Tag Archives: China

     The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) announced today (June 28) the launch of the second phase of the 2019 Nomination of Representatives of Arts Interests for the HKADC (the Nomination Exercise) on June 28. In the coming six weeks till August 9, arts organisations eligible to participate in the 2019 Nomination Exercise can register their members/employees as voters. Registered voters may take part in the subsequent phases of the 2019 Nomination Exercise including nomination of candidates, electioneering and polling.
 
     The first phase of the 2019 Nomination Exercise – registration by arts organisations and individual arts workers – ended on March 29, and 742 arts organisations and 2,596 individual arts workers are eligible to participate in this year’s Nomination Exercise. A full list of the specified organisations and individuals has been published in the Gazette today and can be downloaded from the Nomination Exercise website.
 
     Arts organisations specified in the above-mentioned Gazette Notice (the eligible arts organisations) may register their members/employees if they are aged 18 years or above with a valid Hong Kong identity card and fulfil one of the following criteria as voters:
 
(i) be a member who has joined the organisation for not less than one year prior to January 7, 2019; or
 
(ii) be an employee of the organisation and has been directly involved in arts creation, direction or performance in the organisation for not less than one year prior to January 7, 2019; or
 
(iii) be a full-time employee of the organisation who has been responsible for co-ordination or promotion of arts events or stage management (not including employees involved in general administration, finance, human resources and other technical support duties) in the organisation for not less than one year prior to January 7, 2019.
 
     The eligible arts organisations should submit the Voter Registration Form for their members/employees and return it to the Nomination Agent on or before August 9. The Guidelines for Voter Registration and the Voter Registration Form can be downloaded from the website. Even if arts organisations had submitted voter registration forms in past Nomination Exercises, they must submit voter registration forms for their members/employees afresh this year.
 
     Individual arts workers whose names appear in the Government Gazette Notice on June 28 will be eligible to take part in the 2019 Nomination Exercise and are not required to register through the eligible arts organisations in this phase. 
 
     Tri-Leaves Promotion Limited has been appointed by the HKADC as the Nomination Agent of the 2019 Nomination Exercise. All arts organisations and individual arts workers submitting applications in the first phase and individual arts workers whose names appear in the Government Gazette Notice on June 28 will soon receive letters from the Nomination Agent. Letters to eligible arts organisations will also contain guidelines and application forms for voter registration.
 
     The HKADC is a statutory body set up to promote the development of the arts in Hong Kong. Under section 3 of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Ordinance (Chapter 472), the Chief Executive may appoint up to 10 persons nominated by the specific arts interests as members of the HKADC. The 10 specified arts interests are Arts Administration, Arts Criticism, Arts Education, Chinese Opera (Xiqu), Dance, Drama, Film Arts, Literary Arts, Music and Visual Arts. The current term of office of the HKADC members will expire on December 31, 2019. An exercise is being conducted to nominate arts interests representatives for the Chief Executive’s consideration of appointment as members of the HKADC for the next term.
 
     The 2019 Nomination Exercise is being conducted in four phases as follows:
 
Phase 1: Registration of Arts Organisations and Individual Arts Workers (January 7 to March 29)

Phase 2: Voter Registration by Arts Organisations (June 28 to August 9)
 
Phase 3: Nomination of Candidates (August to September) (Tentative)
 
Phase 4: Electioneering and Polling (October) (Tentative)
 
     For enquiries, please contact the Nomination Agent, Tri-Leaves Promotion Limited:
Ms Elizabeth Huang/Ms Serenade Woo
Tel: 3956 1408
Email: info@voteforhkadc2019.hk read more

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (July).        Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing ar… read more

     Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between July and October 2019. The schedule for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2019 was provided to the media in September 2018. No change has been made to the original schedule.
 

July 2019
==========
Date		Press Release
—–		——————
2		Retail sales statistics for May 2019
16		Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for May 2019
18		Unemployment and underemployment statistics for April – June 2019
19		Business expectations for third quarter 2019
22		Consumer Price Index for June 2019
25		External merchandise trade statistics for June 2019
31		Advance estimates on Gross Domestic Product for second quarter 2019 (Note1)
August 2019
==========
Date		Press Release
—–		——————
1		Retail sales statistics for June 2019
2		Restaurant receipts and purchases statistics for second quarter 2019
13		Mid-year population for 2019
15		Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for June 2019
16		Revised figures on Gross Domestic Product for second quarter 2019 (Note1)
19		Unemployment and underemployment statistics for May – July 2019
20		Consumer Price Index for July 2019
26		External merchandise trade statistics for July 2019
30		Retail sales statistics for July 2019
September 2019
============
Date		Press Release
—–		——————
5		Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for second quarter 2019
9		Quarterly business receipts indices for service industries for second quarter 2019
10		Statistics on trade involving outward processing in the mainland of China for second quarter 2019
11		Construction output statistics for second quarter 2019
12		Index of industrial production and producer price index for the industrial sector for second quarter 2019
16		Gross National Income and external primary income flows for second quarter 2019
17		Unemployment and underemployment statistics for June – August 2019
17		Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for July 2019
19		Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2019
19		Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for second quarter 2019
20		Consumer Price Index for August 2019
23		Balance of Payments and International Investment Position statistics for second quarter 2019
26		External merchandise trade statistics for August 2019
26		Wage and payroll statistics for June 2019
October 2019
==========
Date		Press Release
—–		——————
2		Retail sales statistics for August 2019
15		Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for August 2019
18		Unemployment and underemployment statistics for July – September 2019
18		Business expectations for fourth quarter 2019
22		Consumer Price Index for September 2019
24		External merchandise trade statistics for September 2019
25		Salary indices for managerial and professional employees for June 2019
31		Advance estimates on Gross Domestic Product for third quarter 2019 (Note2)
Note1:	Starting from the reference period of the first quarter of 2019, C&SD will issue press releases on advance estimates on quarterly GDP. C&SD will compile and release revised figures on GDP in the “Gross Domestic Product (Quarterly) Report” when more data become available. The revised figures on GDP for the second quarter of 2019 will also be included in the “Half-yearly Economic Report 2019” and the press release to be issued by the Office of the Government Economist under the Financial Secretary’s Office on the economic situation in the second quarter of 2019 and second update of GDP and price forecasts for 2019 as a whole. No separate press release on the revised figures on GDP will be issued by C&SD.
Note2:	Starting from the reference period of the first quarter of 2019, C&SD will issue press releases on advance estimates on quarterly GDP. C&SD will compile and release revised figures on GDP in the “Gross Domestic Product (Quarterly) Report” when more data become available. The revised figures on GDP for the third quarter of 2019 will also be included in the “Third Quarter Economic Report 2019” and the press release to be issued by the Office of the Government Economist under the Financial Secretary’s Office on the economic situation in the third quarter of 2019 and final update of GDP and price forecasts for 2019 as a whole. No separate press release on the revised figures on GDP will be issued by C&SD.

     The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2019 can be downloaded at the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp). read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said toda… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 28) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

• Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
• Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion place additional demands on the physique;
• Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
• For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
• Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 

• Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
• Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
• Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
• Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may get more information from the DH’s Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force.  read more