As the Victoria Harbour skyline glimmers this December, the atmosphere is different. What was originally planned as a night of "Universal Joy" has been purposefully renamed "Universal Peace".
The "Starry Night Before Christmas 2025", a two-night open-air concert organized by Artists' Home, a Christian Fellowship for actors in Hong Kong, is set to take place on December 23 and 24 at the AXA x WONDERLAND in West Kowloon. While the event celebrates the organization's milestone 40th anniversary, it arrives at a time when the city is still reeling from a recent tragic fire in Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court.
"A recent fire in Hong Kong has been heart-wrenching," said Wong Cho-lam, the celebrated entertainer who currently heads the Artists' Home. "For the past few days, my heart, like everyone else's, has been in pain."
Wong revealed that in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the organizing team faced a dilemma. They feared that a celebratory atmosphere would be insensitive to a grieving city. However, during their hesitation, they received an outpouring of messages from believers across the region expressing a desire to come to Hong Kong to offer companionship and comfort.
"Stopping might be easier for us," Wong said. "But supporting, comforting, and holding each other up—that is what family should do."
Consequently, the organizers decided to proceed but shifted the theme from "Joy" to "Peace."
"In a Christmas that is not easy, let worship bring peace to every wounded soul," Wong said. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. I believe this is the greatest meaning of Jesus' birth."
A Sanctuary Reborn
The Artists' Home holds a unique place in the history of Hong Kong's entertainment industry. Founded in the mid-1980s by the late actor Roy Chiao (Qiao Hong), the fellowship was born out of a specific tragedy.
According to founding members, the initiative began after the shock suicide of popular actress Barbara Yung (Yung Mei-ling) in 1985. Her death devastated the industry and highlighted the hidden fragility behind the glamour of stardom.
Over the last 40 years, the group has been a sanctuary for stars navigating the pressures of fame. However, the organization has also weathered its own storms. Wong Cho-lam candidly admitted that the fellowship experienced periods of division and decline, comparing their journey to the Israelites who drifted during times of prosperity.
"There were power struggles, cliques, and people leaving. At one point, I thought, 'If I wanted to play these games, I'd just go back to the entertainment industry,'" Wong recalled.
The mantle of leadership eventually fell to Wong, who admitted to praying for over a year before accepting the role.
"I realized if we didn't address the root problems—money, relationships, generational gaps—we would just repeat history," Wong said.
To bridge the gap between veteran stars and the younger generation who felt alienated by "old school" methods, Wong brought in "Pastor Buzz" (Rev. Poon Hing-cheung), a former rapper with a burden for the entertainment world. Under this renewed vision, the fellowship has seen a revival of unity, described by members as returning to "the life of the saints."
An Altar at the Harbor
The 40th-anniversary concert represents the fruit of this restoration. Wong emphasized that the event is not merely a performance but a spiritual act.
"The stage will extend right into the center of the audience," Wong explained. "We hope to see a worship service of 10,000 people happen in Hong Kong. We are building an altar of worship."
The lineup features over twenty renowned artists and worship teams, including vocal powerhouses Janice Vidal and Teresa Carpio, and veteran songwriter Huang Kuo-lun. Various ministries, including Stream of Praise, The Alpha Course, and Heyman, will host booths to offer prayer and counseling to attendees.
Addressing questions about why the event requires ticket sales, Wong explained that the Artists' Home is approaching this not just as a gathering, but as a high-quality production, revealing that current sponsorships cover only about 10% of the expenses.
"For this service, I will either earn heavenly riches or go bankrupt," he added with a laugh.
Looking beyond the anniversary, Wong envisions Hong Kong becoming an international hub for faith exchange.
"This Christmas concert has one primary goal: To glorify God," Wong stated. "When you lift God in a place, He will watch over that place."
