Mobile Libraries 3, 4, 10 and 11 will suspend services during designated periods in July for routine maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 25). &nbs… read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Serv… read more
A & A Building Materials Supplier, a paint importer, was convicted and fined a total of $14,000 at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (June 25) for contravening the Air Pollution Control (Volatile Organic Compounds) Regulation by importing two types of architectural paint with excessive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Italy and the Mainland.
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said the importer involved imported 360 litres of Industria Chimica General Stone Color (Black) from Italy last July and 36 litres of Italcina Proof 10S Plus Impregnator from the Mainland last September. Analysis of the samples collected by the EPD confirmed that the VOC content in these two products exceeded the legal limit by 2.4 times and 1.8 times respectively. The EPD subsequently prosecuted the responsible person of the importer, A & A Building Materials Supplier, according to the Regulation.
The spokesman said VOCs are a major component responsible for the formation of smog, resulting in regional air pollution and smog problems. Some of the VOCs are poisonous and would cause harm to public health. Starting from April 1, 2007, the Government gradually put under regulatory control the import and local manufacture of products containing VOCs, including architectural paint, printing inks, vehicle refinishing paint, vessel and pleasure craft paint, adhesives and sealants, as well as a series of consumer products. The EPD will continue to combat regulated products with VOC content exceeding the legal limits with a view to further improving the air quality of Hong Kong and the neighbouring regions.
The spokesman reminded all importers and local manufacturers of paint to ensure the VOC levels of the regulated products are in compliance with the legal limits before importing or manufacturing them in order to avoid contravening the law. In addition, construction works contractors should use VOC-compliant paints to protect the health of the workers at their construction sites and the environment.
In accordance with the Regulation, anyone who imports into or manufactures in Hong Kong regulated products with VOCs exceeding the legal limits commits an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment.
For more information about VOC control, please visit the EPD’s website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/voc_reg.html. read more
The Mid-Autumn Festival – the Tai Hang fire dragon dance, a local intangible cultural heritage (ICH) item, has been selected as one of the Remarkable Examples of Good Practice for Safeguarding the National ICH Items by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in recognition of the efforts of various sectors in Hong Kong in safeguarding this ICH item.
The ministry launched the selection of the Remarkable Examples of good safeguarding practice by calling for nominations of the qualified ICH items from across the country in March this year. The ministry selected the outstanding items based on criteria such as whether the safeguarding work complied with the Convention for the Safeguarding of the ICH adopted by UNESCO, respected the leading role of the bearers, and formulated and implemented targeted safeguarding measures according to the actual situations of the ICH items.
Among the 347 nominated items, the Mid-Autumn Festival – the Tai Hang fire dragon dance has been awarded as one of the 50 items showcasing good safeguarding practice. The selected items have not only received high commendation from the ministry for the safeguarding work carried out in the regions, but also serve as role models for other ICH items of the same category.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has long been maintaining close contact with the related bearers and bearer organisation. A variety of public education activities have also been held regularly by the ICH Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, such as fire dragon crafting workshops, exhibitions and talks, allowing the bearers to introduce to members of the public the history of the Tai Hang fire dragon dance and its crafting techniques. With support from different sectors of the community, the Tai Hang fire dragon dance has successfully transformed from a district-based event into one of the most iconic festive events in Hong Kong.
The Tai Hang fire dragon dance has been held for more than 100 years. Tai Hang was originally a Hakka village which reportedly once suffered from plague. Since the epidemic, villagers in Tai Hang have performed a three-day fire dragon dance to ask for blessings during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth lunar month every year.
With the founding of the Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association, a successor system was established to pass on the knowledge and skills required for the fire dragon dance to the next generation systematically. The Tai Hang fire dragon dance was inscribed onto the third national list of ICH in 2011.
For more information on local ICH and related activities, please visit the ICH Office’s website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/ICHO/.
The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
The Electoral Affairs Commission, after risk assessment, has decided to cancel the public forum on proposed guidelines on election-related activities in respect of the District Council Election, originally scheduled for today (June 25) from 7pm to 9pm at Quarry Bay Community Hall, 1 Greig Road, Quarry Bay, due to public safety and security considerations. Members of the public are urged not to go to the public forum. They can submit written representations on the proposed guidelines.
“The public forum is organised by the Commission and members of the public are invited to express their views at the forum. The Commission has to consider the safety of all participants in the public forum. After risk assessment, the Commission has decided to cancel today’s public forum,” the spokesman of the Commission said.
The proposed guidelines were released on June 11 for public consultation. The public consultation period will last for 30 days until July 10. Members of the public can submit written representations on the proposed guidelines.
Written representations can be submitted to the Commission’s Secretariat by post at 10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, or by fax (2511 1682) or email (eacenq@eac.hk) by July 10. Late representations will not be considered.
For enquiries, please call 2891 1001. read more