Cantonese opera virtuosi, in "A Showcase of Cantonese Operas by Tong Tik-sang", will perform three selected works from Tong Tik-sang, namely "All Because of a Smile", "The Dream Meeting between Emperor Wu of Hon and Lady Wei" and "Madame Wild Rose" in September to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Tong's death.

     Performing virtuosi will include Loong Koon-tin, Nam Fung, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Chan Ka-ming and Sun Kim-long. Details of the performances are as follows:

September 2 (Monday), 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Programme: "All Because of a Smile"
Tickets: $140 to $280
Synopsis: Fan Bingning is a prized housemaid in the residence of Jinan governor Wen Shoulian. At the marriage proposal of the high-born Yang Yuelou, Shoulian releases her to marry while he weds Yan Xijiao at his mother's behest. Yuelou's uncle, Daomang, a greedy gambler, kills Yuelou for money and implicates Bingning. At the trial, the judge is Shoulian. Delighted at seeing her former master, Bingning breaks into a smile. Daomang uses the smile as an excuse to smear Bingning of adultery, and bringing pressure from the military chief to bear, forces Shoulian to indict Bingning and put her in prison, pending death. Bingning gives birth to a son in prison and places the baby under Shoulian's care, hoping her son will clear her name and redress his father's untimely death when he grows up. The disaffected Shoulian resigns from office in order to bring up baby Xiaolou. Eighteen years later…

September 3 (Tuesday), 7.30pm
Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
Programme: "The Dream Meeting between Emperor Wu of Hon and Lady Wei"
Tickets: $140 to $320
Synopsis: Wei Ziqing is a songstress at a prince's palace. Her brother Wei Qing, a slave charged with taking care of the horses, is in love with the widowed Princess Pingyang. In order to free her lover from servitude, the Princess plots with Dongfang Shuo to arrange a romantic meeting between Ziqing and Emperor Wu, who is on his way to a sacrificial ritual. Ziqing is conferred the title of Lady Wei and is inducted into the palace to seek an audience with the Empress Dowager. The jealous Empress Chen secretly summons her brother to kill Ziqing but he fails. Emperor Wu sends Wei Qing to lead a military expedition to the west. Ziqing lives in confinement in Changmen, where the Emperor visits her in secret and is delighted to learn that she is pregnant by him. But the situation turns when the news is unfortunately leaked to the Empress…

September 7 (Saturday), 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Programme: "Madame Wild Rose"
Tickets: $140 to $260
Synopsis: To outsiders, Dou Mei (Wild Rose) and her elder brother Pihai make their living selling swords and keeping a tavern, but in fact, they steal their guests' swords, which Pihai tweaks and sells them for new. Three years ago, Wild Rose and the Crown Prince Zhu Erkui were lovers, and she had given him a sword as gift. Later, Erkui's uncle Zhu Yunwen ascends the throne. He travels incognito to visit the Dou brother and sister, with the purpose of bringing them to live in the palace. When Erkui returns from his expedition, he believes that Yunwen has usurped his throne and seized his beloved. He vents his fury by wreaking havoc in the imperial court. Empress Dowager Pan wants to kill Erkui, but Yunwen saves his life by pretending to insult him and sends him into exile. Erkui invades the State of Yan, and after a number of mishaps, becomes first the consort to Princess Ma Yu'e, before becoming King of Yan. He leads an army southwards and kills indiscriminately, to the misery of his people…

     "A Showcase of Cantonese Operas by Tong Tik-sang" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_845.html.　

     A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk (in Cantonese) will be held. The pre-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on August 7 (Wednesday) at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It will include speakers Loong Koon-tin and Sun Kim-long. The post-performance talk will be held at 2.30pm on September 8 (Sunday) at AC1, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers for this talk include Loong Koon-tin and Nam Fung. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

     In response to rumours circulating on mobile instant messaging applications, claiming that officials from home affairs will visit the public with official letters to verify the validity of their personal identification documents in preparation for the upcoming election, a Home Affairs Department spokesperson today (July 26) clarified that the claims are totally unfounded and appealed to the public to stay vigilant.

     The Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the Development Bureau (DEVB) will hold the "Winning Entries of Revitalised Historic Buildings Instagram Photo Competition" roving exhibition from August 6 to December 31, featuring winning entries of the photo competition themed on historic buildings under Batches I to III of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (Revitalisation Scheme).

     "The Revitalisation Scheme aims to preserve government-owned historic buildings and put them into innovative use. The public response to the Instagram photo competition on historic buildings under the Revitalisation Scheme was overwhelming. We wish to allow more members of the public to appreciate the winning entries, encourage the public to visit the revitalised historic buildings and enhance public understanding of the Revitalisation Scheme through the roving exhibition," a spokesman for the DEVB said today (July 26).

     The roving exhibition will be held at the following government venues, shopping malls and private museum:

* G/F, F11 Foto Museum, Happy Valley (August 6 to 20)
* Thematic Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui (August 7 to September 18)
* Lift lobby, G/F, D2 Place TWO, Lai Chi Kok (August 22 to September 21)
* S507, 5/F, Staunton, PMQ, Central (September 3 to 15)
* Event Hall, UG/F, Citywalk 2, Tsuen Wan (September 5 to 11)
* Stars Atrium, 1/F, Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill (September 27 to October 3)
* Covered Piazza, Times Square, Causeway Bay (October 28 to November 3)
* Lobby, 1/F, Immigration Tower, Wan Chai (December 1 to 31)

     The roving exhibition will also be held at the following public libraries:

* Wong Nai Chung Public Library and Aberdeen Public Library (September 2 to 15)
* San Po Kong Public Library and Tung Chung Public Library (September 17 to 29)
* Tuen Mun Public Library and South Kwai Chung Public Library (October 1 to 15)
* Ngau Chi Wan Public Library and Shui Wo Street Public Library, Kwun Tong (October 17 to 30)
* Sheung Shui Public Library and Yuen Long Public Library (November 1 to 14)
* North Kwai Chung Public Library and Tsing Yi Public Library (November 16 to 28)
* Lai Chi Kok Public Library and Ma On Shan Public Library (December 1 to 15)
* Tseung Kwan O Public Library and Chai Wan Public Library (December 17 to 31)
 
     The public can visit the historic buildings under Batches I to III of the Revitalisation Scheme during the designated opening hours and join their free guided tours on a first-come, first-served basis. During the event period, complimentary booklets on the exhibition will be available at these historic buildings under Revitalisation Scheme, exhibition venues, and various museums in the territory.
      
     For details of the roving exhibition, please visit the heritage conservation website (www.heritage.gov.hk/en/whatsnew/events_61.htm) or call 2848 6230 for enquiries.

     The historic buildings from Batches I to III of the Revitalisation Scheme are Savannah College of Art and Design (Hong Kong) (Former North Kowloon Magistracy), Tai O Heritage Hotel (Old Tai O Police Station), Hong Kong Baptist University School of Chinese Medicine – Lui Seng Chun (Lui Seng Chun), YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel (Mei Ho House), Jao Tsung-I Academy (Former Lai Chi Kok Hospital), Green Hub (Old Tai Po Police Station), Stone Houses Family Garden (Stone Houses), Viva Blue House (Blue House Cluster), Hong Kong News-Expo (Bridges Street Market), the HKFYG Leadership Institute (Former Fanling Magistracy) and Haw Par Music Farm (Haw Par Mansion).

  

     Talented young Hong Kong choreographers Joseph Lee, Terry Tsang and Tsang Wing-fai will stage their new dance works "Drifting", "Mo Ngaan Tai" and "Infiltrated" under the "New Force in Motion" Series in September.
 
     The "New Force in Motion" Series presents new dance works by emerging choreographers. It aims to offer a professional platform for young choreographers to showcase choreography, encourage development, and stimulate creativity.
 
     "Drifting", choreographed and performed by Joseph Lee, will feature performers Holmes Cheung and Lawrence Lau. "Mo Ngaan Tai", choreographed by Terry Tsang, will feature performances by dancers Jessica Ho, Poon Chun-ho, Pak Wei-ming and Sabrina Wong, while "Infiltrated", choreographed by Tsang Wing-fai, will feature performances by dancers Blue Ka-wing, Cheung Tsz-kwan, Helen Ko and Carmen Li.
 
     Joseph Lee was born in Hong Kong and began his dance training at the age of 17. He graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with a bachelor in professional accountancy, and from The Place, London Contemporary Dance School, with a Master of Arts (Contemporary Dance). On his return to Hong Kong after graduation, he joined Unlock Dancing Plaza and became its resident artist until now. He is interested in expanding the imagination of choreography by redefining the boundaries of performance and examining the very nature of dance. His recent interests lie in the reading, transfer and reconstruction of bodily experience, as well as reflection and questioning of the performative nature rooted in the daily life of contemporary society. 
 
     Terry Tsang studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2010, majoring in modern dance. He joined the City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) in 2013 as a full-time dancer. In 2012 and 2013, he received CCDC Dance Centre Dance Training scholarships, and presented "Exotic" at both the Beijing Dance Festival and the Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, after which "Exotic" was invited to restage at the E-Side Dance Company in 2014. In 2016, he choreographed "Hide • Flee" at "Dancers' Homework" by the CCDC, and was invited by the Hong Kong Dance Alliance to perform his solo piece "Sole" at the 18th Hong Kong Dance Awards in the same year. He presented "Trinity" at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series by the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2017, and "Terry-fy" at the CCDC's "Dancers' Homework" in 2019. In recent years, he has devoted himself to dance photography by establishing photo_t.jj, which explores the possibilities and variance of body movements.
 
     Hong Kong freelance dancer Tsang Wing-fai dreamed of becoming a dance artist since primary school age. Tsang graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Architectural Studies. She started dancing at a young age, performing styles from Chinese to street dance and contemporary dance. She is active in choreographing for universities, high schools and youth performances. She loves to choreograph, perform, dance and compete with crewmates, and grow by overcoming challenges. In June 2018, she collaborated with Ho Ming-yan to release their first full-length performance "Fit in What?" on the CCDC Dance Centre Real Showcase platform. She has also performed in "Confine" and "I.I.I", choreographed by KT Yau in October 2018 and January 2019 respectively.
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "New Force in Motion Series: Joseph Lee, Terry Tsang and Tsang Wing Fai" will be staged at 8pm on September 13 and 14 (Friday and Saturday) and at 3pm on September 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Black Box Theatre of the Kwai Tsing Theatre. Tickets priced at $180 (free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_808.html.

     The Government today (July 26) announced that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Kenny Wong Kam-shan as Deputy Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal, and Professor Michael Siu Kin-wai, Mr Alan Yip Chi-wing and Mr Cheung Ka-li as members of the tribunal for a two-year term with effect from December 1, 2019.
 
     The Chief Executive has also appointed Miss Cheung Yee-mei as a new member of the tribunal for a two-year-and-four-month term with effect from August 1, 2019.
 
     "We would like to express our gratitude to the outgoing member Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu for his service to the tribunal over the past years," a Government spokesman said.
 
     The Copyright Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body established under the Copyright Ordinance. It adjudicates on disputes concerning the terms and conditions of copyright licensing schemes devised by licensing bodies. It consists of a chairman, a deputy chairman and seven members.       
 
     The full membership of the Copyright Tribunal, with effect from August 1, 2019, is as follows:

Mr Albert Wong Kwai-huen (Chairman)
Mr Kenny Wong Kam-shan (Deputy Chairman)
Ms Grace Chu Hing-wah
Professor Michael Siu Kin-wai
Mr Kenneth Wong Wing-yan
Mr Alan Yip Chi-wing
Mr Cheung Ka-li
Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen
Miss Cheung Yee-mei