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Author Archives: hksar gov

Transcript of remarks by SFST at media session

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, at a media session after attending a radio programme today (May 2):
 
Reporter: Mr Hui, can you talk about whether you see a map for Hong Kong’s economic recovery now that we are seeing an easing of the outbreak in the number of cases? And also, any concerns about negative equity because right now we are seeing a rise in number and given the economic situation, do you have any concerns that the situation is to get worse?
 
Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: As you rightly said, I think right now the immediate priority is definitely to revive the economy because after all, we have been subject to many restrictions on all you can imagine in the past few months due to COVID-19. So the immediate priority is really for us to act together to revive the economy through different measures. And the measures that are subject to the LegCo (Legislative Council) approval as you have seen over the past few days, I think it is definitely something that we want to do in order to provide a sort of foundation for our economic recovery.
 
Reporter: … (inaudible) concerns for negative equity?

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury: I think after all, the economy as a whole has to be our priority. Other measures or other points you have just mentioned are something that we need to bear in mind.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more

Instrumental Music Training Scheme intermediate and advanced year-one courses start recruitment

     The Instrumental Music Training Scheme (IMTS), organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is now recruiting intermediate year-one and advanced year-one trainees for 2020-21. The deadline for applications is June 1.

     The IMTS provides training in a wide variety of string, wind and Chinese musical instruments including violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, percussion, pipa, sheng, suona and yangqin. Courses on musicianship and music theory are also included.

     One-hour group lessons, conducted in Cantonese, are held once a week at the Music Office’s five music centres in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Mong Kok, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Annual tuition fees of $3,377 for intermediate level and $4,312 for advanced level are payable in four instalments.

     Online applications are available at www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course pamphlets and application forms are now available at all Music Office music centres. Applicants must have attained the required music qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive the details of the recorded video audition by June 12, and the submission deadline for the audition video will be June 30. Applicants will be notified of the results in early August and the training will commence in early September.

     In view of the class suspension made necessary by the COVID-19 epidemic, the current instrumental training scheme will be extended to July next year to ensure the learning progress of trainees. Thus, this recruitment for intermediate year-one and advanced year-one trainees serves primarily to fill existing vacancies.

     For enquiries, please call the Music Office’s music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan). read more

Music Office bands, choirs and orchestras invite applications for membership

     The Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is recruiting new members for its 18 bands and orchestras as well as its two choirs. Training for 2020-21 will run from this September to the end of May next year. The deadline for applications is June 1.
 
     The 20 ensembles are respectively the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Island Youth Strings, the Kowloon Youth Strings, the New Territories Youth Strings, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Brass Band, the Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band, the New Territories Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Junior Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Children’s Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra, the New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Children’s Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Youth Choir and the Music Office Children’s Choir.
 
     Young musicians aged 25 or below who have attained the required music qualifications are eligible to apply Chinese or Western ensemble or choir training at different levels. Apart from weekly rehearsals, members may also broaden their horizons by participating in various cultural activities and concerts, or attending exchange sessions with visiting young musicians from the Mainland and overseas.
 
     Training is free but members are required to bring their own instruments (except for bulky pieces) and pay for their uniforms and music scores.
 
     Online applications are available at www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course pamphlets and application forms are also available at all Music Office music centres. Qualified applicants will receive the details of the recorded video audition by June 12. The submission deadline for the audition video will be June 30. Applicants will be notified of the results by the end of August.
 
     For enquiries, please call the Music Office’s music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan). read more