The Road Traffic Legislation (Parking Spaces) (Amendment) Bill 2019 was gazetted today (November 15).
      
     The Bill seeks to provide a legal basis for the operation of a new generation of parking meters with additional features. 
      
     In her 2017 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that, as a "Smart Mobility" initiative, the Government would install a new generation of on-street parking meters. The new parking meters will replace the existing parking meters, which have been in use since 2003-04 and are approaching the end of their serviceable life.  
      
     The new generation of parking meters will accept multiple electronic payment means. Motorists could also make remote payment for parking time units through a mobile application. New parking meters will be equipped with sensors to detect whether individual metered parking spaces are occupied. Real-time information will be provided to assist motorists in finding vacant on-street parking spaces. The sensors will not collect any personal data or vehicle identification numbers.

     A spokesperson for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "Upon passage of the Bill, the Government will install the new parking meters in phases. It is expected that installation will be completed in about two years' time starting from the first half of 2020."
      
     The spokesperson added, "The Bill also stipulates that the Government will cease accepting refund applications for e-Park cards with effect from January 1, 2022. Holders of e-Park cards should apply for refunds by the deadline. Details will be announced in due course." 
      
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on November 27.

The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development:

     The Advisory Committee on Arts Development (ACAD) today (November 15) launched the ninth-round funding exercise under the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS). The ACDFS provides funding support for innovative and impactful proposals that contribute to the objectives of capacity development of arts practitioners, arts groups, art forms and/or the arts sector, programme/content development, audience building and arts education including large-scale and cross-year arts and cultural initiatives and covering various art forms such as performing arts, visual and media arts, arts education/appreciation/promotion, arts administration, community arts and multi-disciplinary arts. The ACAD hopes that the scheme will help cultivate a supportive culture for arts in the community and foster a tripartite partnership involving the Government, arts groups and the private sector to promote arts and cultural development in Hong Kong.

     Assessment criteria for applications include artistic/professional merit, creativity and originality, impact on the arts sector and the community, technical feasibility of the proposed initiatives/activities, capacity in financial planning and management, and the management ability of the applicant and project team.

     In the ninth-round funding exercise, the ACDFS will disburse a provision of approximately $40 million in the form of Springboard Grants and Project Grants.
      
     Springboard Grants are matching grants that support arts groups in their overall development, elevating them to a higher level of professional operation. The minimum pledged income or sponsorship of arts groups is $1 million, of which not less than $250,000 has to come from non-government sponsorship and/or private donation. A 200 per cent matching grant up to a maximum amount of $4 million may be provided and the funding period may last for a maximum of two years. Successful applicants with proven performance may apply for a second Springboard Grant up to a maximum amount of $5.5 million with a funding period of three years at most. For a second Springboard Grant, the minimum pledged income or sponsorship of arts groups is $1.5 million, of which not less than $375,000 has to come from non-government sponsorship and/or private donation. It is envisaged that a maximum grant of $9.5 million for two terms of support in five years will help promote the growth of an arts group.

     Project Grants are direct grants which provide successful applicants with funding support up to a ceiling of $3 million to organise large-scale and impactful projects, which may require a longer duration for implementation. The overall expenditure of the proposed activities in an application should be at or above $800,000.

     The ninth-round funding exercise under the ACDFS is open for application from today to January 3, 2020 (up to 6pm). The Guide to Application and relevant materials have been uploaded to the website of the Home Affairs Bureau (www.hab.gov.hk). Briefings will be held on November 21 and 28 and details can be found on the above website. The ACAD expects that application results will be released around June 2020.

     The 39th Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) is presenting a special Spotlight on Hong Kong.  Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco (HKETO SF) is the presenting sponsor. The HIFF runs from November 6 to 24 (Hawaii time) in Hawaii, the United States.

     Director John Woo, an iconic figure in Hong Kong cinema and a master of action movies, will be presented with the Halekulani Lifetime Achievement Award on November 15. This award is given to an artist in recognition of their longstanding dedication to their craft across a broad body of work.

     On November 13, HKETO SF hosted a Hong Kong Reception in Honolulu, in honour of director Woo. A special 30th anniversary screening of Woo's "The Killer" will be held in the Spotlight on Hong Kong series at the Festival.

     At the reception, the Director of HKETO SF, Mr Ivanhoe Chang, congratulated Woo on his achievements and thanked the Festival for its appreciation of Hong Kong cinema.

     "We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Hawaii International Film Festival, which has been very supportive of Hong Kong cinema. I was here last year when the Festival honoured director Wong Kar-wai. This year, in addition to presenting the honour to director John Woo, it has curated a very special Spotlight on Hong Kong.

     "Three important Hong Kong movies are featured in this year's Spotlight. In addition to 'The Killer', there are two new films that have gained success, whether at major film festivals or at the box office," Mr Chang said.

     Veteran filmmaker Yonfan's "No. 7 Cherry Lane" and Herman Yau's "The White Storm 2 – Drug Lords" are in the lineup. The former won the Award for Best Screenplay at its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, while the latter was selected as the Hong Kong entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2020 Oscars.

     The HIFF said it was proud to partner with HKETO SF to look to the past, present and future of Hong Kong cinema, which includes honouring the godfather of Hong Kong action cinema, director John Woo, and hosting a screening of "The Killer" on November 16 with Woo in attendance .

     Filmmaking is very important and widely supported in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government spares no effort in promoting film development, which is an essential element of Hong Kong's vibrant creative industries.

    

     â€‹The Labour Department has called for enrolment for a seminar on the Employment Ordinance to be held at 3.20pm on December 18 (Wednesday) at the Lecture Theatre, 4/F, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong.
 
     The main provisions of the Employment Ordinance (including wages, leave and termination of contract) will be introduced. In addition, the seminar will cover the Minimum Wage Ordinance and points to note on the employment of foreign domestic helpers.
 
     The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and the enrolment deadline is December 11 (Wednesday). The enrolment form can be downloaded from the department's website (www.labour.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call 2399 2386.

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 (November 15) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Big Wave Bay Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island; Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.