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Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (March 24) that due to big waves, red flag has been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach.

     Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a toasting ceremony for the 47th Hong Kong Arts Festival Finale Ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre this evening (March 23):

Mr Cha (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited, Mr Victor Cha), Mr Cheung (Executive Director, Charities and Community of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Cheung Leong), Ms Gao (Chairman and Executive Director of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, Ms Gao Ming), Tisa (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited, Ms Tisa Ho), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you all tonight at the Festival Finale of the 47th Hong Kong Arts Festival. First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Festival on another year of great success.

     The Hong Kong Arts Festival, the first of its kind in the territory, has delighted audiences with a wide array of splendid performances and programmes since 1973, and contributed greatly to the development of Hong Kong into an arts and cultural metropolis. In the past month, the Festival has presented a total of 166 performances, including 15 world premieres and 16 Asian premieres, as well as about 420 PLUS and educational activities, attracting an attendance of over 300 000 people with more than 90 per cent of tickets sold. Many international and local artists in the performing arts gathered here for the Festival and brought a blend of traditional and creative programmes to all art lovers in the region.

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region attaches great importance to the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong, and makes every endeavour to allocate more resources to the local arts and cultural sector. The latest Budget proposes the allocation an additional funding of $176 million for hosting large-scale world-class performing arts programmes and arranging telecasts of selected mega shows in different places across the territory in the next five years. The Budget also proposes that subvention for arts groups including the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited in the year of 2019-20 will increase by $54 million, with the aim of presenting more arts productions to enrich the cultural life of our city.

     Furthermore, the West Kowloon Cultural District, one of the largest cultural icons in the region, is set to create a vibrant cultural quarter for Hong Kong and foster interaction, collaboration and development of the local arts scene. Following the grand opening of the Xiqu Centre this January, other major facilities in the West Kowloon Cultural District will be coming on stream in the next 24 months.

     In the next few years, some strategic cultural projects such as the New Territories East Cultural Centre and the Heritage Conservation and Resource Centre will also commence operation. I believe that, with the successive completion of major cultural projects in town and the Government's continuous funding support for local arts groups, the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong will reach a new milestone.

     However, to enable the arts and cultural sector to thrive, your staunch support, in addition to Government's efforts, is surely a determining factor. I really appreciate the sterling contribution from and support of all participating parties, without which the Festival cannot be a success. I would also like to pay tribute to sponsors and patrons for their generosity, particularly the sustained support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust over the years and the full support of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited for the Festival Finale for seven years in a row.

     Now, please join me in a toast to the success of the 47th Hong Kong Arts Festival.

     Cheers!

    

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 23) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed relevant symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, accompanied by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, attended the opening ceremony of the first Exhibition Raceday held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) in collaboration with the local government at the Conghua Racecourse in Conghua, Guangzhou today (March 23).

     Addressing the opening ceremony, Mrs Lam said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), with its experience in the organisation of horse races and enforcement of stringent animal and plant quarantine measures over the years, implemented the first Specific Equine Disease-free Zone in the Mainland in Conghua jointly with the relevant Mainland authorities and the Guangdong Provincial Government, and developed the former Asian Games equestrian venue into the current world-class horse training centre and racecourse, providing a support base for the sport of horse racing in Hong Kong and also promoting the development of equestrian sports in the country. She pointed out that the establishment and continued operation of the Disease-free Zone and the racecourse are fruitful outcomes brought about by the joint efforts of the HKSAR and the Mainland which employ their respective strengths, and is a successful model in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.

     Mrs Lam viewed the first race, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy, after the opening ceremony and officiated at the prize presentation ceremony. The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaoming, the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Ma Xingrui and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Mr Wang Zhimin also attended the activity.

     In the morning, Mrs Lam visited various facilities at the Conghua Racecourse, including the horse training ground as well as the first world-class equine hospital and rehabilitation centre in the Mainland. She also attended a gala dinner hosted by the HKJC after arriving in Conghua yesterday (March 22).

     Mrs Lam will depart for Beijing this afternoon and attend the 20th China Development Forum on March 24 and 25.

                  

     A man who went missing in North Point was located.

     Law Wai-man, aged 87, went missing after he left an elderly home in Tong Shui Road on March 21 night. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the same day.
      
     The man was located on Kwong Lee Road, Cheung Sha Wan today (March 23) noon. He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.