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Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau

The latest news and top stories on the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. A prominent Hong Kong-based governmental body, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau is dedicated to promoting the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism. Established in July 2022, its main areas of focus include fostering arts and culture, developing creative industries, advancing sports and enhancing Hong Kong’s global tourism appeal. The Bureau is recognised for its significant role in positioning Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and showcasing Chinese heritage.

Spectators take a selfie from Golden Bauhinia Square during the National Day fireworks last year. Prime vantage points for the coming show include Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, the Mid-Levels and Central. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong to mark National Day with 23-minute fireworks show featuring sunflowers

HK$18 million show on October 1 will feature 31,888 pyrotechnic shells exploding over Victoria Harbour celebrating nation’s achievements.

2 Sep 2026 - 9:04PM

Hong Kong Sports Institute

Taking sport into schools at heart of Hong Kong development plan, but is it enough?

10 Aug 2026 - 7:13PM

South Korea

South Korean football faces ‘whistles in favour’ foreign referee sex scandal

7 Aug 2026 - 3:21PMvideocam

Art

Can Hong Kong ‘mega’ arts event HKPAX 2026 meet targets in tough times?

Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo’s co-director Anne Chan talks about slashed entry fees and fresh acts ahead of October’s HK$40 million event.

20 Jul 2026 - 7:13PM

Colombian dance company Sankofa Danzafro will bring their piece “The City of Others” to Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun heritage arts centre as part of the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo 2026. The expo’s new co-director, Anne Chan, explains how it aims to attract visitors, including international delegates, and achieve the same success as the inaugural biennale event in 2024. Photo: Instagram/sankofadanzafro

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong private sports clubs must pay land premiums or open doors as leases end

New arrangement, first announced in 2019, ends long-standing concessionary land premiums granted to private sports clubs that are closed to public.

30 Jun 2026 - 8:37PM

Fifa World Cup 2026

South Korea’s ‘utterly baffled’ president lets rip after early World Cup exit

Lee Jae Myung lays into coach Hong Myung-bo in length social media rant after country’s team failed to get out of the group stage.

28 Jun 2026 - 8:00PM

Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong needs visionaries to run Kai Tak Cruise Terminal: Rosanna Law

Tourism minister also says prospective bidders sought extra time to work on proposals before government extended tender deadline.

23 Jun 2026 - 11:01AMvideocam

The next Kai Tak Cruise Terminal operator must do far more than simply manage cruise berthing operations, the city’s tourism minister has said. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong tourism

Exclusive | How Hong Kong plans to tap popular films, historic buildings to lure tourists

Tourism chief says city will build on success of old Yau Ma Tei police station exhibition to turn more historic buildings into cultural experiences.

23 Jun 2026 - 11:05AMvideocam

Hong Kong tourism

Exclusive | Competing for tourists? Then Hong Kong must be ‘bigger and better’: Rosanna Law

‘If Hong Kong hopes that our neighbouring cities or competitors can stand still … I think that is unrealistic,’ tourism minister says.

23 Jun 2026 - 8:43AMvideocam

Hyrox

Hong Kong to stage 2027 Hyrox World Championships in ‘full-circle moment’

From staging the inaugural competition in Asia-Pacific in 2022 with fewer than 1,000 athletes, Hong Kong saw some 20,000 take part this year.

19 Jun 2026 - 8:41AM

Almost 20,000 athletes took part in this year’s Hyrox event at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong

Hong Kong helpers cry out as popular garden in Central to close for underpass work

Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body says closure of Statue Square Gardens will affect helpers as it serves as vital social hub every Sunday.

21 May 2026 - 9:00AM

Statue Square, next to the garden, has been partially closed since early May for a HK$3.4 million renovation. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong environmental issues

Opinion | Mass tourism is not ecotourism. Hong Kong must do better on this soon

The Yangtze’s turnaround was made possible by the political will to resist economic pressure. Hong Kong should implement similar principles.

19 May 2026 - 10:26AMvideocam

Hong Kong environmental issues

‘Golden week’ crush shows Hong Kong needs top-down ecotourism policy: experts

Former chairman of Hong Kong Countryside Foundation Lam Chiu-ying says ecotourism is fundamentally incompatible with mass tourism.

5 May 2026 - 9:33PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Hongkongers flock to theatres to snap up HK$30 Cinema Day tickets in advance

Customers queue up from as early as 10.30am at Star Cinema in Tseung Kwan O to buy discounted tickets for films screening this Saturday.

22 Apr 2026 - 9:51PMvideocam

Customers queue at Star Cinema in Tseung Kwan O to buy HK$30 tickets on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang

South Korea

BTS comeback drives record 2.06 million tourists to South Korea

Foreigners who went to South Korea for the K-pop group’s concerts spent US$38 million in purchases between January 1 and April 12 ‌.

16 Apr 2026 - 3:37PMvideocam

A BTS fan takes a photo of the band’s poster outside the stadium before the “Arirang” World Tour concert in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9. Photo: AP

Asia travel

K-tourism 2.0: Gen Z tourists prefer singing, dancing immersive holidays

K-pop and K-culture are driving a rise in tourism in South Korea, and many Gen Z visitors are opting for immersive experiences.

9 Mar 2026 - 9:15PM

Hong Kong budget 2026-27

Which Hong Kong government departments get budget boosts while others face cuts?

New funding channelled into innovation, AI and intellectual property despite overall spending cuts and a drive to trim the civil service.

27 Feb 2026 - 9:00AM

China travel

‘Chinese everywhere’: why tourists ditch Tokyo for Seoul as Japan ties sour

Diplomatic row with Japan sent more Chinese travellers packing for Korea, filling its hotels over the nine-day holiday and offering relief to a sluggish domestic economy.

24 Feb 2026 - 4:35PMvideocam

Visitors wear traditional Korean attire in Seoul on February 17. South Korea saw a sharp influx of Chinese tourists over the Lunar New Year holiday period that ended on Monday. Photo: EPA

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong eyes booking system, fees after campers overrun hotspots

Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department reveals plan amid calls for stronger public education, law enforcement and visitor limits at popular sites.

22 Feb 2026 - 11:26PM

Hong Kong Marathon

Tourism carnival or elite-level race? What could be next for Hong Kong Marathon

Olympic gold medallist Vivian Kong tells Legislative Council race could mirror France’s famous wine run; sports minister details other options.

5 Feb 2026 - 8:01PM

Hong Kong sports

Hong Kong men get big boost, offered spot in Chinese Handball Super League

Professional competition involves likes of National Games champions Jiangsu, but city’s amateurs will need funding, get time off work.

5 Feb 2026 - 5:19PM

Hong Kong;s men celebrate with fans at Kai Tak Arena after a National Games clash with Beijing. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong tourism minister aims for more than 50 million visitors in 2026

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law optimistic about increase in tourist arrivals over Lunar New Year holiday.

1 Feb 2026 - 11:30PM

A lion dance group rehearses ahead of the 2025 Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Eugene Lee

Singapore

Gaffes, breaches and sinkhole stars: Singapore’s 2025 social storms

Passionate online discussions have revealed concerns about power, accountability and how the country sees itself.

25 Dec 2025 - 11:30AM

Chinese Basketball Association

Hong Kong Bulls may be closer to CBA league with Kai Tak lined up to host games