The Outreach Music Interest Courses organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Over 100 courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument classes to music workshops, and the newly added course on digital music performance with tablets, will be held from March to July next year. Members of the public are welcome to apply.
 
     A new course, "Let's e-Orch!", will introduce techniques of performing and creating music with tablets. Participants will perform a diverse repertoire including the Japanese folk song "Moon over the Ruined Castle", the Disney song "It's a Small World" and Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No.5". Participants can learn basic music concepts and composition techniques through improvisation, music games and activities. Adults are welcome to join the course for a fee of $930.
 
     The Music Office will continue to offer courses on ocarina, keyboard, ukulele, classical guitar and classical vocal singing; Western music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; instrumental enrichment courses of pipa, dizi and saxophone; ensemble training of Chinese traditional music, flute, Western strings and Western chamber music; and the parent and child workshop "Let's Brass!". The course fees range from $310 to $970.
 
     The Outreach Music Interest Courses also provide basic training on the xiao, liuyeqin, zhong-ruan, pipa, yangqin, zheng, dizi, erhu, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad), violin, viola and cello. The course fee is $1,030.
 
      All courses are conducted in small groups in Cantonese and will be held at different venues throughout Hong Kong, namely the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office's music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
 
     Online applications are now available at the Music Office website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is January 15. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from February 20.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2582 5334, 2598 8335 or 2582 5264.

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 (December 20) 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (December 20) that the Base Rate was adjusted upward by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent with immediate effect according to a pre-set formula.  The increase in the Base Rate follows the 25-basis point upward shift in the target range for the US federal funds rate on December 19 (US time).
      
     The Base Rate is the interest rate forming the foundation upon which the Discount Rates for repurchase transactions through the Discount Window are computed.  The Base Rate is currently set at either 50 basis points above the lower end of the prevailing target range for the US federal funds rate or the average of the five-day moving averages of the overnight and one-month Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rates, whichever is the higher.

     In response to media enquiries, the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) said today (December 19) that THB was informed of the situation about the first opening up location in the second stage of the holistic assessment strategy for the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link (SCL) Project.
 
     Based on the information provided by the coupler supplier, when a rebar is fully screwed into a coupler, there should be a maximum of two full threads exposed.  Even if there are only two full threads exposed, a non-destructive test to determine the embedded length of the rebar in the coupler should also be conducted.
 
     According to the preliminary inspection of the coupler connection at an opening up location at the platform slab in Area B of the East West Line, there are more than two full threads for all the three exposed coupler connections.  The test result does not comply with the coupler supplier’s standard, which specifies a maximum exposed part of two full threads.    
 
     Moreover, according to the preliminary result of the non-destructive test, the embedded lengths of the three exposed threaded bars at the first opening up location are 29 millimetres, 34 millimetres and 34 millimetres respectively.  The result can only be confirmed upon receipt of the formal test report from the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL). 
 
     According to the holistic assessment strategy of the MTRCL, upon completion of the opening up investigation under the second stage, in the third stage the MTRCL will consolidate test results of the first two stages, conduct a detailed structural analysis on the works for the Hung Hom Station Extension to ascertain if the overall structural integrity of the works is acceptable and determine if it is necessary to conduct strengthening works.
 
     As regards the safety concerns during the opening up of concrete at the East West Line platform slab, the Government emphasises that site safety will not be compromised.  In addition to the site walks conducted by the MTRCL, Government officers will also conduct site inspections to ensure strict enforcement of safety measures by all parties.  As of today, there is no non-compliance with safety standards at relevant works sites.  The Government and the MTRCL would continue to pay attention to and monitor the safety conditions at sites. 
 
     The Government will announce relevant work progress on a regular basis.

     Hong Kong Police received a suspect and the stolen goods in connection with a robbery case from the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau at the Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point today (December 19).

     A local male, aged 26, was in suspected connection with a robbery case happened on September 30 this year in which a shop on Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui was robbed of three watches with value totalled $600,000. The suspect fled to the Mainland after the case.

     With the information of the suspect, Police sought the assistance of the Ministry of Public Security and Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department. The suspect was subsequently arrested in the Mainland.

     Hong Kong Police were grateful for the invaluable assistance rendered by the Ministry of Public Security, Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, Zhuhai Public Security Bureau and Macao Judiciary Police, which resulted in the arrest of the suspect. The arrest of the suspect in the Mainland demonstrated the determination of the Police of the three places in combating crimes jointly and to uphold the rule of law.

     Active investigation by District Crime Squad of Yau Tsim District is underway.