Author Archives: hksar gov

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 is 104.9 (down 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, at a media session after attending a symposium today (October 3):

Reporter: Do you agree that the Government’s index does not reflect the reality? Would there be any new measures against rat infestation?

Secretary for Food and Health: As far as the work of rodent control is concerned, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is actually having a number of measures. First of all, in terms of surveillance, they are putting a lot of different measures in the districts in order to check the indexes of rodent (Rodent Infestation Rates). As I have just emphasised, this type of surveillance is only one of the measures in providing information. People in the districts, including our staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, District Council members and also residents, know very well where the black spots are and places where there are lots of rats. This information will be provided to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Other than the overall work of rodent control, they are also doing focused work. That means they target a number of streets where there are black spots, and they would put more efforts in those streets, including education, cleaning and enforcement. I think these are some of the focused measures. As far as new technology is concerned, we have already asked the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to explore further new methods in terms of surveillance and killing rats in the community. Once they come up with some new measures and new technologies that should be evidence-based and fit in the context of the community, I will be most happy to provide more resources for them to go forward with the work of strengthening rodent control.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

     To commemorate the life and achievements of Professor Jao Tsung-i, the master of Chinese studies, an exhibition entitled “The Academic & Art Publications of Professor Jao Tsung-i” is being held from today (October 3) until February 26 next year at the Hong Kong Central Library. The exhibition demonstrates Professor Jao’s endeavours to pass on Chinese traditional culture, as well as his research achievements in the academic and art fields.
      
     Professor Jao was very learned in matters of the ancient and modern worlds and strong in both the academic field and fine arts. His significant achievements contributed tremendously to the promotion of Chinese traditional culture. Professor Jao’s research, spanning decades, covered areas including history, literature, language and religious studies as well as philosophy, arts and Chinese and Western cultures. He was world-renowned for his outstanding achievements.
      
     Co-organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of the University of Hong Kong, with the support of the Jao Link, the exhibition comprehensively displays Professor Jao’s publications on various subjects in academic and art research, as well as calligraphy, manuscripts, offprints and more, along with works on studies of Professor Jao by scholars from Mainland China and Hong Kong.
      
     To complement the exhibition, three talks, to be conducted in Cantonese, about Professor Jao’s new approaches to painting and calligraphy, life wisdom and theory development will be held at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library during October and December. Moreover, four bookmarks featuring Professor Jao’s work “Four Screen Lotus” will be distributed for free to members of the public in phases while stocks last during the exhibition and the talks.
      
     Admission to the exhibition and the talks is free. For details, please call 2921 0285 or visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/extension-activities/tag/140510/the-academic-art-publications-of-professor-jao-tsung-i.

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     The “Heritage Vogue · Hollywood Road” street carnival will again be held on November 4 (Sunday), with activities including exhibitions, guided tours, workshops and performances providing a unique opportunity for the public to experience the rich history, culture and arts ambience of Hollywood Road.
      
     The event is spearheaded by the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office (CHO) of the Development Bureau in collaboration with the Antiquities and Monuments Office, Tai Kwun, PMQ, Hong Kong Antique and Art Galleries Association (HKAAGA), and Arts in Heritage Research.
      
     A spokesman for the CHO said today (October 3), “Last year’s ‘Heritage Vogue · Hollywood Road’ carnival was well received, with enthusiastic public participation. This year, we decided to rerun the street carnival, with a view to enhancing the public’s understanding of the long history of Hollywood Road as well as promoting built heritage conservation in Hong Kong.”
      
     The event will be held at the section of Hollywood Road from Wyndham Street through to the junction with Aberdeen Street, Tai Kwun and PMQ with dance and music performances, guided tours, workshops, exhibitions and more. The non-profit-making organisations that run the Batch I to III projects of the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (Revitalisation Scheme) will also host activities at their own marquees along the road, enabling the public to learn more about the current uses and services of the revitalised historic buildings. The HKAAGA and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) will contribute to a signature night parade, including large-scale Man Cheong and Mo Tai puppets and dragon and lion dance teams of TWGHs, as the highlight of the carnival.
      
     Route maps of the event will be distributed at various locations in the territory from October 15 onwards. During the event period, Hollywood Road pamphlets, route maps and four magnetic badges of Tai Kwun, PMQ, Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan and “Heritage Vogue · Hollywood Road” will be distributed at the visitor information counters on Hollywood Road, and the four magnetic badges will also be distributed at the respective historic buildings and exhibition marquees of the CHO on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors can also collect all 15 stamps of the Batch I to III Revitalisation Scheme projects, Tai Kwun, PMQ and Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan as well as the 10th anniversary logo of the CHO of the Development Bureau at designated marquees and spots on Hollywood Road, and get a limited edition of Health and Happiness Chess on a first-come, first-served basis upon completion of a questionnaire at the visitor information counters.
      
     The Batch I to III projects of the Revitalisation Scheme are Savannah College of Art and Design (Hong Kong), Tai O Heritage Hotel, Hong Kong Baptist University School of Chinese Medicine – Lui Seng Chun, Jao Tsung-I Academy, YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel, Green Hub, Stone Houses Family Garden, Viva Blue House, Hong Kong News-Expo, The HKFYG Leadership Institute and Haw Par Music Farm. Students of the Savannah College of Art and Design (Hong Kong) also took part in creating the design concept for the whole event this year.
      
     Other participating groups include the Cha Duk Chang Children’s Cantonese Opera Association, Music Children Foundation, Miriam and Chris, Chan Pik Sum & Phoebus Chan, Rock Fang @ Studiodanz, YRock, VIRT, Only One Jazz Orchestra, LingMonKaiPe, Opus a la Carte Collective, The Moving Drums, Fuzi Chamber, VSing, Wan Pin Chu & Friends, Acoufunkture, BellSingers, Saxo Electro, Zenwester, Tsun Lok Dizi Enzemble Group, Clara & Ivan Lo, Patrick Lui & Friends, Humming Breeze, The Gundum Style, Nero Lee & Friends, CUHK Chinese Music Ensemble and Scarlet Bros.
      
     Participants are encouraged to go to the event by public transport. For more information on the traffic and bus route diversion (12, 12M, 13, 26, 40M and H1), please refer to the notice to be released later by the Transport Department (www.td.gov.hk/en/traffic_notices/index.html).
      
     Given that the section of Hollywood Road from Wyndham Street through to the junction with Aberdeen Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the event, the organiser will provide a free shuttle bus service that will be in operation from 6am to 10pm on event day for local residents at the frequency of every 10 to 15 minutes with the following stops:
 

• Lyndhurst Terrace (Lyndhurst Tower)
• Caine Road (Near Ladder Street)
• Caine Road (Near Aberdeen Street)
• Caine Road (Caritas House)
• Arbuthnot Road (Opposite to The Centrium)

     For details about the event, please visit the heritage conservation website of the Development Bureau (www.heritage.gov.hk/en/whatsnew/events.htm) or call 2848 6230 (Business Hours from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday; and November 4 from 9am to 8.30pm).
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     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (October 3) reported that the suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) pending results yesterday (October 2), upon preliminary testing, tested negat… read more