Meanwhile, in the other SAR ...
Macau's annual school singing competition attracted more than 2,000 participants earlier this month.
The 27th Interschool Singing Contest, organised by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, was held at Macao Cultural Centre. More than 800 students from 14 secondary schools participated alongside 1,204 students from 23 primary schools. Each school sang two songs in the language of its choice to a crowd of more than 4,000 people.
Amy Chan, 16, went to watch her cousin perform, saying that it was really well done. 'It sounds great and I know they have been practising for a long time in the hopes of doing well,' Amy said. 'My cousin loves singing and has her own band. They play a lot in their free time and I suppose the school singing helps her with voice training.'
A spokesman for the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau said music was a crucial part of education.
'Music enhances one's lifestyle,' he said. 'The singing contest is held each year to enrich extra-curricular activity of students, cultivate student's interest in music, enhance the spirit of friendship and unity, as well as encourage musical communication among schools in order to improve the level of singing skills.'