Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending radio programmes today (August 24):

Reporter: Mr Chan, I just want to ask about the 80 000 passenger figure again which is like significantly lower than the figure quoted in 2015 when the Government asked for more extra funding. Do you think people in Hong Kong would feel that they're cheated this time?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: I would say that the patronage contained in the Legislative (Council) paper back in 2015 or even earlier is indeed higher than what we have been trying to inform the public today. But I would emphasise even at those days, those figures are being quoted and given based on some scientific simulation models which are commonly used in global cross-boundary infrastructure. For the figures we quoted today or yesterday, actually these are figures that are based on similar models, but with the addition of change in the frequency of high-speed rail train. For example, like normal days from Monday to Thursday, there would be about 70 pairs of trains, for weekends 82 (pairs), and then on peak days it would be about 114 pairs. And these changes in the number of train pairs today would indeed bring changes to the patronage. So we are actually trying to review as much as possible to let the public and everybody of Hong Kong know the exact situation.

Reporter: … the number of non-stop trains can't be increased in the future if the passenger numbers go up and under what sort of condition would that go ahead?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: At this moment in time, because it's something new for Hong Kong and therefore we are not for sure how many patronage we are going to have on day one. We do have an agreement with the China Railway (Corporation) in future – if the patronage will change or the fill-up rate is high, then we would kick in the mechanism to talk about additional train pair and perhaps also additional train destination, and hopefully would bring more benefits and choices for Hong Kong people. Thank you.

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

     The Government gazetted the nomination period for the Rural By-election today (August 24). Seven Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from August 30 to September 12.

     The by-election will return one Resident Representative for each of the two Existing Villages (Mok Ka, and Kwun Yam Shan and Kong Pui). The by-election will also return one Indigenous Inhabitant Representative for each of the four Indigenous Villages (Tam Shui Hang, Ho Chung, Fan Tin San Yi Cho and Tai Wai), and one Composite Indigenous Village (Wong Ka Wai and Lung Tseng Tau).
      
     To be eligible for a Resident Representative By-election, a candidate must be a resident of the Existing Village and must have been a resident of the Village for the six years immediately preceding the nomination. His or her principal residential address must be in the Village and "principal residential address" means the address of the dwelling place at which the candidate resides and which constitutes his or her sole or main home. The candidate must also be a registered elector of the Village.
      
     For an Indigenous Inhabitant Representative By-election, a candidate must be an indigenous inhabitant as well as a registered elector of the Indigenous Village or the Composite Indigenous Village and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong.
      
     All candidates of both categories must be permanent Hong Kong residents aged 21 or above and each candidate must be nominated by at least five registered electors from his or her Village. Each elector can nominate only one candidate. No one can stand as a candidate in more than one Village.
      
     Nomination forms are available at the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres in the New Territories, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Rural Representative Election website (www.had.gov.hk/rre). Nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer of the respective Village by 5pm on September 12.
      
     A spokesman for the HAD said that if there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same Existing Village, Indigenous Village or Composite Indigenous Village, a poll would be held for that Village on October 7 (Sunday). Eligible electors will receive a polling notice which specifies the date, time and place of the poll.
      
     For enquiries, please call 2152 1521.

     Local huqin artist Chan Kai-him will perform huqin classics and a series of Guangdong music in a concert in September.
                      
     "Huqin Concert by Chan Kai-him" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) as part of its Our Music Talents Series.
 
     The programme will include "Henan Tunes", "A Spray of Flowers", "Meditation during Confinement in Sickness", "Plucked-string Music", "The Red Plum Capriccio", "In Celebration of Good Times", "Autumn Moon over a Placid Lake", "The Little Red Peach", "The Lament of Lady Zhaojun", "Dreaming of Falling Snow", "Streaks of Tears and Threefold Sorrows" and "The Poetry of Music".
 
     Chan Kai-him gained a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree with first class honours from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) in 2016, with a double major of erhu and gaohu under the tutelage of Wong On-yuen and Yu Qiwei. He also benefited from the coaching of many virtuosi such as Xiao Baiyong, Liu Yang, Jiang Cairu and Xue Ke. He later obtained a Master of Music degree with distinction from the HKAPA, with a major of gaohu under the tutelage of Yu Qiwei.
 
     Chan is an active figure on the concert stage, having performed as a soloist and a lead player countless times, and has held huqin solo recitals. In 2015, Chan was selected as one of the Young Music Makers by Radio Television Hong Kong. In the same year, he won a silver prize in Young Professionals Group B at the International Youth Erhu Competition (Hong Kong). Currently, he is the acting co-concertmaster of the Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, a part-time erhu performer at the Music Office, a member of the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra and a co-founder of Hong Kong huqin ensemble Goin' Music. He has also represented the HKAPA and several music institutions to go on tour for artistic exchanges and performances in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Hungary, Ireland, Taiwan, the Mainland and elsewhere.
 
     "Our Music Talents Series: Huqin Concert by Chan Kai-him" will be staged at 8pm on September 30 (Sunday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $120 and $160 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 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_582.html.
 
     The LCSD is presenting the Our Music Talents Series to nurture and support local emerging artists and groups and provide them with performing opportunities, enabling them to develop and showcase their achievements.

  

     The Government today (August 24) announced the appointment of Mr Samuel Yung Wing-ki as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and the appointment of one new member and the re-appointment of three incumbent members to the HKEAA for three years from September 1, 2018, to August 31, 2021. Details of the appointment are as follows:

Chairman
Mr Samuel Yung Wing-ki, Executive District Director, AIA International Limited

Members
Mr Benjamin Ng Yau-keung, Principal, the Hong Kong Taoist Association Ching Chung Secondary School
Ms Monica Cheng Wai-yee, Principal, Holy Trinity College
Mr Jason Joseph Lee Kwong-yee, Executive Director, Dah Hwa International (Holdings) Limited
Mr Raymond Cheng Chung-ching, Chairman, HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the HKEAA is an important partner of the Education Bureau and that the distinguished members from the educational and other professional fields on the HKEAA would enrich the expertise of the Authority.

     Mr Yeung welcomed Mr Yung and Mr Lee to serve as the Chairman and a member of the HKEAA respectively. He also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Mr Rock Chen Chung-nin, and the outgoing member, Mr Johnny Tsang Wing-keung, for their contribution to the work of the Authority.

     The HKEAA is a statutory body established under the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority Ordinance (Chapter 261) to conduct public examinations and other examinations or assessments approved by the Chief Executive. The composition of the Authority is stipulated in Schedule 2 of the Ordinance. Members of the Authority include school principals, teachers, representatives of tertiary institutions, a person who represents the interests of parents, and persons experienced in commerce, industry or a profession.

     Following is the membership list of the Authority with effect from September 1, 2018:

Appointed members:
Mr Samuel Yung Wing-ki (Chairman)
Dr Mak Chi-keung (Deputy Chairman)
Mrs Bonnie Fung Lai Miu-yee
Mr James Lam Yat-fung
Mr Benjamin Ng Yau-keung
Ms Jane Leung Chui-chun
Ms Monica Cheng Wai-yee
Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
Mr Jason Joseph Lee Kwong-yee
Mr Raymond Cheng Chung-ching
Ms Katherine Cheung Marn-kay

Ex-officio members:
Two persons nominated by the Heads of Universities Committee
The Chairman of the Curriculum Development Council, or his/her representative
The Executive Director of the Vocational Training Council, or his/her representative
The Permanent Secretary for Education, or his/her representative
The Secretary General of the HKEAA   

     The Government proposes to build a single storey covered footbridge to connect the proposed development at Tsuen Wan Town Lot No. 393 with the elevated walkway at the junction of Ma Tau Pa Road and Yeung Uk Road.
 
     The suggested works gazetted today (August 24) are set out in the Annex. The plan and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:

Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Tsuen Wan Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
1/F, Tsuen Wan Multi-storey Carpark Building,
174-208 Castle Peak Road,
Tsuen Wan, New Territories

District Lands Office, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing,
10/F, Tsuen Wan Multi-storey Carpark Building,
174-208 Castle Peak Road,
Tsuen Wan, New Territories

     The gazette notice, scheme, plan and location plan will be available at www.thb.gov.hk/eng/psp/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.htm.

     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Housing an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Housing Bureau's drop-in box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettethb@thb.gov.hk.

     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use.  Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Housing not later than October 23, 2018.