Some people call Colombia “South America's gateway to the world”, while some call it the “coffee capital of the world”. However, it’s the unique vitality of Colombian music that has given the country the name it’s proudest of: “the land of a thousand rhythms”. Colombia’s colourful carnival culture originates from the harvest celebrations of its various indigenous tribes, with historical events such as colonisation and nation-building giving rise to an array of ethnically diverse elements. Mr Luís Orozco, Consul General of Colombia in Hong Kong and Macau, will take us on a cultural journey of his homeland, starting with its festive foods and music. Meanwhile, our presenter Chris will take him to the southernmost part of our city, Po Toi Island, known as the “Antartica of Hong Kong”, to participate in the traditional Po Toi Jiao Festival celebrated by the local fisherfolk. We will also introduce viewers to Ingrid, an accessories designer who has been living in Hong Kong for many years. Through her works, she showcases traditional Colombian craftsmanship and her compatriots’ passion for life not only to Hongkongers but people from around the world.

She is everywhere. In restaurants, cafés or gyms in Wanchai, Central or Sheung Wan’s Soho area, you may have run into her - Elsa Jeandedieu. You may even have, like many locals and visitors, taken a photo with her. Is Elsa a super woman with countless manifestations? Certainly, you are not really taking a photo with Elsa the person, but her murals. Elsa was born in Southern France. Set to pursue a career in New York after studying art in France, Elsa followed her brother and came to Hong Kong in 2008. She was fascinated by the small and vibrant city and decided to take root Hong Kong. Elsa does not speak Cantonese, but her murals break the the invisible barriers between people. Yet she had a tough time at the beginning. From the Mediterranean coast of Europe to a financial centre full of skyscrapers in the East, Elsa missed the French way of life at first – the sky became a small band of blue between buildings, getting a cup of coffee was an arduous task, the creative atmosphere was a world away from that of Paris... However, it is precisely the gap in cultural development that has allowed Elsa to find a unique place for herself in Hong Kong. The city’s nature also captivates Elsa. She has fallen in love with distance running and has won numerous medals over the years. The nature has also become her inspirations in art. Over the 16 years, she witnessed the thickening of the atmosphere of art in the city. She started her own studio in 2015. She holds her first solo art exhibition in Hong Kong last year. With paintbrushes and paint, Elsa tells the story of how a warm breeze from the Mediterranean Sea drifts mile after mile to the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.

“Maybe the ultimate goal of mathematics is ‘the truth, the goodness and the beauty’. Human sensation is the most direct and most primitive. First you must have a sensation, then you start pursuing for knowledge.” Professor Ngai-Ming MOK is a mathematician specialising in the research of Several Complex Variables, Complex Differential Geometry and Algebraic Geometry. He is the laureate of the 2022 Future Science Prize – Mathematics and Computer Science Prize for the theory of varieties of minimal rational tangents (VMRT) and his proof of Ax-Schanuel’s conjecture for Shimura varieties. Complex analysis is very important in modern geometry and is the cornerstone of many algebraic theorems. Modern physics also has to make use of the fundamental research of complex numbers to advance. Professor MOK does not only devote himself to the study in mathematics, but also acquires profound knowledge in areas such as literature, poetry and philosophy. Striving for the truth, the goodness and the beauty in knowledge, he draws an analogy and embraces both liberal arts and science to understand and reach out to the world. Professor MOK has considered himself a pursuer of knowledge since a young age. Knowledge across disciplines strengthens his imagination and helps him a lot with his researches in mathematics. Some people think that modern mathematics and physics become more and more distant or even detached from reality, but to Professor MOK, scientists, artists and philosophers are just depicting the same scenery from different perspectives. At the same time, as a professor of mathematics at the University of Hong Kong, Professor MOK commits to nurturing the next generation in the hope of developing more outstanding mathematicians. He said, “I really wish to have mathematicians with ability and potential developed or nurtured in Hong Kong.” Professor MOK places great importance on nurturing the next generation. To him, inheritance is just as important as research. His advice is that students must be committed to mathematics in order to find the right path to unleash their potential.

The government has proposed promoting the development of the cultural and creative industries with the goal of establishing Hong Kong as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange. They also emphasized the establishment of an I & T ecosystem, focusing on developing AI and related technologies to drive growth across industries. Some entertainment companies have seized the opportunities brought by new technologies, introducing metaverse concerts and AI virtual singers to the Hong Kong market. Additionally, technology companies have created AI virtual artistes for real-world advertising campaigns, aiming to capture a market share. With the emergence of Web 3.0, businesses are exploring innovative ways for audience-artiste interactions, expanding markets and exploring their economic benefits. Can the integration of new technologies and business models enhance Hong Kong's cultural exports and strengthen its soft power? What additional support do these enterprises need to take their endeavors to the next level?

Description: ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was established in August 1967 in Bangkok, and has come to feature ten (soon to be eleven) member-states in Southeast Asia. The comprehensive rise of ASEAN is one of the most remarkable phenomena that have defined global geopolitics and economics over the past two decades. With over 660 million people and a dynamic, young, and vibrant workforce, Southeast Asia is doubtlessly a region to watch for those who are interested in the rise of Asia and the increasingly multipolar world order. As China’s most international, globally embedded, and cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong has a critical role to play in bridging Northeast and Southeast Asia. Through rigorous, robust conversations with leading thinkers, businessmen, politicians, and academics in the region, this programme seeks to platform, exhibit, and demonstrate the fascinating intricacies and pluralities that comprise ASEAN today. In this episode, Brian Wong talk to Sok Siphana, Senior Minister, Special Missions & Chairman, Trade Policy Advisory Board of Cambodia.

The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival (the Festival) is scheduled from 19 October to 24 November 2024, various fascinating programmes of the Festival will be staged in "9+2" cities within the Greater Bay Area, showcasing the new vitality of the cultured bay area.

To strengthen the global network of arts institutions and practitioners in the region and beyond, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) hosts the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo (HKPAX, pronounced as “Hong-Kong-pax”) from 14 to 18 October 2024, presenting Expo Programmes, International Showcases, Pitch Sessions, Talks, Exhibition and Networking Activities to encourage interaction and promote exchange among arts professionals from China including Hong Kong and around the globe.

The imaginative world of Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei, known for dressing the rich and famous, royalty and the political elite. On show at M+ is a collection of garments designed by her that embody both Chinese and Western influences. You may even recognise some of the iconic dresses on display. On show for the first time in Hong Kong at Rossi & Rossi gallery, is an exhibition of works by the Nepali artist Lain Singh Bangdel. He’s often described as the “father of modern art in Nepal”. He was also a novelist, scholar and preservationist. KASA is a Japanese-Filipino singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Hong Kong. He’s also a teacher at a local secondary school, and the lead vocalist of local bands “Seasons for Change” and “Soul of Ears”. Late last month, he released his first EP, “My Pocket Dimension”. He’s with us right now.