Hong Kong’s acclaimed independent rock trio, Pandora, successfully concluded their “BLOOM LIVE 2025” mini-tour with a high-energy, nearly two-hour performance in Macau. Following two sold-out nights last month at Hong Kong’s MacPherson Stadium, the band—comprising bassist Anakin, vocalist/guitarist Tony, and drummer Michael—delivered 26 tracks of their signature “healing rock” to an enthusiastic crowd, referred to affectionately by the band as “The Boxes” (Ho Jai). The energetic show, held recently, served as the band’s first headline concert outside of Hong Kong, solidifying their growing regional appeal.

Electrifying Start Ignites Macau Audience

The concert immediately captivated attendees with the powerful opening number, “BLOOM,” which elicited a roar of excitement from the venue. The band quickly leveraged their close connection with fans, diving into a sequence of popular hits including “Landing on My Pandora,” “Avant-Garde,” and “The Young Novelist.” Frontman Tony actively encouraged the audience to engage, shouting “Let’s jump together,” which sent the energy levels soaring early in the night.

Pandora differentiated the Macau setlist by incorporating fan requests, notably adding the track “South Sky Gate,” much to the delight of the local audience. Interaction peaked during songs like “Emergency Escape Method,” where the entire venue provided choral accompaniment and rhythm clapping. The positive feedback loop continued as adrenaline-pumping anthems such as “Pink Bubble Shield” and “Live life to the Fullest” prompted fans to raise their hands and dance, drawing praise from the trio who exclaimed, “You guys are amazing!”

Moments of Reflection and Collective Celebration

A poignant segment, dubbed the “Heartbeat” section, highlighted the band’s emotional resonance. During their breakout debut single, “Grasp the Heartbeat,” Tony invited collective participation, stating, “Let’s sing this together,” creating a unified chorus between the band and their supporters.

The sentiment deepened during performances of “Future Journey” and “Flower’s Life,” where the band expressed gratitude for the audience’s role in their artistic journey. This emotional climax saw a mass singalong accompanied by a shower of multi-colored confetti, creating a deeply moving spectacle that emphasized themes of growth and shared memories. This moment underscored the therapeutic quality often attributed to Pandora’s musical style.

Improvisation Marks Historic Encore

Following a brief intermission, Pandora returned to the stage donning limited-edition “BLOOM” themed merchandise. Addressing the continuous cheers, the musicians playfully acknowledged the intensity of the crowd, with Tony lightheartedly asking, “You guys are incredible, has anyone attended the Hong Kong show?”

The encore commenced with the strategic anthem “Game Theory,” dedicated as a heartfelt thank you to fans for supporting their inaugural solo spectacle outside their home base. Demonstrating their spontaneity and commitment to their Boxes community, the band then engaged in an impromptu song request session, adjusting their planned setlist—or “rundown”—on the fly. This unique personalization capped the Macau concert, leaving a memorable impression of mutual appreciation and artistic freedom.

This successful outing reaffirms Pandora’s rising stature in the independent Asian rock scene, demonstrating their ability to fill venues and forge powerful emotional bonds with diverse regional audiences through their distinctive brand of rock music. The tour’s success sets a strong precedent for future international engagements.

A poignant farewell was offered this week to veteran actor Hui Siu-hung (許紹雄), widely known by his professional name Benz Hui. Mr. Hui passed away on October 28 at the age of 75, due to multi-organ failure stemming from cancer. The funeral proceedings began on Monday, November 17, with a wake held at the Po Fook Memorial Hall in Tai Wai, Hong Kong, followed by the funeral service and cremation the following morning.

The revered performing artist, often affectionately referred to as “Uncle Benz” by fans, cultivated a career spanning over four decades, earning a reputation for his versatile character work, particularly in Hong Kong television dramas and films. Although his official age was reported as “over 80,” his actual age at the time of death was confirmed to be 75.

A Private Ceremony and Public Tribute

The services were primarily conducted as private affairs, reserved for close family and lifelong friends. However, a specific window was allotted on Monday afternoon, between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, allowing members of the public to pay their final respects to the beloved actor. This dedicated hour underscored the deep connection Mr. Hui maintained with his audience throughout his long career.

In a striking visual testament to his popularity, images circulated online showing the memorial hall virtually enveloped in a sea of floral tributes. Mourners and well-wishers, including numerous industry contacts, sent an overwhelming number of wreaths and floral arrangements. One social media post shared by an individual involved in the funeral industry highlighted the extensive volume of flowers arriving even before the formal wake commenced, indicating flower shops were continually engaged in preparing bouquets.

These lavish tributes led many online commenters to reflect on Mr. Hui’s exceptional personal connections and professional camaraderie. Fans often invoked one of his popular screen personas, “Officer Fong” (方中Sir), remarking that the outpouring of support was powerful evidence of the actor’s strong positive influence and “excellent personal relationships” within and outside the entertainment sphere. Messages conveying wishes for a peaceful journey consistently accompanied these digital tributes.

Legacy in Hong Kong Cinema

Benz Hui was celebrated for his ability to seamlessly transition between comedic and dramatic roles, often portraying earnest, slightly eccentric, but ultimately lovable figures. His reliable presence made him a mainstay of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema and television. His passing marks the loss of a significant figure who embodied the spirit of reliable supporting acting—a crucial element of Hong Kong dramatic productions.

While the specifics of his battle with cancer were kept largely private, his final days saw fans and colleagues expressing profound sorrow and gratitude for the considerable body of work he leaves behind. The funeral proceedings concluded on Tuesday morning with the casket being moved for cremation, finalizing the tribute to an industry icon whose legacy will endure through his many memorable performances.

The conclusion of the popular television singing competition, Voice Show, has been overshadowed by an ongoing controversy involving mentor and veteran Hong Kong singer, William So (also known as Ah Gong), whose past legal issues appear to have severely impacted the program’s broadcast reach in mainland China.

The controversy escalated in September after an apparent resurrection of So’s 2002 drug-related transgressions by online commentators. This scrutiny reportedly captured the attention of mainland media outlets, which questioned his suitability as a public figure and called for legal accountability. Following the media pressure, Voice Show episodes were reportedly removed from broadcast schedules across several mainland platforms, raising speculation that the show had been unofficially blacklisted from a crucial market.

Mentor Posts Social Media Thank You Amid Fallout

Despite the external tumult, So appeared briefly during the competition’s finale but declined media interviews at the time. Days later, he took to social media, sharing celebratory photographs from a cast and crew dinner marking the end of the series. The images featured numerous participants and fellow industry figures, including singers Joey Thye, Kaho Hung, Rita Carpio, Chan Yi Tak, and Joey Wong (JW).

In an extensive post, So extended congratulations to the winners and expressed deep gratitude to the entire production team for their guidance and assistance. He singled out renowned artist Hins Cheung for particular praise.

“Huge thanks to @hinscheung for his unwavering support and for taking care of the three kids,” So wrote, referring to the contestants. “This definitely created unforgettable memories for them and made their journey even more spectacular.”

Apology to Production Staff

However, the post also contained a noticeable undercurrent of regret regarding the disruption caused by his personal history. So offered an explicit apology to the show’s producer, acknowledging the burden his issues placed on the team.

“My apologies for causing inconvenience,” he stated, adding a resolute, “Did my best, it’s in my heart.”

So concluded his thanks by reflecting on the rare sense of camaraderie he experienced on the set, suggesting that he never expected to find a team he would miss this much since his days on classic TV series like File of Justice and The Healing Hands.

“I was wrong,” So conceded. “To my Voice Show team, we will meet again.”

Context and Implications for Broadcasts

The incident highlights the intensifying scrutiny faced by Hong Kong and Taiwanese celebrities working within the mainland entertainment ecosystem. While Hong Kong’s broadcasting authority, TVB, airs programs like Voice Show locally, their distribution and co-productions across the border remain susceptible to mainland regulatory and public sentiment shifts, particularly concerning the behavior and past conduct of celebrity talent.

For production companies, the swift negative reaction serves as a reminder of the need for rigorous due diligence regarding all key personnel, as historical events—even decade-old ones—can be mobilized by online communities and state media to enforce accountability standards that are often stricter than those in the artists’ originating territories. The rumored suspension of the show’s mainland broadcast signals immediate financial and viewership impact, forcing the network and production partners to navigate sensitive political and social lines in future talent acquisitions.