Meeting with film and television sectors on reproduced Hong Kong currency notes for filming

     Representatives of the Film Services Office of Create Hong Kong (FSO) under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Police today (June 19) met with representatives of the film and television sectors to explain the application procedures and requirements for using props currency notes for filming purposes and to discuss the way forward to enhance the trade's understanding of the relevant guidelines.

     Attending the meeting were representatives of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, the Hong Kong Televisions Association, the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild, the Hong Kong Film Assistant Directors' Association, the Hong Kong Film Arts Association and the Hong Kong Movie Production Executives Association.

     The HKMA said at the meeting that henceforth a set of samples will be attached to the existing guidelines to demonstrate the required size of the props currency notes and the distinguishing designs and features required to set them apart from genuine banknotes. An application form will also be attached to the guidelines to assist applicants in providing the required information. Where an application does not fulfill all the requirements, the applicant may make amendments and updates to the application. Where an application is approved, the HKMA will provide the applicant with the contact information of the three note-issuing banks, the Information Services Department and the Police to facilitate the necessary follow-ups.

     At the meeting, to ease the concerns of the trade, the Police elaborated on their established follow-up arrangements, including the controls and requirements for storage and destruction of prop notes. The FSO also undertook to continue to maintain close contact with the industry to help resolve any filming issues, and will update the "Guide to Filming in Hong Kong" published by Create Hong Kong for the trade's reference.

     In addition, HKMA has already uploaded the application guidelines to its website (www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/key-functions/monetary-stability/notes-and-coins/Stage_money_Guidelines_and_general_conditions_eng.pdf). A link to the guidelines has also been provided in FSO's website (www.fso-createhk.gov.hk/en/links).

     Should the trade have any enquiries about using props money for filming purposes, they are welcome to contact the FSO (email: fso@createhk.gov.hkï¼›tel.: 2594 5745ï¼›fax.: 2824 0595). The FSO also stands ready to provide to the trade with contacts in the HKMA and the Police to assist the trade if there are queries in relation to application procedures and follow-ups.




LegCo Subcommittee visits Wang Chau (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Subcommittee to Follow Up the Issues Related to the Wang Chau Development Project conducted a site visit to Wang Chau in Yuen Long today (June 19) to understand the latest development of the Wang Chau development project.
 
     With the company of representatives of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Housing Department and the Lands Department (LandsD), Members visited Wang Chau Phase 1 development area, which covers an area of about 5.6 hectares. It is expected to provide around 4 000 public housing units.

     During the visit, Members were briefed by government representatives on the latest development of the project. They also exchanged views with the affected residents to learn more about their needs. LandsD had conducted a pre-clearance freezing survey in the areas involved in the development concerned on October 30, 2015. A total of about 180 households, involving about 400 clearees, were registered in the survey. As at end-May 2018, LandsD has met with 169 registered households to explain to them the relevant rehousing and ex-gratia allowance arrangements.

     Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Ms Alice Mak; Subcommittee Members Ir Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Andrew Wan, Mr Chu Hoi-dick and Mr Kwong Chun-yu.

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Community thematic carnival to be held in Yuen Long this Sunday (with photos)

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold the "Creators‧Break the Infinity" community thematic carnival this Sunday (June 24) from 3.30pm to 6pm at Fung Kam Street Sports Centre in Yuen Long, featuring a variety of performances, heritage guided tours, workshops and fringe activities to display the vibrancy and creativity of Yuen Long. Members of the public are welcome to join in the fun with free admission.

     Artist Joanne Ho will be the emcee of the carnival. Dynamic entertainment will include pop and rock music performances by emerging bands and local singer-songwriters, while dance performances including robot and hip-hop moves will be showcased to display the vitality of the young generation. To enhance the public’s knowledge of the history and cultural heritage of Yuen Long, the carnival will also feature two sessions of heritage guided tours and a photo exhibition displaying scenes of the streets of Yuen Long past and present.
 
     Workshops on beatboxing, hip-hop dance, juggling, blues harmonica, community arts, garlic flower lamp making and natural dyeing will also be held for public enjoyment. In addition, a comic portrait drawing stall will be set up and roving artists will tour around entertaining carnival-goers.
 
     Fung Kam Street Sports Centre is located at 20 Fung Yau Street North, Yuen Long. For enquiries about the carnival, please call 2591 1340 or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/territoryevents/communitythematic/ctc2018_yl.html.

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Community Oral History Theatre Project to be launched in Sai Kung District in mid-July

     The Community Oral History Theatre Project – Sai Kung District co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Chung Ying Theatre Company, Caritas Hong Kong and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC) will be launched in mid-July, beginning with an oral history theatre demonstration performance and sharing session at 3pm on July 19 (Thursday) at Hang Hau Community Hall. The opening event aims to introduce oral history theatre to senior citizens and other residents in Sai Kung District and attract the elderly to join the project. Admission is free with tickets.
 
     During the demonstration performance, an excerpt of a drama production entitled "A Tale of Two Circles" (in Cantonese) will be performed. Featuring the development of the Central and Western districts, the show will be performed by elderly participants of the Community Oral History Theatre Project – Central and Western District. The performers will share stories of their past life in the districts during the show, and in the sharing session they will discuss their joy in joining the project.
 
     Free tickets with free seating will be distributed from today (June 19) with a maximum of four tickets per person at the following locations on a first-come, first-served basis:
 
* Caritas Elderly Centre – Sai Kung (G/F, 69-73 Man Nin Street, Sai Kung);
* Sai Kung Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O);
* Nga Yin Association Neighbourhood Elderly Centre, NAAC (1/F, Lung Cheung Garden, 26 Praya, Kennedy Town);
* Enquiry Counter, Hong Kong Cultural Centre (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui); and
* Enquiry Counter, Hong Kong City Hall Low Block (5 Edinburgh Place, Central).
 
     Elderly residents of Sai Kung District who are interested in participating in the coming project can complete and return the application form on-site after the demonstration performance. The application form can also be downloaded from the website of the Audience Building Office of the LCSD (www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/img/pdf/application%20form_saikung.pdf). Completed forms should reach the Office by fax or by post on or before August 17 (Friday). If the number of applications exceeds the quota, auditions will be arranged to select suitable candidates.
 
     Since its launch in 2009, the Community Oral History Theatre Project has been implemented in several districts, namely Sham Shui Po District, Kwun Tong District, Islands District (Tai O), Eastern District and Sha Tin District, and it is now being run in Central and Western District. A series of workshops offering drama training to elderly participants will be arranged and their personal experiences and recollections in the district will be compiled and developed into plays, providing an opportunity for the elderly to recount their stories onstage. In addition, the younger generation may understand the days of previous generations and reflect on their own lives.
 
     Hang Hau Community Hall is located at G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O. For enquiries, please call 2591 1300 (LCSD), 8106 8336 (Chung Ying Theatre Company), 2792 6205 (Caritas Hong Kong) or 2819 8727 (NAAC), or visit
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/en/OH_details_saikung.php.




Electronics factory at Chiaphua Industries Building in Siu Lek Yuen in Sha Tin convicted for excessive industrial wastewater discharge

     â€‹Compass Technology Company Limited, located at Chiaphua Industries Building in Siu Lek Yuen, Sha Tin, discharged sub-standard industrial wastewater into a communal sewer. The company was fined $15,000 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (June 19) for contravening the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO).
      
     Environmental Protection Department (EPD) staff conducted a blitz inspection at Compass Technology Company Limited last December to check its electronic component manufacturing factory and its wastewater treatment facility located at Chiaphua Industries Building. A wastewater sample was taken for analysis by the department's enforcement team and the result showed that the concentration of copper exceeded the WPCO licence by 4.3 times. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecution against the company in accordance with the WPCO.
      
     The EPD spokesman explained that electronic component manufacturing factories must install appropriate wastewater treatment facilities and maintain their effective operation to ensure that the effluent discharge meets the discharge standards as set out in the wastewater discharge licence before discharging into communal sewers. If its heavy metals concentration exceeds the standards, it will affect the operation and effectiveness of microbial treatment processes in sewage treatment plants, which will pollute the environment.

     The spokesman reminded all WPCO licensees that they should strictly adhere to the discharge standards of all pollutants as stipulated in the licence, and ensure proper operation of their wastewater treatment facilities. Anyone who discharges wastewater which exceeds the standard of the discharge licence commits an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.