Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2025: Celebrating Joy through Comedy, Music, and Art in April

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April

The third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival (PCF), organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will kick off in April themed "More Than Joy". By exploring the classics of Hong Kong's master comedians and discovering elements of hilarity in music, images and text, audiences can appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible in addition to joy and laughter. Opening week programmes will feature "Silhouette Resonance x The Banquet (1991)" and music carnival "ImagineLand 2025", inviting the public to immerse themselves in the charm of pop culture.

Opening Week Programmes

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Silhouette Resonance x The Banquet (1991)

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Kicking off the festival is the opening programme "Silhouette Resonance x The Banquet (1991)" to be staged on April 4 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. Renowned musician Ng Cheuk-yin will reimagine beloved songs from classic comedy films with fresh arrangements, while pop singer Alfred Hui, the a cappella choral theatre company Yat Po Singers, and beatboxer Heartgrey (Eric So) will perform together with a live band. Following the performance, there will be a screening of "The Banquet" (1991) (4K digitally restored version), a comedy produced to raise disaster relief funds for flood relief, directed by Tsui Hark, Clifton Ko, Cheung Tung Joe and Alfred Cheung, featuring a cast of legendary stars. The opening programme, blending entertainment with cultural artistry, offers audiences a fresh and inspiring perspective on the vibrancy of Hong Kong's pop culture.

ImagineLand 2025

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Another highlight of the PCF is an outdoor music carnival "ImagineLand 2025" to be held on April 5 and 6 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, the Central Lawn & Event Trellis of Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars free of charge. Supported and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the two-day carnival features both daytime and evening programmes. "Go Beyond Concert", "Comics Fun Experience Gallery" and "Funarts Corner" will be available during the day, whereas film programme "Movie Under the Stars" will be held at night. "Go Beyond Concert" will showcase three stages featuring over 35 musicians and artists from Hong Kong and eight countries and regions including Mainland China, Japan, Korea, the United States, Australia, France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. The event showcases boundless possibilities of music across the performances. Major line-ups of local artists include Ivana Wong, Joey Tang, Yatfung, Cloud, Ashley Lin, Pandora, Chu Wan-pin and more, performing mesmerising popular songs and original works.

In addition to the music concert, "Comics Fun Experience Gallery" will display Hong Kong comics and animation from different eras to highlight the creativity of local artists. Visitors canlearn aboutthe history of Hong Kong's comics and animation while taking photos with comic characters. In addition, "Funarts Corner" will offer workshops on art, music, and crafts for public participation. In the evenings, "Movie Under the Stars" will screen local comedies: "Table For Six" (2022) and "Forbidden City Cop" (1996) on April 5 and 6 respectively, allowing audiences to enjoy outdoor films while relaxing on the lawn.

Other festival highlights include:

Film Screening

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Apart from "The Banquet" (1991), the Hong Kong Film Archive will hold a "Laughter Double Bill: Hong Kong Comedy Film Spectacular" film screening, showcasing eight pairs of thematically related classic films from the 1940s to the 2000s, including "Black Rose" (1965) (2K Digital Version) and "92 The Legendary la Rose Noire" (1992), "The Judge Goes to Pieces" (1948), and "Justice, My Foot!"(1992), showcasing the comedic sparks of master comedians from different eras while illustrating the evolution of Hong Kong comedy films.

Exhibitions

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"Comic Fun for All: The Magic of Hong Kong Comedy Comics", running from May this year to March 2026 at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, will showcase exhibits related to Hong Kong comedy comics from different periods. The exhibition will also feature the creative concepts and artistic features behind them, showing the unique charm of Hong Kong comedy comics.

Another exhibition, "Legends of HK Film Comedies, 1980s and 1990s", to be held from May to October at the Hong Kong Film Archive, will feature a wide selection of highlights from different films, offering an amusing window into the past. In-depth analysis of the films by renowned actors and behind-the-scenes filmmakers will also be offered to reveal the essence of Hong Kong humour.

Library Activities

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To support the PCF's theme of "More Than Joy", the Hong Kong Public Libraries will organise a series of activities under the theme of "Happy Reading" from April to August. This will feature book displays with themes "Delightful Comics", "Into the World of Movies" and "Music Delights: from Classical Music to Popular Songs". It will also include subject talks on "Hong Kong Comics" and "Hong Kong Style Humor Films", as well as workshops on "Digital Art - Creative Comic Drawing" and "National Games Comics Path", all aimed at sharing fun and happiness through comics, music and films. The "Meet-the-Authors 2025" will focus on "Joyful Writing" to explore writing and positivity. In April, Dr Chan Kai-tai, a psychiatrist and lyricist, will speak on "When Words meet Music and Mind: Cantopop and Well-being" to explore how the lyrics of Cantopop promote our mental well-being.

Performing Arts

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The 2025 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras-Bands "The Animated Melodies - Our Nostalgic Memories" will be held at Yuen Long Theatre in April, showcasing all-time favourite theme songs from animations such as "Nintama Rantarō" and "The Lion King", and a medley of works by Akira Toriyama to transport audiences back to nostalgic moments. Another two "Let's Have Fun with Music" concerts by Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra in May will blend the best of classical and pop music. To heighten the excitement, original animations crafted by local talents will be woven into the concert, making it a truly engaging and enjoyable concert. Meanwhile, "Vivek Mahbubani Stand-up Comedy - Funny made in Hong Kong" by Hong Kong born stand-up comedian Vivek Mahbubani will feature jokes about the funny things of Hong Kong's golden standard of "fast, beautiful and awesome" in June.

In pop music, "Ko Shan Fest" will be staged at Ko Shan Theatre in June, featuring two concerts curated by renowned producer and music director Carl Wong. Wong will collaborate with bands with diverse backgrounds and styles to reintroduce audiences to the history and culture of Hong Kong band music. Another two "Music & Laughs" concerts will be held in July at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Curated by veteran producer Edward Chan in collaboration with pop music artists and the Symphonic Pops Orchestra and band, the performance invites the audience to explore together: What is comedy? Severalpopular artists will join this feast and details will be announced later.

Alongside the above programmes, several industry partners will be offering a range of events as part of the festival, which are not to be missed. These include "My Stage@HKCC 2025/26 - Saturday Music Live" by Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups; "2025 Hong Kong Reading +" by the Hong Kong Publishing Federation; "JITN - SHAG" by the Jazz World (Hong Kong) Ltd & Count-in Music Ltd; "Cinema Day 2025" by Hong Kong Theatres Association Ltd; "Cherish Tonight" concerts by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra; and the "4th HK Comics Support Programme" by the Hong Kong Comics & Animation Federation.

Hong Kong's pop culture has drawn inspiration particularly from humour, a constant trendsetter that has left a deep footprint on many aspects of the city's rich and colourful pop cultural landscape. The PCF 2025, with more than 20 programmes, will not only delight audiences with exciting performances and works but will also offer an insight into the development paths of Hong Kong's pop culture along the line of "happiness". By participating in these activities, audiences will be able to discover their own happiness.

For more details, please visit the website:www.pcf.gov.hk, or call 2601 8703 for enquiries.

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKSAR Government strongly condemns US for intimidating Central Authorities and HKSAR officials safeguarding national security through so-called "sanctions"

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (April 1) strongly condemns the United States (US) for including six Central Authorities and HKSAR officials in a so-called "sanctions" list in an attempt to intimidate the relevant officials safeguarding national security. It, once again, clearly exposed the US' barbarity under its hegemony, which is exactly the same as its recent tactics in bullying and coercing various countries and regions. The HKSAR despises such so-called "sanctions" and is not intimidated by such despicable behaviour. The HKSAR officials will continue to resolutely discharge the duty of safeguarding national security. The HKSAR Government will make every effort to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all personnel.

A spokesman for the HKSAR Government pointed out, "The specified absconders mentioned in the US statement are wanted and have arrest warrants issued by the court against them not because they 'exercised their freedom of speech', but because they have been at large in the US, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, etc. and continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, including inciting secession and requesting foreign countries to impose 'sanctions' or blockade and engage in other hostile activities against the People's Republic of China and the HKSAR. The US, however, gives cover for them who have committed these evil deeds. It is therefore necessary for the HKSAR to take all lawful measures in accordance with the law, including measures specified under section 89 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, to strongly combat such acts. The specified measures aim at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts of abscondment by suspects, and procuring the return of the absconded persons to Hong Kong to face judicial proceedings. All specified measures align with human rights requirements; and quite a number of countries including the US, the UK and Canada would also impose such measures on wanted criminals. The US deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks on the measures and actions taken by the HKSAR Government in accordance with the law in an attempt to mislead the public. The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves of such acts."

The spokesman also pointed out, "The fact is that the US has been ignoring the non-interference principle under international law, interfering with other countries' internal affairs, grooming agents, instigating 'colour revolutions', creating social unrest and multiple humanitarian disasters through economic and military coercion, causing suffering to people in many countries. With the Central Authorities having enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law and the HKSAR having completed the legislative exercise to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has strengthened the legal regime in safeguarding national security and prevented the US from succeeding. The false accusation thereafter against the HKSAR personnel safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law and, on top of that, the imposition of the so-called 'sanctions' in the guise of defending human rights and democracy indeed constitute a demonstration of shameless hypocrisy with double standards on the part of the US.

"The HKSAR Government has the responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, those who are suspected to have committed offences endangering national security and absconded overseas. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR is in charge of criminal prosecutions under Article 63 of the Basic Law, with all its prosecutorial decisions made on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws."