr Kan Kai-yan thanked the family and friends who attended the ceremony for their support and trust in the graduates, enabling them to be a powerful force resolutely safeguarding their “home” - Hong Kong. He was proud to see the graduates formally shoulder the mission of “safeguarding their family and country and upholding the rule of law”.
He encouraged the graduates that no matter what new challenges and difficulties they face in the future, they should not forget their original intention of joining the Force in fighting against evils and be a good policeman. He also used a popular movie quote – remember one word called “heart”, to encourage the graduates to do everything well with their hearts.
Mr Kan said that whether it is dealing with a request from citizens, solving problems in relation to people's livelihood and community security, or safeguarding national security, everyone of them should do their utmost with their “hearts”, and the public would feel the enthusiasm and professionalism that a good policeman should have.
He continued that with the change of the times and circumstances, “evils” do not only refer to fraudsters who cheat in real life and the cyber world, but also traitors who endanger national security. In addition to the ever changing modus operandi of crimes, there are also challenges in dealing with unprecedented national security risks.
“As the head of the National Security Department of the Force, I especially want to refer to the national security risks we are facing. At present, our society seems to be stable on the surface, but in fact the national security risk is secretly surging everywhere; there are still people who use “soft confrontation” to infiltrate the society and endanger national security; external forces continue to keep an eye on us, intending to curb the development of the country by interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and wantonly smearing the city and our country; and local terrorism is also going underground. In recent years, we have detected many cases involving firearms and bombs, which is enough proof of such risks. It has not only posed a threat to national security, but also seriously endangered the personal safety of every Hong Kong citizen.”
He believes that “safeguarding national security” is the responsibility of every officer, and it is also one of the strategic directions of the Force and one of the operational priorities of the Commissioner of Police.
“The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance which came to effect this year clearly stipulates that we must take national security as the most important consideration in making any decision and carrying out our duties. Therefore, in the face of the national security risks and as the forefront of protecting our people’s lives and property, all of us should have national security awareness to identify national security risk at an early stage for proper prevention and swift response, working together to fulfil the mission of safeguarding national security.”
Finally, he once again encouraged the graduates, who are about to take up their respective posts that no matter what environment and difficulties they face, they should always keep in mind and adhere to their original intention of joining the Force in fighting against evils, carrying out duties in their own post with “heart”, contributing to the Force and society, maintaining the stability and prosperity of the country and Hong Kong, and enabling every citizen to live well and thrive.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Deputy Commissioner of Police (National Security) inspects passing-out parade at HK Police College Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
