The Summer Music Workshop organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will be held from July 20 to August 31. In addition to music classes for children aged 4 to 9, a new music ensemble workshop will be introduced for children aged 10 to 12. Applications are now open and will close on June 10.
 
     The workshop aims to encourage children to acquire music knowledge and explore their interest in learning music during the summer vacation. It is not necessary for participants to have received any music training beforehand. Children aged 4 to 6 can develop their listening skills and rhythmic sense through music listening exercises and eurhythmics training in class, and acquire basic music knowledge including music notation, note values and rhythms. Through images or introductory videos of Chinese and Western musical instruments, children will learn to identify different types of musical instruments and their playing methods. Participants must each be accompanied by an adult in class.
 
     Classes for children aged 7 to 9 will teach some music theory in strengthen their students' music knowledge of rhythms, pitches, dynamics, emotions and tone colours. The new music ensemble workshop is open for children aged 10 to 12. Students should bring their own iPad and portable Bluetooth speaker to class so that they can experience the fun of ensemble playing and music-making by using tablet music software. The music guide "Meet Music", edited by the Music Office, will also be used by tutors of both classes to introduce the appearance, tone colours and characteristics of various Chinese and Western orchestral instruments.
 
     The workshop, comprising five lessons, will be conducted in Cantonese with a total tuition fee of $340. A ballot will be held if the classes are oversubscribed. For classes not fully taken up after the deadline, applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting from July 12. Children who attend all five lessons will be given a certificate of attendance.
 
     Successful applicants who have paid the tuition fee will receive an email invitation from the Music Office to one of the "Introduction to Chinese and Western Musical Instruments" sessions. Interested participants should apply by email while the enrolment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     Online applications are now available at www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course information and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. For enquiries, please call 2158 6466 or 2158 6463.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 10) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Shek O Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Clear Water Bay First Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the service demand surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

A man who went missing in Sai Kung has been located.

Ma Kau-tai, aged 57, went missing after he was last seen on Hong Kin Road, Sai Kung on April 29 noon. His family made a report to Police on the next day (April 30).

The man was located in a park on Austin Road in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday (May 9) afternoon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) and the Warsaw-based Centre for International Relations (CIR) held a business luncheon in Gdansk, Poland on May 8 (Gdansk time) to introduce Polish companies to the new business opportunities emerging in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area). Participants came from small and medium-sized Polish enterprises of various sectors including fintech and innovation and technology.

     The Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, said that the Greater Bay Area is a vibrant city cluster that comprises the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as nine municipalities in Guangdong (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing). Collectively, they represent an economic force of nearly 70 million people with a GDP of around US$1.6 trillion.

     Polish businesses in Hong Kong will continue to benefit from Hong Kong's traditional strengths including the low and simple tax system, the rule of law, and the strategic location in the heart of Asia at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, added Mr Li. In its role as a facilitator, Hong Kong serves as the bridge linking the goods and services of Polish companies with other markets in the region. New prospects will arise from the enhanced connectivity of the cities in the Greater Bay Area, fostering economic integration in the region. Hong Kong is not only a global financial centre but also developing into the region’s innovation and technology hub. It is best place for investment in the Asia Pacific region, whether directly in Hong Kong or in the Mainland of China through Hong Kong, he said.

     Mr Li also emphasised Hong Kong’s importance as an international trade, logistics and business hub. "Whereas Gdansk is a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe by sea, Hong Kong is a key hub of the Greater Bay Area, while continuing to serve as the gateway to the Mainland of China and the Southeast Asian countries," he said.

     He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) sees Gdansk as its major partner in this part of Europe for boosting bilateral economic ties and helping Polish companies to find partners and business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

     Following the welcome remarks, Dr Chung Wing-hin, the Head of the Investment Promotion of HKETO Berlin, presented the latest initiatives to attract innovative businesses to Hong Kong with the support of InvestHK, the HKSARG department tasked with facilitating inward investment. "Hong Kong, with its business-friendly environment, sound legal framework and the international connectivity will all help businesses and individuals to connect and excel in this exciting new global economic zone," he said.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official HKSARG representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Poland as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.