The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (April 23) announced the performance ratings of the registered lift and escalator contractors for the past 12 months (from April 2019 to March 2020) for public reference.
 
     According to the rating results, 36 registered lift contractors and 25 registered escalator contractors were awarded the Safety Star. Among these contractors, 18 registered lift contractors and 18 registered escalator contractors had not been found non-compliant with the safety and maintenance requirements as reported in the last two consecutive announcements of performance results, and were therefore given the highest rating of five Quality Stars. The EMSD conducted 28 416 inspections of lifts and escalators during the period.
 
     The rating results, conviction records, summaries of the warning letters and equipment failure records are available on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk/emsd/eng/pps/le_pub_mpr.shtml).

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     â€‹The Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee will hold a meeting from 9am to 10.45am and 3.15pm to 7pm tomorrow (April 24) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex.
 
     Meanwhile, the LegCo House Committee (HC) will hold a special meeting tomorrow at 2.30pm in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex to continue the proceedings of the election of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of HC for the 2019-2020 session.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited on phishing emails, which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the emails concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the emails should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, April 23, 2020 is 108.7 (down 0.2 against yesterday's index).

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (ETAT) are together calling on Hong Kong artists to submit artwork proposals for the Hong Kong House at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2021.
 
     The Hong Kong House is located in Tsunan-town in Japan's Niigata Prefecture, and serves as a platform for cross-disciplinary arts and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan as well as a showcase of Hong Kong's art talents.
 
     Participants may, as an individual or as a group, submit up to two proposals in the areas of visual art or cross-disciplinary media for the Hong Kong House project in 2021, 2022 or 2023. The proposals should resonate with the concept of the ETAT and respond to the unique history, culture and abundant natural resources of Echigo-Tsumari. The proposed artworks should be original works by the participants and should be technically feasible to install at the site and other locations. A sum not exceeding HK$440,000 will be granted for each commissioned artwork, covering the cost of artwork production and related expenses.
 
     Participants must submit their proposals before 8pm on June 30 (Tuesday). All proposals must be delivered to the Exchange and Extension Unit of the Art Promotion Office (APO) (12 Oil Street, North Point) by post or by hand. The assessment panel will tentatively choose three proposals in August.
 
     The ETAT is one of the largest international outdoor art festivals in the world and is held once every three years. Using farmland as the stage and art as a catalyst, the Triennale provides a platform to present projects and initiatives which aim to rebuild the relationship between humans and nature through artistic creation, appreciation and participation. Since 2000, over 1,000 artists from all over the world have made use of the plentiful resources from the land and the community to create artworks. Abandoned houses and schools in Echigo-Tsumari are reused and transformed into stages to showcase artworks and creative ideas.
 
     The ETAT 2021 will be held from July to September next year. The APO will collaborate with the ETAT to feature the works and creative talent of Hong Kong artists and cross-disciplinary creative talents in the Hong Kong House between 2021 and 2023, as well as showcasing the artists' exceptional works to global audiences through this international arts platform.
 
     This project is organised by the APO. For details, please visit its website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/APO/en_US/web/apo/hong_kong_house_echigo_tsumari_art_triennale_2021.html or call 2512 3018, 2512 3019 or 2512 3020.