The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rate of medical wa… read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (January 22) that due to big… read more
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
The fire danger situation today (January 22) is red and fire risk is extreme. The countryside is extremely vulnerable to fire. If you are planning to spend the day in the countryside, please take pre-cooked food for a picnic and take all measures to prevent hill fires. The penalty for lighting fires illegally in the countryside is $25,000 and a year’s imprisonment. read more
Riding on the success of its first two editions held in 2017 and 2018, the “Legends of Lion Dance” exhibition has returned to the port city of Antwerp in Belgium. It is being held at the city’s main public library, Bibliotheek Permeke, from January 18 until February 10 to showcase Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, traditional crafts and Cantonese opera to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) and the Belgium-Hong Kong Society, Asian Events Tofoe , a non-profit-making organisation established by Hong Kong second-generation community members in Antwerp, is presenting 12 unique lion heads made and embroidered in Hong Kong.
Visitors can learn how lion heads are made, the meaning of the lion dance, the traditions of Chinese New Year and their importance in Hong Kong culture. They can also discover the meaning of the Chinese horoscope. Moreover, on the occasion of the opening of the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong, this year’s exhibition also introduces visitors to the Cantonese Opera with some Cantonese Opera costumes from Hong Kong being displayed in the exhibition.
Assistant Representative of the HKETO, Brussels, Mr Jeffrey Chim and two Aldermen of the City of Antwerp, Alderman for Sports, Diamonds, and Markets, Mr Ludo van Campenhout, and Alderman for Finance, Mobility, City Parks, Retailers and Decentralisation, Mr Koen Kennis, officiated at the opening reception on January 18, which featured an expertly-performed lion dance attended by over 80 guests.
Speaking at the opening reception, Mr Chim said that the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has spared no effort in creating an environment conducive to arts and cultural development as well as promoting Hong Kong’s strengths in arts and culture. The much-anticipated West Kowloon Cultural District is now taking shape and will be developed into a world-class integrated arts, cultural and entertainment area befitting Hong Kong’s status as an international arts and cultural metropolis. The Xiqu Centre, the first major performing arts venue in the Cultural District, would officially open two days later on January 20.
“The Xiqu Centre makes the Cantonese opera, which has been added to the UNESCO representative list of intangible cultural heritage, accessible to the audiences from around the world and helps develop a locally rooted Cantonese opera network that has a regional impact with an important role in the international arts and culture development,” Mr Chim said.
“I am particular glad that today’s exhibition shares the same vision of promoting Hong Kong’s rich cultural heritage to the Western audiences and allows them to learn more about the dynamic scenes of Hong Kong in different facades,” Mr Chim added.
Antwerp has the largest community of Hong Kong emigrants in Belgium and the event is also an opportunity for the second generation of Hong Kong emigrants to learn more about Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, to strengthen their bonds with their family’s city of origin and to encourage them to develop their career in Hong Kong.
The “Legends of Lion Dance” exhibition is being held until 10 February 2019 at Bibliotheek Permeke in Antwerp. It is open seven days a week and entry is free of charge.
The Transport Department (TD) said today (January 21) that the Emergency Transport Coordination Centre (ETCC) of the TD has been closely monitoring the traffic condition during the first working day after the stage 1 commissioning of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB). The traffic on Hong Kong Island today is generally normal and the traffic condition during peak hours is similar as before.
For the eastbound traffic, since the down ramp of Rumsey Street Flyover has been closed, motorists using the Rumsey Street Flyover can follow the middle and slow lanes along Man Po Street to go to Central. The TD noticed that during the peak hours this morning, some motorists may not be familiar with the new routes and mainly used the slow lane of Man Po Street to go to Central, resulting in vehicles moving at slow speed. The TD has immediately reminded motorists via the Variable Message Signs that they can use the middle lane of Man Po Street to go to Central. Improvement works for the traffic signs and road markings will be conducted tonight for completion tomorrow morning.
As for the westbound traffic, during the stage 1 commissioning of the CWB, the link road connecting the CWB and Rumsey Street Flyover westbound is still under construction. As we have anticipated earlier, the traffic on Harcourt Road, Connaught Road Central and in the vicinity of the Central Tunnel Portal of the CWB was relatively busy this afternoon. In addition, there was an incident of vehicle breakdown and traffic was getting busy in the evening, resulting in traffic congestion. The Police had already conducted traffic management on site and adjusted traffic light signals to divert the traffic.
Moreover, the TD will continue to closely monitor and examine the road condition of individual road sections in order to implement appropriate enhancement measures, such as adjusting traffic light signals and adding traffic signs and road markings.
For public transport services, four bus routes using the CWB have commenced service today and they are in normal operation. The TD has requested the bus companies to remind bus captains to pay attention to the traffic signs and road markings on the CWB and roads in its vicinity.
The TD anticipates that traffic will be relatively busy in the vicinity of the Central Tunnel Portal and Connaught Road Central during the morning and evening hours at the stage 1 commissioning of the CWB. Motorists are advised to plan their journey in advance and allow more travelling time. Motorists are also advised to use original routes such as Gloucester Road, Harcourt Road and Connaught Road Central to travel to the Central and Western District during peak hours. For eastbound traffic, apart from using the Connaught Road Central Flyover and Man Po Street to travel to Admiralty, the Mid-Levels, Wan Chai South and Causeway Bay, motorists can also use the at-grade roads including Connaught Road Central and Man Kat Street to go to the aforementioned locations during peak hours.
The TD’s ETCC, the Highways Department, the Police and public transport operators will continue to closely monitor the traffic condition and implement contingency measures when necessary to ensure smooth traffic and normal operation of public transport services, as well as disseminate the latest traffic news to the public through TD’s “HKeMobility” mobile application and the media. The Police will deploy additional manpower in the vicinity of the Central Tunnel Portal of the CWB to strengthen the traffic management. read more