To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong), the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) has organised the "A Path to Glory – Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" exhibition. Having been open for nearly five months, the exhibition has been popular among the local public and tourists, and has received over 300 000 visitors.

     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, visited the HKHM today (August 9) to welcome the 300 000th visitor of the exhibition together with the co-curator of the exhibition and Founder of Guyu Cultural Development Foundation, Mr William Fong, sculptor Ren Zhe, and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam. They were joined by Cantopop singer Ms Teresa Cheung, who sang very popular songs such as "When Will I See You Again" and "Love in Two Hearts" from the TV drama "The Giant Eagle and its Companion". They presented to the 300 000th visitor a souvenir pack which included an exhibition poster, a limited-edition catalogue produced by Ren Zhe Studio and autographed by Mr Fong and sculptor Ren Zhe. 

     Ms Kong is the 300 000th visitor to the exhibition. This was her second time visiting it. She enjoyed the exquisite craftsmanship of Ren Zhe's sculptures, particularly the fine details of the weapons held by the martial arts characters. Ms Kong also thinks that the multimedia presentation created by artist Victor Wong complemented the exhibition's atmosphere well. 

     The novels and characters created by the heavyweight novelist, Jin Yong, are of the collective memory of the Chinese people of Hong Kong and the world. Supported by Jin Yong's family and Ming Ho Publications Corporation Limited, the HKHM has organised the first authorised sculpture exhibition showcasing Jin Yong's classic martial arts characters. Sculptor Ren Zhe made use of his unique sculptural techniques, exquisite craftsmanship and visionary creativity to bring 22 of Jin Yong's well-known characters including Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Guo, Xiaolongnu, Linghu Chong, Feng Qingyang, Zhang Wuji and Ren Woxing to life. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/renzhe.html. 

     Members of the public can also participate in the "A journey of Discovery, Finding Jin Yong's Novel Characters in the Community" activity. To spot sculptures under the same series located at different cultural and tourist landmarks around town, scan the QR codes near the sculptures and answer questions to redeem limited-edition gift sets. Besides the HKHM, participants can also find sculptures at Hong Kong Park and Victoria Park under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). For details, please visit the website of the organiser at en.jinyong.hk/blogs/events. 

     The HKHM has been committed to promoting the preservation, research, display, education and promotion of Hong Kong's pop culture in recent years. Apart from the sculpture exhibition and the permanent Jin Yong Gallery, the HKHM has staged the "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" exhibition to illustrate how the works of the genius, including music, film, television, advertising and literature, capture the essence of contemporary pop culture. James Wong composed many songs for Jin Yong's martial arts films and TV dramas. "A Laugh at the World", "Breadth and Depth of Mountains and Waters" and "You're the Best in the World" are all classics.

     The HKHM will organise the "James Wong's Greatest Hits on Vinyl" music sharing on September 14. Music critic on Cantopop records, Mr Ivan Wong, will share with audiences two of Wong's vintage vinyl records playlists – "James Wong x Jin Yong on Martial Arts Classics" and "Joseph Koo x James Wong on TV Series and Movies". 

     The "A Path to Glory – Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" and "A Laugh at the World: James Wong"exhibitions are 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 sculpture exhibition is 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.

        

     The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will visit Shanghai from August 12 to 14, together with the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Education delegation comprising 14 LegCo Members, to learn about the latest local developments in patriotic education, digital education and innovation and technology (I&T).
 
     During the trip, Dr Choi and the delegation will call on officials of Shanghai Municipality and visit patriotic education bases, local schools and a university, as well as I&T units. They will also interact with Hong Kong youngsters studying or working in Shanghai.
 
     During Dr Choi's absence, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education.

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The Legislative Council Panel on Education will depart for Shanghai and Suzhou next Monday (August 12) to conduct a four-day duty visit.

     The objectives of the visit are for Members to learn about how Shanghai and Suzhou promote patriotic education, strengthen research-academic-industry collaboration, expedite digital transformation in education, and enhance the quality of education services. During the visit, Members will meet with representatives of the relevant Mainland authorities and universities to explore ways to promote international education co-operation in the Belt and Road.

     The delegation will visit the following places and organisations from August 12 to 15:

     Shanghai

• Grand neoBay Sci-tech Innovation Park of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University Student Innovation Center
• Minhang Special School for Mentally Retarded Children
• Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China
• Shanghai Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial
• Xinjiangwan Experimental School Affiliated to Tongji University
• China Welfare Institute Kindergarten
• Zhangjiang AI (Artificial Intelligence) Robot Valley
• Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence of Fudan University

     Suzhou

• Nanjing University Suzhou Campus
• Artificial Intelligence Experience Centre in the Suzhou Industrial Park
• Silk Road School of Renmin University of China (Suzhou)
• Suzhou Revolution Museum

     The delegation is led by the Chairman of the Panel on Education, Professor Priscilla Leung. Other participating members include the Deputy Chairman of the Panel, Dr Chow Man-kong, Panel members Dr Starry Lee, Mr Chu Kwok-keung, Dr Tik Chi-yuen, Mr Stanley Ng, Mr Lam Chun-sing, Mr Lam San-keung, Ms Lillian Kwok, Mr Tang Fei and Professor Lau Chi-pang; as well as non-Panel members Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Dr Junius Ho and Dr Ngan Man-yu.

     At the invitation of the Panel, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, will join the duty visit.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 9) said that two new confirmed melioidosis infection cases had been recorded in the past week (August 2 to 8).

     The first case is an imported case involving a 42-year-old female. She presented with pain and swelling on a wound on her foot in her place of residence overseas and sought medical attention in early July. She arrived in Hong Kong on July 20, and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital for medical attention due to persistent symptoms on July 29. Her clinical sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing. She was admitted for treatment and has been in stable condition. Epidemiological investigations revealed that the patient lived overseas during the incubation period and her wound had contact with soil and muddy water at her place of residence.

     The second case involves a 62-year-old male with underlying illnesses. He lives in Tuen Mun. He developed a cough and sought medical attention from private doctors in early July. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Pok Oi Hospital on August 1 due to a fever, persistent cough and shortness of breath, and was admitted on the same day. He is now in serious condition. His clinical sample was confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing. The CHP is investigating the infection source of the case. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. 

     So far, seven melioidosis infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong this year. In 2023, 17 melioidosis infection cases were recorded.

     A spokesman for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year. According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei of melioidosis in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase.

     The CHP reminded members of the public that melioidosis can be spread by contaminated soil and water during and after typhoons and storms. Where practicable, people should stay indoors during typhoons and storms, avoid travelling to areas with potential flooding, and do not wade in or have contact with muddy water and soil. In addition, high-risk individuals should avoid paths near stormwater drains where aerosols may be generated from contaminated water.

     Members of the public should also take the following preventive measures against infection:
 

• Avoid contact with contaminated soil;
• Wear appropriate protective clothing or footwear when participating in activities with possible contact with soil or water, e.g. using gloves and wearing boots. High-risk individuals may also consider wearing a surgical mask;
• Wash or shower after exposure to contaminated water or soil;
• Always clean any wounds as soon as possible and cover any cuts or grazes with waterproof dressings;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water after handling soil or gardening;
• Observe food hygiene and avoid drinking raw water; and
• Travellers can contract the disease through outdoor water sports. Risk of infection can be minimised by avoiding exposure to water sources (such as rivers, ponds or lakes) that might be contaminated.

     The CHP appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, in particular people with diabetes or other immunocompromised conditions, in order to receive appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment. For more information on melioidosis, please visit the website of the CHP at www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/101110.html.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 9) reported the latest number of dengue fever (DF) cases, and urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.

     From August 2 to yesterday (August 8), the CHP recorded three imported DF cases; the patients had been to Thailand, Malaysia and India respectively during the incubation periods.

     As of yesterday, 43 cases of DF, including 40 imported and three local cases, had been recorded in 2024. In 2023, 62 imported cases of DF were recorded.

     According to the World Health Organization, the global incidence of DF has markedly increased over the past two decades, posing a substantial public health challenge. In 2023, ongoing transmissions, combined with an unexpected spike in DF cases, had resulted in close to a historic high of over 6.5 million cases, and more than 7 300 dengue-related deaths reported in over 80 countries/territories. The latest surveillance data shows that there is an increase in DF cases noted in some places in Asia (such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand) compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of 2024, the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina and Peru, have recorded over 10 million cases, a record number. Detailed information on the latest DF situation in Hong Kong, as well as neighbouring and overseas countries and areas, has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/df_imported_cases_and_overseas_figures_eng.pdf).

     "Apart from general measures, travellers returning from areas affected by DF should apply insect repellent for 14 days upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to a doctor," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers, and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.

     
     â€‹DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
     

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Reapply only when needed and follow the instructions.

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     â€‹The public should call 1823 in case of mosquito problems and may visit the following pages for more information: the DF page of the CHP and the Travel Health Service, the latest Travel Health News, tips for using insect repellents, and the CHP Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.