A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (March 30) announced that the pilot scheme for a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker for cattle concluded today. AFCD staff removed the collar with a GPS tracker from the cow concerned this morning.
 
     "The pilot scheme was a joint effort between the AFCD and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) for the use of Internet of Things technology to detect the location of cattle in suburban areas. The scheme aimed to help the AFCD to conduct a survey on the population and distribution of cattle and understand their movement patterns and places of stay so as to formulate relevant measures to reduce cattle-related traffic accidents and safeguard the safety and welfare of cattle," the spokesman said.
 
     Under the pilot scheme, a collar with a GPS tracker was attached to a cow living in the Sai Kung Country Park area in early March. The cow tried on the collar in an operation centre of the AFCD for a certain period of time for it to get used to the device. The cow was returned to the country park for the running of the pilot scheme.
 
     Over the period, useful data has been collected through the GPS tracker for analysis. Therefore, the scheme was completed and the tracking collar was then removed from the cow. 
 
     According to on-site inspections during these days, the cow concerned did not show any signs of discomfort. Swallowing and breathing have not been affected. The AFCD will keep inspecting the cow regularly to make sure it is healthy.

     "The Originals (Reimagined) – Hong Kong Musicals in Concert" is an extension of Hong Kong's home-grown musicals from "The Originals", a concert of acclaimed local musical excerpts, after its successful premiere in October of last year. The concert will be staged in April.
 
     In the coming concert, the programme will reprise some of the works from its premiere, introducing a fresh selection for a new twist. The staging and costumes will be redesigned to give the production a new yet familiar look. The cast of eight accomplished singer-actors comprising established favourites and new talents Mimi Lo, Joe Wong, Pichead Amornsomboon, Luna Shaw, Jordan Cheng, Jarita Wan, Chu Pak-him and Mischa Ip, accompanied by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, invite Hong Kong patrons to revisit the history of Hong Kong musicals.
 
     Production Curator and Music Director Leon Ko has prepared a feast of local musical classics including excerpts from "1941 Girl!", "Field of Dreams", "Homo Superus", "Snow·Wolf·Lake", "The Border Town", "The Passage Beyond", "Sing Out", "When Snow Falls", "Octave" and more.
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "The Originals (Reimagined) – Hong Kong Musicals in Concert" (to be performed in Cantonese with Chinese and English surtitles) will be staged at 7.45pm on April 16 and 17 (Friday and Saturday) and at 2.45pm on April 18 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced from $180 to $480 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 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/programs_1100.html.
 
     A meet-the-artist session will be held after the performance on April 17 (Saturday). Audience members are welcome to join.

     Koch Media, a global developer, publisher and distributor of video games, virtual reality (VR) games, gaming hardware and merchandise, announced today (March 30) that it has opened its Hong Kong office as a regional base to expand its business in Asia.

     With more than 25 years of experience in digital media business, Koch Media runs a multi-label strategy with fully owned publishing units such as Deep Silver, Ravenscourt, Milestone and Vertigo Publishing, which publish games for console, personal computer (PC) and VR platforms across all physical and digital channels, according to the Territory and Licensing Manager Asia of the company, Mr Jeremy Zitná. Having a base in Hong Kong will help the company tap the massive business opportunities in Asia-Pacific, which accounts for the largest revenue source of the global gaming market.

     "We already have a very strong presence in the Western world with local publishing offices and developers in over 25 locations. Therefore, it was the logical next step for us to enter the Asian market with our new office in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong office is going to be responsible for local marketing activities in the region (covering Greater China, Korea and Southeast Asia), promotion of our video game releases in Asia, and improving the brand image of our games. We are also interested in getting into discussions with local video game developers that are looking for a local or worldwide publishing partner for their console or PC games," Mr Zitná said.

     He added, "Hong Kong is the perfect candidate for our office with its international background, official language use of English and Chinese and perfect location in the heart of Asia. Furthermore, a lot of major companies and partners in the gaming industry have their offices located in Hong Kong and it was also very easy for us to find suitable talents for our starting staff."

     The Managing Director of the Hong Kong office, Mr Andreas Tobler, pointed out that COVID-19 has posed many challenges to various industries but gaming is one of the industries that are thriving during the pandemic. He said, "Our decision to set up in Hong Kong is firm and we are very thankful for the great support of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) in a lot of areas, which made setting up the local office and finding local talent a lot easier".

     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Dr Jimmy Chiang said, "We are happy to see that Koch Media chose Hong Kong as its regional base. Hong Kong is geographically well positioned in Asia to allow games publishers to develop partnerships and market their products in the Greater China and Asia-Pacific regions. The city boasts one of the highest per capita gaming revenue figures in the world, attracting international games developers to launch their games in the city as part of their forays into Asian market. Hong Kong has long been the regional distribution centre for video games, and we look forward to embracing more games publishers and developers to use Hong Kong as their hub to expand business in the region."

About Koch Media

     Koch Media is a global developer, publisher and distributor of video games, VR games, gaming hardware and merchandise. With its parent company in Höfen, Austria, and the publishing headquarters in Munich, Germany, Koch Media owns 14 local publishing companies and 10 game development studios globally, employing more than 1 800 employees. Its business areas include distribution of media products, including video games, movies and software products, and games publishing under the Deep Silver and Ravenscourt labels. Koch Media is an Embracer Group company. For more information about Koch Media, please visit www.kochmedia.com/en.

About InvestHK
      
     InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

     For photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157718552471615.

  

     The Government announced today (March 30) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi, an incumbent member of the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service (the Directorate Committee), as Chairman of the Directorate Committee and Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching, Mr Nelson Lam Chi-yuen and Mr Kevin Lam Sze-cay as members, and re-appointed Professor Karen Chan Ka-yin as a member of the Directorate Committee. The above appointments will be for a term of two years from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023.

     The Government expressed its gratitude and appreciation to retiring Chairman of the Directorate Committee Dr Pang Yiu-kai and members Dr Clement Chen Cheng-jen and Mr Ivan Sze Wing-hang for their invaluable contributions to the work of the Directorate Committee.
 
     The Directorate Committee tenders advice to the Chief Executive on matters relating to the structure, pay and conditions of service of directorate ranks in the civil service. The other serving member is Ms Zabrina Lau Shing-yan.

     The Government today (March 30) announced that the 12th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.
 
     In accordance with section 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) (the Regulation), the Secretary for Food and Health issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday (March 29), requiring persons who are employed by and will be on duty at RCHEs, RCHDs, nursing homes and day service units attached to the premises of residential care homes during the period from April 16 to 29, 2021, or who will provide services to residents or users through hire-of-service contracts with residential care homes and the aforementioned units during that period (including full-time, part-time and relief staff), to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 during the period from April 2 to 15, 2021, according to the requirements and procedure set out in the notice (the Specified Test).
 
     The staff of the aforementioned institutions may choose the following means to undergo the Specified Test:
 
(1) To undergo the Specified Test in any of the Community Testing Centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en), Temporary Testing Centres (if any) (see the list at www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_supportser/sub_ttc), or mobile specimen collection stations (if any) (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) in accordance with the instructions given by the staff at the centre/station;
 
(2) To undergo the Specified Test as arranged by institution operators at a laboratory listed on the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) and as instructed by the staff of the laboratory;
 
(3) To obtain a specimen bottle from one of the 121 post offices, 47 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority or vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations, collect a deep throat saliva sample in the specimen bottle as per the guidelines provided together with the specimen bottle, and return the specimen bottle with the sample (see the specimen bottles distribution and specimen collection locations and times at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
 
(4) To undergo the Specified Test at general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
 
(5) To self-arrange testing provided by a laboratory listed on the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" at their own expense (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf).
 
     Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice commits an offence and may be subject to a fixed penalty of $5,000. He or she would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.
 
     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that the SWD and the Department of Health would issue letters to institutions to inform them of the relevant arrangements and requirements. The spokesman reminded that staff of the said institutions who would undergo testing at community testing centres should make an advance booking via the community testing centre booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk) for the free testing service. In addition, institution operators should remind their staff members to properly keep the SMS notifications of their test results or their test result reports.
 
     Institution operators are required to keep records of their staff having received the Specified Test and the results within the time frame specified by the Government. Institution operators also have to co-operate with Checking Officers (Compulsory Testing) of the SWD who are enforcing the Regulation at residential care homes.