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.

     The Land Registry today (July 3) released its statistics for June 2020.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in June was 8,254 (+19.9 per cent compared with May 2020 and +32.9 per cent compared with June 2019)

* The 12-month moving average for June was 5,339 (3.3 per cent above the 12-month moving average for May 2020 but 15.5 per cent below that for June 2019)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in June was $70.3 billion (+16.7 per cent compared with May 2020 and +30.6 per cent compared with June 2019)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 6,987 were for residential units (+16.8 per cent compared with May 2020 and +51.0 per cent compared with June 2019)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $64.8 billion (+22.8 per cent compared with May 2020 and +42.9 per cent compared with June 2019)
     
     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
 
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in June was 477,140 (+6.6 per cent compared with May 2020 and +10.4 per cent compared with June 2019)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (July 3) announced the results of a recently completed targeted food surveillance project on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in ready-to-eat food. All samples passed the test.
 
     A total of 300 samples of ready-to-eat food, including cooked seafood such as fish, crustaceans and shellfish and raw foods such as raw oysters, sashimi and sushi, were collected from different retailers, including online retailers and food factories, for testing for Vibrio parahaemolyticus this year.
 
     A spokesman for the CFS said, "Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a common bacterium that can cause food poisoning, is naturally present in seawater and often found in seafood. Food poisoning caused by this pathogenic bacterium is usually associated with consumption of undercooked or raw seafood, in particular shellfish, or improperly handled food that is contaminated with bacteria."
 
     Common symptoms of food poisoning caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, including diarrhoea, vomiting, mild fever and abdominal pain, usually occur within one or two days after consumption of contaminated food. Recovery is usually within a few days. Nonetheless, children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weaker immune system are more likely to develop severe symptoms.
 
     The spokesman said, "Despite the fact that the test results of the samples were all satisfactory, the trade and the public should not take the risk lightly. To prevent food poisoning caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the food trade should be reminded that raw oysters, sashimi and sushi sold on the premises should be separated from other food and kept in a refrigerator at a temperature between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius. To avoid cross contamination, raw food should be prepared only at specified areas in a food preparation room. Exclusive cutting boards and knives should be used and the utensils should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly before handling different types of raw food. Cooking aquatic products thoroughly is the only way to prevent diseases caused by harmful microorganisms and parasites. Overproduction should also be avoided as the quality of food may be affected when the production capacity is overlooked."
 
     The spokesman reminded consumers to patronise hygienic and reliable licensed food premises and consume ready-to-eat food as soon as possible after purchase. The elderly, children, pregnant women and those with a weaker immune system should avoid consuming high-risk food, including inadequately cooked food.

     The Government announced today (July 3) that the Chief Executive has re-appointed Mr Thomas Ho On-sing as a member of the Advisory Committee on Post-service Employment of Civil Servants (ACPE) for a term of two years from July 17, 2020, to July 16, 2022.  

     The Chief Executive has also re-appointed Professor Wong Sze-chun and Mr Stanley Wong Yuen-fai as members of the ACPE for a term of two years from September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2022. 

     The ACPE advises the Government on matters relating to the post-service employment of civil servants. It is chaired by Mr Vincent Lo Wing-sang. Other serving members are Mr Walter Chan Kar-lok, Mr Cheng Yan-kee, Mrs Ava Ng Tse Suk-ying, Mr Herbert Tsoi Hak-kong and Mrs Betty Yuen So Siu-mai. Its secretariat support is provided by the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service.

     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.