New Cantonese opera "A Perilous Juncture of Destiny" will be presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in March. The main performers are Lee Lung, Li Qiuyuan, Wong Chiu-kwan, Tang Mi-ling, Ruan Dewen, Ko Lai, Mo Huamin, Fu Shuwang and Yat Dim-hung.
 
     Playwright Lai Yiu-wai describes the repertory as being about destiny and fortune. "'A Perilous Juncture of Destiny' is a play that took me the longest time to conceive in my writing career so far. For six months I could not put a word to paper. I went through many history books and studied in detail the many historical episodes. Then it dawned on me that 'fury for the sake of a beauty' was neither the sentiment of the past nor the intent of my writing today. So I discarded all and started from scratch," said Lai.
 
     "Wu Sangui, Duoergun, Chongzhen and Li Zicheng are all important names in Chinese history towards the last years of the Ming dynasty. They held the fate of the vast land of China, the Manchus and the Hans in their hands. The one who finally came out successfully in the enterprise must have benefitted from the opportune elements of being at the right time, in the right place, and among the right people. The question thus arises: is destiny controlled by heaven and earth, or is it in the hands of humankind? If one's destiny is pre-determined, can leaders of our time change their destinies and hence the world? 'Destiny' and 'fortune' have inspired the theme for 'A Perilous Juncture of Destiny'. I believe the past sheds light on the present. It did, it still does, and it will in future. The play examines destiny through dreams, and destiny of the individual through his or her fortunes. I hope my audacious approach may offer the audience food for thought, both in this play and in the destiny of humankind," he added.
 
     Details of the performances are as follows:
March 18 (Monday), 7.30pm: Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
March 19 (Tuesday), 7.30pm: Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
March 24 (Sunday), 2.3pm: Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
 
     Tickets price ranging from $120 to $320 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_718.html.
 
     A pre-performance talk featuring speakers Lee Lung, Wong Chiu-kwan and Lai Yiu-wai will be held at 7.30pm on March 4 (Monday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. A post-performance talk featuring speakers Li Qiuyuan, Tang Mi-ling and Ruan Dewen will be held after the show on March 24 (Sunday). Both talks will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

     â€‹The Town Planning Board announced today (January 18) that the Chief Executive in Council has referred the approved Wang Tau Hom and Tung Tau Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to the Board for amendment to reflect the latest land use proposals.
      
     The OZP incorporating the respective amendments will be exhibited for public inspection under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance.
      
     The Wang Tau Hom and Tung Tau OZP was last approved by the Chief Executive in Council in October 2011.

The following is issued on behalf of the Road Safety Council:

     The Road Safety Council (RSC) and Kowloon East Traffic Headquarters of the Hong Kong Police Force will jointly hold Join Hands for Road Safety cum Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town Open Day at 10am tomorrow (January 19) in Sau Mau Ping Road Safety Town. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

     Highlights will include game booths, a magic show by the Po Leung Kuk Vicwood K T Chong Neighbourhood Elderly Centre, a singing performance by Shin Yat Tong On Yat Kindergarten and a drama performance by Hong Kong Kindergarten Association Pre-School.

     The ceremony will be officiated by the Chairlady of the Road Safety Campaign Committee of the RSC, Ms Rebecca Ma; the Acting Regional Commander of Kowloon East Region of the Hong Kong Police Force, Mr James Betts; Senior Superintendent of Police of Traffic Kowloon East of the Hong Kong Police Force Mr Thomas Yu; the Chairlady of the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Kwun Tong District Council, Ms So Lai-chun; the Kowloon East Regional Commander of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol, Mr Samson Chu; and the Sau Mau Ping Regional Commander of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol, Ms Sophia Lee.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 18) released the latest grading of water quality of four gazetted beaches which are open all year round for swimming.  
   
Four beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:       

 
     Compared with the grading released last week, there was no change in the grading for these beaches.
      
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, an EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
      
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. Latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the department's websites on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.

     At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will lead a delegation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to visit Sichuan and Beijing from January 21 to 25 under the annual reciprocal visit arrangement between the HKSAR Government and the MFA. The visit arrangement has been in place since 1999 to enhance communication and exchange between the two sides.

     The Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Roy Tang, will lead the HKSAR Government delegation to visit Sichuan from January 21 to 23, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, will lead the delegation to visit Beijing from January 23 to 25.

     While in Sichuan, the delegation will meet with officials of Sichuan and Chengdu and tour various developments of the province from January 21 to 23. It will then visit Beijing from January 23 to 25, where it will meet with officials of the MFA and other central ministries and departments.

     Mr Nip will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on January 25. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Andy Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.