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Author Archives: hksar gov

Outreach Music Interest Courses open for applications

     The Outreach Music Interest Courses organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for over 100 courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument classes to music workshops, which will be held from September to January next year.
 
     The STEAM Music Parent-child Workshop will be rerun this year. Participants will learn to make digital music instruments with electronic building blocks and to compose and perform simple music pieces, allowing parents and their children to enjoy a brand-new music experience. The course fee is $320.
 
     The Music Office will continue to offer an Advanced Choral Conducting Workshop; elementary courses on ocarina, ukulele, classical guitar, keyboard and classical vocal singing; Western music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; instrumental enrichment courses of pipa, zheng, erhu, saxophone, trumpet and violin; and ensemble training of Chinese wind instruments, Chinese string instruments, Chinese traditional music, flute, clarinet, saxophone, Western strings and Western chamber music. The course fees range from $215 to $1,005.
 
     The Outreach Music Interest Courses also provide basic training on the dizi, xiao, liuyeqin, zhong-ruan, pipa, yangqin, zheng, erhu, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad), violin, viola and cello. The course fee is $1,070.
 
      All courses are conducted in small groups in Cantonese and will be held at different venues across the territory, namely the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office’s music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
 
     Online applications are now available at the Music Office website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is July 28. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from August 27.
 
     For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2596 0898 or 2598 8335. read more

East Asia

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 3) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

  • Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
  • Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion can place additional demands on the physique;
  • Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
  • For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
  • Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable. Start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Move to a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index is high (6 or above):
 
  • Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
  • Wear long-sleeved and loose-fitting clothes;
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella;
  • Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming, sweating or toweling off; and
  • While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may obtain more information from the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. read more

East Asia