The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year tenancy of the government canteen on portions of Ground Floor, Block 3, Tung Tau Correctional Institution, 68 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, Hong Kong, for canteen purpose only. 
              
     The tender notice was uploaded today (March 3) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website. 

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection should make a prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 3842 6775 on or before March 15 this year.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on March 25 this year. Late tenders will not be accepted. 

     The Revenue (Tax Concessions) Bill 2021 will be gazetted on March 5. The Bill seeks to implement tax concessions proposed in the 2021-22 Budget.
 
     The Budget has proposed one-off reductions of salaries tax, tax under personal assessment and profits tax for the year of assessment 2020/21 by 100 per cent, subject to a ceiling of $10,000 per case. The reductions will be reflected in taxpayers' final tax payable for the year of assessment 2020/21. The proposals will benefit 1.87 million taxpayers of salaries tax and tax under personal assessment as well as 128 000 tax-paying businesses. The total government revenue forgone in 2021-22 will amount to $12.45 billion.
 
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on March 17.

     The Rating (Exemption) Order 2021 and the Revenue (Reduction of Business Registration Fees and Branch Registration Fees) Order 2021 will be gazetted on March 5. The two orders seek to implement one-off rates concessions and waiver of business registration fees proposed in the 2021-22 Budget given the current economic difficulties.
 
     The 2021-22 Budget has proposed to waive rates for four quarters of 2021-22. For domestic tenements, the concession ceiling is $1,500 per tenement per quarter for the first two quarters, and $1,000 per tenement per quarter for the remaining two quarters. The ceiling for non-domestic tenements is $5,000 per tenement per quarter for the first two quarters, and $2,000 per tenement per quarter for the remaining two quarters. The proposed rates concession will benefit about 3.38 million properties, leading to revenue forgone of about $15 billion.
 
     In addition, the Budget has proposed to waive the business registration fees and branch registration fees for 2021-22 to reduce the operating cost of business amidst the unfavourable economic circumstances. The proposed waiver will benefit 1.5 million business operators, with revenue forgone of $3 billion.
 
     The two orders will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on March 17.

     The Hung Ka Po Cantonese Opera Troupe will stage "An Official's Promotion", a newly adapted Cantonese opera, in March. The performances were originally scheduled in January.
 
     Adapted from the Ping opera and Fujian opera work "An Official's Demotion", the story of "An Official's Promotion" sees Bian Yixiao get demoted by the newly appointed Inspector of Three Provinces, Cui Yunlong, due to Bian's marriage to a courtesan, Zhang Xiuyu. When Bian has a case to investigate, he disguises himself as a fortune teller and goes to a teahouse to gather clues. There he meets Cui, who is also undercover as a doctor. The two become friends, and Bian takes Cui home to stay. Later, Bian lets Cui take his place in presiding at court and Cui deliberately frees a prime suspect. Bian, angry at the misjudgement, sends Cui to jail. His wife also takes Cui to task for not exercising justice. At this point, Cui is finally convinced that Bian and Zhang are a couple of upright principles, and feels guilty for demoting Bian.
 
A newly adapted Cantonese Opera "An Official's Promotion"
Adaptation: Loong Koon-tin, Chan Hung-chun, Lai Yiu-wai
7.30pm, March 23 (Tuesday)
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
Tickets: $140, $200, $260 and $320
7.30pm, March 24 (Wednesday)
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
Tickets: $140, $200, $280 and $380
Cast: Loong Koon-tin, Cheng Wing-mui, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Yat Dim-hung, Wang Kit-ching, Vong Seng-pan, Tam Wing-lun and Siu Wing-yee
 
     The performances by the Hung Ka Po Cantonese Opera Troupe are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets 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/chinese_opera/programs_948.html.
 
     A post-performance talk in Cantonese will be held at 7.30pm on March 27 (Saturday) at Function Room, 4/F, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. Speakers will include Loong Koon-tin, Cheng Wing-mui and Chan Hung-chun. Admission is free. Telephone registration is required, and please call 2268 7267 from 10am on March 22 (Monday) onwards. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above website.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.