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Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (October 8) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Stanley Main Beach and Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island, and Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches.
The exhibition "A Path to Glory – Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the literary giant, Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong), concluded yesterday (October 7). The exhibition has been well received by the local public and tourists, with a total attendance of over 400 000 since its opening in mid-March.
This exhibition was the first authorised sculpture exhibition showcasing Jin Yong's classic martial arts characters and was supported by Dr Cha's family and Ming Ho Publications Corporation Limited. Sculptor Ren Zhe created 22 lively sculptures of the most well-known characters in Jin Yong's five novels. The exhibition had also set alongside multimedia installations created by artist Victor Wong and his team, allowing visitors to immerse themselves into Jin Yong's imaginary world of martial arts.
To extend this exhibition, the co-curator of the exhibition and Founder of Guyu Cultural Development Foundation, Mr William Fong, donated the Guo Jing and Huang Rong sculptures for the permanent collection of the HKHM. The sculpture "Guo Jing" shows the young hero's charm in the desert. He is staring into the sky, holding a bow in one arm and clasping the string with the other, arrows ready, displaying the fearless ambition of an eagle-shooting hero. The sculpture "Huang Rong" depicts the heroine's youth. Huang Rong's agile demeanour exudes a charismatic air as she gracefully rides sideways on a Ferghana horse. The sculpture "Guo Jing" will be on display outside the Jin Yong Gallery at the HKHM starting October 23.
The Jin Yong Gallery was established in 2017, displaying more than 300 exhibits featuring the early career of Jin Yong, the creative process behind his martial arts novels and the impact the novels have had on Hong Kong's pop culture. The invaluable exhibits include the couplet created by Jin Yong using the first Chinese character of the titles of his 14 novels and novellas, the precious manuscripts of the new edition of "The Demi-Gods and the Semi-Devils", the early serialised novels in newspapers, and Dr Cha's "Go" board and stones. The Gallery also showcases the records of theme songs for TV dramas, promotional film posters, illustrations for novels and so on. A bust of Dr Cha donated by his family for the permanent collection of the HKHM is displayed as well.
To tie in with the exhibition, the HKHM held various programmes related to Jin Yong's works during the exhibition period of more than six months including a reading corner of Jin Yong's works set up in the HKHM in collaboration with the Hong Kong Central Library, talks hosted by renowned scholars, workshops, and the night tour in Hanfu costume. The "Arts or Action, Why Not Both?" Classic Martial Arts Drama Costumes and Props Exhibition, organised by the Pop Culture Programmes Office, was also held at the open space on 2/F of the HKHM. These programmes allowed audiences to know more about the cultural connotations embodied in Jin Yong's works, and the influence of his works on Chinese people.
The exhibition was presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and jointly organised by the HKHM and Guyu Cultural Development Foundation. For the latest news of the HKHM, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/highlights.html or follow Instagram www.instagram.com/heritagemuseum.hk/.
The exhibition was one of the pre-programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year, the second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong's pop culture. It encompasses both "Arts" (creative works) and "Action" (martial arts), an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture. The event lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities, and its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong's vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en. The exhibition was also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.
A sick 64-year-old male person in custody at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre died in a public hospital today (October 8).
On October 4, the person in custody was sent to a public hospital for treatment due to physical discomfort. During hospitalisation, his condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 3.38am today.
The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner's Court.
The person in custody was convicted for the offence of manslaughter and detained under a hospital order for psychiatric treatment in February 1978.
​Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the opening ceremony of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024 today (October 7):
Mr Fraccari (President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Mr Riccardo Fraccari), Andrew (President of the Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China, Mr Andrew Fan), Wilfred (Chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee, Mr Wilfred Ng), Winnie (Head of Charities (Culture, Sports and Community Engagement) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ms Winnie Yip), players and fans, ladies and gentlemen,
I'm delighted to join you for the opening ceremony of the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup 2024.
Baseball5 is a whole new ballgame, folks. The first Baseball5 World Cup took place just two years ago, in Mexico City. And Hong Kong, I'm pleased to say, is hosting the World Cup's second edition over the next six days, right here at Central Harbourfront, with the spectacular Victoria Harbour as the backdrop.
This event splendidly illustrates how sports can be seamlessly woven into the fabric of our city. It brings Baseball5 to the heart of Hong Kong, allowing players, residents and visitors to enjoy the games against the city's skyline. At the same time, it brings Hong Kong once again to a world of audience, who are watching the games here live and through broadcast across the globe.
As you can see, Hong Kong is as vibrant, energetic and welcoming as ever.
Speaking of Baseball5, its beauty is its streamlined, fast-paced mix of traditional baseball and softball, with more than a little handball tossed in. Yes, you whack the ball with your bare hand, fist, wrist or arm. There are no gloves, bats or pitchers in this urban street game in a hurry. And it can be played almost anywhere, though I wouldn't recommend the family living room. It's a bouncy rubber ball, after all.
The fast, flexible nature of Baseball5 brings to mind the spirit of Hong Kong – efficiency, resilience, resourcefulness and fleet-footed adaptability – qualities that have shaped Hong Kong into the thriving city it is today.
The World Cup has been awarded the "M" Mark status by our Major Sports Events Committee, and for good reason.
The international tournament brings together 12 teams from five continents. And Hong Kong, China, ladies and gentlemen, is among them. Speaking of men and women, this is a mixed game: eight players on a team, four men and four women. Of course, boys and girls are playing Baseball5, too – in Hong Kong and all over the world.
And the game is gaining popularity. I'm pleased to learn that the number of teams participating in the next edition of the World Cup will be expanded, and that it will be featured for the first time in the Youth Olympic Games in 2026.
My thanks to WBSC, and the Baseball Association of Hong Kong, China, for organising this world-class event and putting a bright spotlight on Hong Kong as the region's sports and entertainment capital.
I'm also grateful to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, whose financial support has made this spectacular sporting event possible. And my thanks, too, to all the volunteers and sponsors involved.
I wish the WBSC Baseball5 World Cup resounding success. And all our overseas players, fans and friends an unforgettable stay in Hong Kong, on and off the field.
Ladies and gentlemen, beyond this glamourous harbour, Hong Kong has so much to offer, so much for you to explore. For example, over 200 Michelin-recommended restaurants, food stalls on the streets, the breath-taking hiking trails in the countryside, and stunning outlying islands. Don't miss this opportunity. Enjoy Hong Kong.
Now, let's play ball. Thank you very much.
The Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme was officially launched today (October 7). Eligible organisations are welcome to submit applications to Cyberport.
To promote the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem in Hong Kong, the 2024-25 Budget announced an allocation of $3 billion for the launch of a three-year Subsidy Scheme, mainly to support local universities, research institutes, enterprises, etc, in leveraging the computing power of Cyberport's AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) to achieve scientific breakthroughs.
Under the Subsidy Scheme, eligible users may generally be subsidised up to 70 per cent of the service list price of Cyberport's AISC. The Committee of the AI Subsidy Scheme appointed by the Government will vet and approve subsidy applications, including the specific amount, duration and conditions of use.
The first-phase facility of Cyberport's AISC is expected to commence operations within this year. The computing power of Cyberport's AISC will progressively increase to reach a level of around 3 000 petaFLOPS.
A hybrid information session for the Subsidy Scheme will be held on October 10. For more information about the Subsidy Scheme and application details, please visit the thematic page of Cyberport at aisc.cyberport.hk/aiss. For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the Subsidy Scheme (email: aiss_enquiry@cyberport.hk).