Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (January 28) launched a free online music and video programme, “Heartstrings of the Guzheng”, produced by guzheng performer Wan Xing. This four-episode programme, invites audiences to appreciate guzheng music while experiencing the aesthetic mood of Oriental simplicity, nature and elegance. The first episode is now available at the department’s Edutainment Channel.
 
     In addition to bringing the audience four pieces of original guzheng music, Wan has also invited lifestyle aesthetician Shadow Kwan, visual artist Qiu Yangzi and calligraphy artist Cink Shan (Lai Yat-kiu) for collaboration. By combining guzheng music with ceramic art, garden art, black-and-white film photography and calligraphy art, the audiences are guided to learn more about the music pieces and the artists’ creative inspiration.
 
     The content of each episode is outlined below:
 
Episode 1: Vitality (conducted in Cantonese) (available online)
Inspired by “Lotus” pottery, a guzheng music piece is created that is clear as water.
 
Episode 2: Anticipation (conducted in Cantonese)
Leading the audience from the past to present, as if strolling through landscape scroll paintings, reflecting the gentle simplicity of guzheng music and garden art.
 
Episode 3: Soundscape (conducted in Putonghua)
Integrating guzheng music into black-and-white landscape photos, presenting a minimalist and back-to-nature artistic conception.
 
Episode 4: Traces (conducted in Cantonese)
Using multimedia digital video design to integrate the musician and guzheng into Chinese calligraphy, with additional electronic sound effects to enrich the tone and aura of the guzheng.
 
     A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts under the tutelage of guzheng performers Zhou Wang and Xu Lingzi, Wan has received numerous awards including the Best Performance Award 2002 at the First Chinese Folk Instruments Competition organised by the Ministry of Culture, the Gold Award (Young Performers Category) at the Second International Guzheng Competition 2011, and the Best Teacher Award 2013 at the Third International Zheng Contest. Wan has been engaged in various music performances and activities, and has also been invited to conduct demonstrations at local universities.
 
     Each episode of the free online programme “Heartstrings of the Guzheng” is approximately 10 minutes long. To watch the first episode, please visit the LCSD’s Edutainment Channel at www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/performing_arts/page_640.html. For programme enquiries or more information, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1274.html. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:      Tenders to be held on February 8:   Tender date : February 8, 2022 Paper on offer : EF Bills … read more

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (January 28) that, in accordance with the movement of the Social Security Assistance Index of Prices, the annual adjustment to the standard payment rates under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme and the rates of allowances under the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme, namely Old Age Allowance (OAA) (including OAA under the Guangdong (GD) Scheme and the Fujian (FJ) Scheme), Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) (including OALA under the GD Scheme and the FJ Scheme) and Disability Allowance, will be implemented as soon as possible after the relevant proposals have been approved by the Finance Committee (FC) of the Legislative Council.
 
     Under the established mechanism, subject to the FC’s approval, the Government adjusts the social security payment rates on February 1 every year. The above-mentioned rates have room for a 2.6 per cent upward adjustment from February 1, 2022. The Government will consult the new-term FC on the proposed adjustment as early as possible. Subject to the FC’s approval, the new rates will take retrospective effect from February 1, 2022. By then, the maximum rent allowance and asset limits under the CSSA Scheme, as well as the asset and monthly income limits for OALA (including OALA under the GD Scheme and the FJ Scheme), will also be adjusted in accordance with the relevant mechanisms.
 
     CSSA and SSA recipients who have enquiries may contact their respective social security field units or call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255. read more

     The Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” on January 26 with effect from 8.30pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Wong Tai Sin (i.e. Cheung Bor House, Choi Wan (I) Estate) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government yesterday (January 27) extended the period of operation to today (January 28). Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises and they had to undergo two tests under the designated arrangement until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained. For those who have visited Cheung Bor House in the past two weeks for more than two hours, they should undergo testing on (1) January 26 to 28; (2) January 29; and (3) February 1 in accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today and carried out enforcement action in the “restricted area” afterwards to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10am today.
 
     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Wong Tai Sin District Office, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Social Welfare Department and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 298 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
 
     The Government delivered breakfast, lunch and dinner boxes to persons subject to compulsory testing and provided simple food for them, including canned food, instant noodles and corn kernels, so as to facilitate the meal arrangements of persons subject to compulsory testing. One box of masks was also provided to each person subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.
 
     The Housing Department set up a hotline 2751 4428 for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
 
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 8am today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10am. Test records of 87 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. No person was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminded the households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

     The Government said today (January 28) that in order to fight the COVID-19 epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department, in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University o… read more