The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Lecture Series: Cantonese Music in Hong Kong" in March and April as part of the Guangdong Music Series.

     In this lecture series, pipa virtuoso Ho Kang-ming and the Executive Director of the Centre for Chinese Music Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Chan Chi-chun, will engage in an enlightening dialogue. This will be supplemented by sharing of valuable recordings and video clips, as well as exchanges with guest speakers in talk and music, to offer insights into the music legacy of Guangdong.

     Details of the lectures are as follows:

March 6 (Wednesday)
Topic: "The Duality of Cantonese Music"
Guest speaker: Yu Qiwei

March 13 (Wednesday)
Topic: "From Chinese Music to Cantonese Music"
Guest speaker: Chan Pik-sum

March 20 (Wednesday)
Topic: "Taoist Funeral Music in Hong Kong"
Guest speaker: Chak Yiu-sheng

March 27 (Wednesday)
Topic: "Nanyin in Hong Kong"
Guest speakers: Leung Hoi-li, To Wing, Yu Siu-wah and Chan Kwok-fai

April 3 (Wednesday)
Topic: "Cantonese Music in Dance Halls and Song Halls Then and Now"
Guest speaker: Wan Kai-ho

April 10 (Wednesday)
Topic: "Veteran Players of Cantonese Music"
Guest speakers: To Wing, Yu Siu-wah, Chan Kwok-fai and Ku Kung-ching

     All lectures (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets (free seating) priced at $50 for each lecture 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 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_701.html.

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 wards in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 14) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

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 14) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     The Shaanxi Liaison Unit (SNLU) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government moved to its long-term office today (January 14). The new address and detailed contact information is as follows:
 
Address: Unit 1205, 12/F, Capitaland Xindicheng West Office, No. 64 West Section of South 2nd Ring Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, Shaanxi
Tel: (86 29) 8369 1230
Fax: (86 29) 8369 1231
Email: snlu@cdeto.gov.hk
Website: www.cdeto.gov.hk
 
     The SNLU, under the purview of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu of the HKSAR Government, commenced operation in April 2017. It strives to strengthen relations between Hong Kong and Shaanxi Province, including its municipalities, by enhancing government-to-government co-operation, promoting exchanges and co-operation on economic, trade and cultural fronts between Hong Kong and Shaanxi, and providing support to Hong Kong residents and enterprises in the area.