The Information Services Department announced today (May 2) that its Publications Sales Unit and Photo Library at North Point Government Offices will resume sales counter services from May 4. The sales office will be open from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 6pm from Monday to Friday.

     Infection control measures will be implemented at the sales office, including body temperature checks at the entrance for all visitors, the use of sanitising floor mats and the provision of hand sanitisers.

     To reduce social contact and avoid the gathering of people, members of the public are encouraged to purchase government publications and photos through the Online Government Bookstore (www.bookstore.gov.hk) and the online Government Photo Store (www.photostore.gov.hk) respectively.

     The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) today (May 2) announced the result of prequalification for the operation of the Chinese Medicine Hospital (CMH) in Tseung Kwan O.

     The Government received five applications for prequalification by the application closing date. The five applications were evaluated according to the selection criteria and marking scheme as set out in the prequalification document, and the evaluation of prequalification applications has been completed. The four prequalified tenderers who would be invited to join the next stage of the tender (in alphabetical order) are:
(i) Hong Kong Baptist University
(ii) Pok Oi Hospital
(iii) Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
(iv) Yan Oi Tong Limited

     The service deed of the CMH operation will cover arrangements for commissioning, a 10-year service period (extendable by five years at most), followed by a six-year post service period. The contractor eventually awarded with the service deed shall incorporate a company limited by guarantee (the Operator) to manage, operate and maintain the CMH. The Operator shall obtain a licence pursuant to the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) for operation of the CMH.

     The tender for the operation of the CMH is tentatively scheduled to be issued in mid-2020. The Government hopes to be able to identify the operator for the CMH by the end of 2020.

     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.)

     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).

     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).