Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Second Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will perform in the final highlight of the Chinese Opera Festival, “A Showcase of Cheng School Classics”.
 
     The Cheng school was founded by one of the “Four Great Actors in ‘Dan’ (female) Roles” in Peking opera, Cheng Yanqiu. The singing art of the Cheng school is highly distinctive and is particularly skilful in singing with a tone projected from the back of the head. The singing style fully highlights the contrasts of high and low, and between strong and weak, creating a soulful appeal.
 
     The year 2018 marked the 60th anniversary of the passing of Cheng Yanqiu. In order to commemorate this virtuoso, the Second Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company is bringing three full-length plays to audiences. All three plays are headlined by Li Haiyan, a renowned “qingyi” (virtuous female) role actress of the Cheng school and a winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre. She presents the uniquely stylish vocal style, visual expressions, stylised movements, footwork, hand gestures, sleeve movements and more of the Cheng school fully on stage.
 
     The programme includes the beautifully sung “Consort Mei” created by Cheng in 1925. The work has not been presented on a Hong Kong stage for a long time. Different from the well-known story of Imperial Concubine Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang presented by the Mei school, this repertoire depicts the sad emotions between Consort Mei and the Emperor through the interpretation of the Cheng school. “The Unicorn Pouch” is a classic play of the Cheng school and is characterised by sophisticated singing and a variety of “ban” patterns. It is a classic that demonstrates the vocal style and the art of stylised movements of the Cheng school. “Anecdotes about Empress Wu Zetian” is a grand production written by Li Shiji in the 1990s. Li was a disciple of Cheng and received personal training from the master. Li Haiyan has inherited the art and received personal supervision from the late Li Shiji in her rehearsal of the play, and she is currently the only Cheng school bearer of this repertoire.
 
     Details of the performances are as follows:
 
August 10 (Friday): “Consort Mei”
August 11 (Saturday): “The Unicorn Pouch”
August 12 (Sunday): “Anecdotes about Empress Wu Zetian”
 
     All performances will be staged at 7.30pm at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $150, $250, $350 and $450 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.cof.gov.hk.
 
     A Meet-the-Artists session entitled “Boundless Ideas of the Cheng School – A Tribute to My Great Mentor Madam Li Shiji” (in Putonghua) featuring Li Haiyan and with Chinese opera researcher Chan Chun-miu as moderator will be held at 7.30pm on August 9 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free. Limited seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. read more

     The Financial Secretary has, under the authority delegated by the Chief Executive, appointed five new Convenors and seven new members to the Financial Reporting Review Panel (FRRP). Meanwhile, one Convenor and 13 members have been re-appointed.
 
     The appointments and re-appointments, made in accordance with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Ordinance (Cap. 588), are:
 
New Convenors and members appointed for a term of three years from July 16, 2018, to July 15, 2021:

Mr Mark Douglas Johnson (Convenor)
Mr Paul Shieh Wing-tai (Convenor)
Mr Tang Kwai-chang (Convenor)
Ms Priscilla Wong Pui-sze (Convenor)
Mrs Betty Yuen So Siu-mai (Convenor)
Mr Abraham Chan Lok-shung
Mr Louis Chow Ka-leung
Mr Lee Chun-ho
Mr Leo Lee Chi-ming
Ms Lung Ngan-yee
Mr Christopher Neil Morley
Mr Eric Tang Ying-cheung
 
A Convenor re-appointed for a term of one year from July 16, 2018, to July 15, 2019:

Mrs Catherine Morley
 
Members re-appointed for a term of three years from July 16, 2018, to July 15, 2021:

Mr Chan Wai-man   
Professor Cheng Cheng-shing   
Ms Yvonne Cheng Wai-sum   
Mr Jeckle Chiu   
Mr Tommy Fung Hon-kwong,    
Ms Joan Ho Yuk-wai   
Ms Kong Sui-yee   
Mr Bernard Jaun Mak Siu-cheung   
Ms Agnes Kar-wai Nardi   
Mr Hamilton Ty Tang   
Mr Tsui Hon-man   
Ms Wendy Yuen Miu-ling   
Professor Zhang Guo-chang 

     A Government spokesman said, “The FRC is an important institution tasked to enhance the regulation of the accounting profession and corporate governance of companies listed in Hong Kong. One of the statutory functions of the FRC is to initiate enquiries concerning non-compliance with legal, accounting or regulatory requirements in a listed entity’s financial reports.
 
     “As a statutory body established under the FRC Ordinance, the work of the FRRP is indispensable to the discharge of the FRC’s statutory functions of enquiries. The FRRP will benefit from the rich experience and professional knowledge of the members.”
 
     The spokesman added, “We would also like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the outgoing Convenors, Mr Andrew Mak Yip-shing and Ms Edith Shih, and the outgoing members, Mr Ambrose Cheung Wing-sum, Mr Mohan Datwani, Ms Ding Chen, Mr Roy Lo Wa-kei and Dr Look Guy, for their valuable contributions to the work of the FRRP in the past years.”
 
     When an enquiry case arises, the FRC will appoint one convenor and four or more members from the FRRP to form a Financial Reporting Review Committee which will enquire into the relevant non-compliance of the case. The Committee will submit an enquiry report on the case to the FRC for consideration and, where appropriate, follow-up action. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 13, 2018 is 102.9 (same as yesterday’s index). read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 13) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.
 
     From July 6 to 12, the CHP recorded three confirmed DF cases. The patients had been to Thailand (two cases) and the Philippines (one case) during the incubation period.
 
     As of yesterday (July 12), 47 cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported cases. The cases were mainly imported from Thailand (21), the Philippines (nine) and Cambodia (six).
 
     DF remains endemic in some areas in Asia and overseas. The latest figures for 2018 reveal that 28 732 cases have been recorded in Thailand, 1 467 in Singapore (since December 31, 2017) and 62 in Japan. Two local cases have been recorded to date in Taiwan in 2018. In the Americas, the latest figures indicate that 161 154 and 15 131 cases have been filed in Brazil and Mexico respectively in 2018.
 
     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.
   

     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days (DF) or at least 21 days (Zika virus infection) upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.
   

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public may refer to the CHP’s tips for using insect repellents for details. read more

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 13) announced the results of a recently completed targeted food surveillance project on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food, … read more