The following is issued on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project:

     The Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project will submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Chief Executive on or before February 26, 2019, upon approval of an extension of time by the Chief Executive in Council today (December 4).

     The extension of time is needed for the Commission to consider all relevant evidence and complete its report due to the extensive scope of the inquiry, the complexity of the matters for examination and the large number of witnesses involved.

     The ongoing substantive hearing will continue until December 21, 2018, and shall, on a provisional basis, resume on January 9, 2019. The Commission plans to finish all evidence and final submissions by all involved parties before the end of January 2019.

     The "2018 Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters" exhibition will be held from tomorrow (December 5) to December 2 next year at the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. The exhibition shows the unlimited creativity of local potters, with more than 100 works from this year's tea ware competition on display.
 
     This year's competition received an enthusiastic response, with a record number of 451 entries submitted by 332 potters.
 
     In the Open Category, the first prize was awarded to Chan Cheuk-yan's "Encounter", while the second and the third prizes went to Enders Wong's "Joint Call" and Kwok Ka-fei's "Grand Canyon" respectively. The six winning entries for the prize of excellence were Hui Chun-kit's "Eclipse"; Enders Wong's "Your Charm, Your Way"; Monica Lin's "Gentle Thoughts"; Yung Yuk-ming's "Reverie"; Tung Wing-yin's "Encounter"; and Kwan Sau-man's "Paper Cup".
 
     In the School Category, the winner of the first prize was Lau Hui-yau's "Tip of Dawn at Sixteen", while the winners of the second and the third prizes were Nicholas Leung's "The Price of Peace" and Leung Ching-tung's "Tea Time" respectively.
 
     The "Tea Ware by Hong Kong Potters" competition was first held by the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware in 1986 with the aim of promoting ceramic art in Hong Kong. This year's competition, the 11th edition, features 101 items of selected tea ware made by 88 local potters.
 
     The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held today (December 4). Officiating guests included the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Heritage and Museums), Mr Chan Shing-wai; two of this year's adjudicators – the Museum Expert Advisor, Ms Lai Suk-yee and product designer Mr Lee Chi-wing; and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Miss Eve Tam.
 
     For more exhibition details, please visit the museum's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/en_US/web/ma/mt-thematic-exhibition.html or call 2869 0690 for enquiries.
 
     The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware is located at 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong (inside Hong Kong Park).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Bank of Singapore Limited on suspicious application (App), which has been reported to the HKMA.  Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
      
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the App concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the App should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
 

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

     The Road Safety Council (RSC), Traffic Kowloon West Headquarters of the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol (Kowloon West Region) will jointly hold the Smart Driving Bus Parade 2018 at 6.30pm tomorrow (December 5), starting at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Piazza C. Members of the public are welcome to participate.

     The event will be officiated by the Chairlady of the Road Safety Campaign Committee of the RSC, Ms Rebecca Ma; the Acting Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic Kowloon West, Hong Kong Police Force, Mr Chung Hung-yip; the Regional Commander, Kowloon West of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol, Mr Gavin Lam; the Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong Road Safety Campaign Organising Committee, Mr Paul Law; the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po Road Safety Campaign Committee, Mr Wong Kam-choi; the Vice Chairman of the Kowloon City Road Safety Campaign Committee, Mr Sunny Chung; and the Promotion Officer Kowloon West of the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol, Ms Tse Suet-sum.

     A Mobile Breath Test Centre and police motorcycles will be exhibited at the venue from 5pm. After an opening ceremony, the guests will take an open-top bus through the Tsim Sha Tsui area to distribute road safety leaflets in order to deliver the "No Drug and No Drink Driving" message to road users.

     The Chief Executive in Council approved today (December 4), at the request of the Commission of Inquiry into the Diaphragm Wall and Platform Slab Construction Works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project, an extension of time for the Commission to submit its report to the Chief Executive by February 26, 2019.

     The Commission was appointed by the Chief Executive in Council on July 10, 2018, with Mr Michael Hartmann as Chairman and Commissioner and Professor Peter Hansford as Commissioner. It is required to report its findings and recommendations to the Chief Executive within six months from the date of appointment, i.e. by January 9, 2019, or such time as the Chief Executive in Council may allow. In view of the extensive scope of the inquiry, the complexity of the matters under examination and the large number of witnesses involved, the Commission sought an extension of time to consider the evidence and complete its report. Based on its latest work progress, the Commission expects to finish hearing all evidence and the closing addresses by involved parties by late January 2019. The Commission will then proceed to finalise its report. 

     The Commission is tasked to inquire into the steel reinforcement fixing works and any other works which raise concerns about public safety in respect of the diaphragm wall and platform slab construction works at the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project implemented by the MTR Corporation Limited. It will also make recommendations on suitable measures with a view to promoting public safety and assurance on the quality of works. The terms of reference of the Commission are in the Annex.