â€‹The Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) launched the Archaic Curator Series in 2022 and has invited Chinese art historians and curators to collaborate on exhibitions that engage with traditional Chinese art through innovative forms of expression, bridging the old and the new. The third exhibition of the series, "Archaic Curator Series: The Charm of Colour – Travel with Ceramics through Time and Space", will be held from tomorrow (September 26) until January 31 next year at Oi! Glassie to showcase creative ceramic artworks.

     The guest curator and Associate Curator (Antiquities) of the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Dr Wang Guanyu, invited three artists from Jingdezhen and Hong Kong – Gu Yue, Fiona Wong and Caroline Cheng – to participate in the exhibition. Inspired by the CUHK Art Museum's collection, the three artists infuse their own technical artistry and aesthetics into their works to showcase their personal understanding and interpretation of contemporary ceramic art.

     Jingdezhen, also known as the millennium porcelain capital, is renowned for its rich ceramic heritage. Gu Yue, a graduate of Jingdezhen Ceramic University, draws inspiration from flowers and nature to express the vibrant spirit of the new generation of ceramic artists. His works skilfully blend traditional moulding and decorative techniques with contemporary aesthetics. Fiona Wong, who focuses on exploring soil and studying Hong Kong's culture, draws inspiration from the stories surrounding Nam Koo Terrace, a century-old mansion in Wan Chai. Her artwork comprises a set of 3D-printed containers modelled on the patterned tiles of Nam Koo Terrace and an assembly of ceramic tiles recomposing a historical map of Wan Chai, to guide visitors to uncover the narratives behind contemporary urban development. Artist Caroline Cheng and her team have developed a method to upcycle ceramic waste into malleable clay, challenging the conventional perceptions of ceramics. Visitors to the exhibition can admire her latest works, crafted from this sustainable material.

     There are different public engagement programmes in this exhibition. In the "A Tour to Travel with Ceramics through Time and Space" guided tour, docents will lead visitors to explore the two exhibitions at Oi! and the CUHK Art Museum. An education gallery will be set up at G/F Oi! Glassie. During the exhibition period, staff members will act as lab technicians and guide visitors to discover the secrets of ceramic production in a lively and interesting way. In addition, visitors can select a special ceramic colour in the Ceramic Colour Exploration Zone to create a personalised postcard to take home as a cherished souvenir.

     During the exhibition period, the CUHK Art Museum will also showcase "Amazing Clay: Masterpieces from the Ceramic Collection of CUHK Art Museum" to enrich visitors' appreciation of the beauty of traditional Chinese ceramics.

     "Archaic Curator Series: The Charm of Colour – Travel with Ceramics through Time and Space" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the CUHK, and organised by Oi! and the Art Museum of CUHK. For more details about the exhibition and registration of programmes, please visit Oi! website at www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/oi_the_charm_of_colour.html, Facebook and Instagram or call 2512 3000. The exhibition is one of the activities under 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.

          

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (September 25) investigating an outbreak of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) at a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) in Sheung Shui, and reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene and to use antibiotics properly.

     The CHP received notification from the Hospital Authority that an 89-year-old female resident of the aforementioned RCHE attended a follow-up consultation at a public hospital for her underlying illness on August 26 and was found to have a fever. Her urine sample tested positive for CPE upon laboratory testing, and the clinical diagnosis was urinary tract infection. Upon receiving the notification, the CHP carried out an epidemiological investigation and found that two female residents, aged 79 and 91, who had previously acquired the infection during hospitalisation and been identified as carrier cases, might be the source. A site inspection was conducted on September 10 by the CHP. It was found that the RCHE had yet to fully implement relevant infection control measures, which caused the transmission in the RCHE. The CHP conducted contact tracing and screening at the RCHE and found that the rectal swabs of 16 other female residents, aged between 70 and 103, also tested positive for CPE. All 16 residents remain asymptomatic and are in stable condition.

     The CHP conducted another site inspection yesterday (September 24) and advised the RCHE again to adopt and reinforce necessary infection control measures against CPE, including maintaining good environmental hygiene and hand hygiene for staff and residents. The RCHE has been put under medical surveillance.

     The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     RCHEs are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly on detection, prevention and control of infections. If there is suspicion of an infectious disease outbreak, the institution should report to the CHP promptly for follow-up.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Enterobacteriaceae (for example, E. coli and Klebsiella) are common pathogens that can cause infections at different body sites including urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections or bacteraemia. CPE are enterobacteriaceae that produce carbapenemase – an enzyme that can deactivate carbapenems and other beta-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins. These bacteria are commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics, limiting therapeutic options, and may render severe clinical infections difficult to treat. The range of diseases associated with CPE varies from asymptomatic carriage to potentially life-threatening or fatal infections. The level of risk depends on which part of the body is affected by the infection and the general health of the patient."

     â€‹â€‹The spokesman added that proper use of antibiotics and maintaining good personal and environmental hygiene, especially hand hygiene, are important for the prevention of emergence and cross-transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) like CPE. In addition, susceptible individuals such as the elderly, infants and young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity can lower the risk of contracting MDROs by not eating raw or undercooked foods.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, this afternoon (September 25) attended a ceremony to see off the two giant pandas, An An and Ke Ke, in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Yeung once again thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO), the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, the Sichuan Provincial People's Government and the Dujiangyan Municipal People's Government for making arrangements over the past three months to facilitate the departure of An An and Ke Ke. "In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Central Government has once again gifted a pair of giant pandas to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), which means a whole lot to Hong Kong. It not only demonstrates the Central Government's care and support for the HKSAR but also recognises Hong Kong's efforts in conserving, caring for and rearing giant pandas," Mr Yeung said.

     Representatives from the HKMAO, the NFGA, the Dujiangyan Municipal People's Government in Sichuan Province, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, and representatives from Ocean Park Hong Kong also attended the seeing-off ceremony.

     Mr Yeung also visited Tianfu Art Park on the same morning. Tianfu Art Park, featuring an art museum, a contemporary art museum and a library, showcases the diversity of art blending with culture, as well as Sichuan's rich cultural and artistic atmosphere.

     Mr Yeung arrived in Chengdu, Sichuan, yesterday (September 24) and visited the Jinsha Site Museum. Built on the original Jinsha ruins, the Jinsha Site Museum aims to conserve, study and display the ancient Shu civilisation and Jinsha culture. Since its opening in April 2007, the museum has been a national AAAA-level tourist scenic spot, a national first-class museum, and a research practice education base for elementary and middle school students. It also promotes the development of local tourism.

     â€‹Mr Yeung will depart from Sichuan for Hong Kong this evening.

                

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) confirmed cases in a medical and geriatrics ward, the spokesman for Shatin Hospital gave the following update today (September 25):

     Following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient, a 72-year-old female in the ward, was identified as a carrier of VRE. The patient is now being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.

     The hospital will continue the enhanced infection control measures and closely monitor the situation of the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for necessary follow-up.

     The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, attended the Global Sustainable Transport Forum (2024) hosted by the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China in Beijing today (September 25). 

     This year's forum, themed "Sustainable Transport: Logistics Connecting the World", focuses on key topics including global governance, connectivity, common development, innovation-driven development and eco-sound development.

     Mr Lam participated in the forum's opening ceremony and a plenary session this morning. In the afternoon, he delivered a speech at a thematic session titled Connectivity – Strengthening Cooperation in Governance and Emergency Response, and Building Resilient International Logistics and Supply Chains, in which he mentioned the need to strengthen the resilience of global logistics supply chains in four directions, namely building extensive networks, upgrading technologies, exchanging information and deepening co-operation.

     "The international order is constantly changing, making it more important than ever to strengthen the resilience of logistics supply chains. We must construct a comprehensive and extensive transportation network to ensure the logistics network has adequate responsiveness and endurance. Continuous improvements to the technology level of the logistics industry, promotion of supply chain digitisation, seamless connections between various aspects, as well as the continuous strengthening of regional logistics co-operation will help enhance the resilience of logistics supply chains," Mr Lam said.

     Mr Lam then attended a Ministers' Forum titled Global Governance – Fostering a Global Sustainable Transport Partnership to exchange views with representatives from transport authorities and related enterprises of various countries and regions. After that, he met with Vice Minister of Transport Mr Li Yang, and briefed him on Hong Kong's latest developments, including aviation, maritime matters, usage of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as well as the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

     Mr Lam departed for Tianjin in the evening, and will attend the China Air Finance Development (DFTP) Summit tomorrow (September 26).