In collaboration with Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the Art Promotion Office (APO) under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) launched the "Traversing Past and Present" exhibition to showcase the creativity of local artists to visitors and local residents. As part of the HKIA Arts & Culture Festival 2024, the exhibition features a series of interactive works blending traditional gongbi painting and multimedia digital technology created by Hong Kong artist Cherie Cheuk and designer Jack Lau. The works will be displayed from today (August 8) until October 31 at HKIA Terminal 1, Ground Transportation Centre Downramp South near the Arrival Hall.

     The Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of the LCSD, Ms Esa Leung, attended the opening ceremony of the HKIA Arts & Culture Festival 2024 held at HKIA this morning, during which the two participating artists, Cheuk and Lau, and Curator of the APO Ms Jessie So introduced the artworks.

     Cheuk, known for her gongbi painting, drew inspiration from the local elements of the "fabric streets" of Sham Shui Po to create a series of gongbi paintings, depicting flowers, birds, and monkeys with a classical flair, bonsai on window sills, ubiquitous tile patterns, and literati curios and displays. These paintings, infused with a rich palette of colours and patterns, bring joy to the audience, inviting them to engage in selection and visual studies. Meanwhile, designer Lau has injected life into those gongbi works by turning them into animated images using arts technology. Viewers can browse the website on their mobile phones by scanning the QR code above each painting, and match their own choice of "painting", "colour" and "pattern" to craft an animation of their own through augmented reality.

     The "Traversing Past and Present" exhibition was first showcased last year at the Tio Gallery in Zhongshan, as part of the "Art><Creativity" Exhibition Series in the Greater Bay Area, organised by the APO and the Hong Kong Designers Association. The exhibition is now being presented again at HKIA, a key international transport hub, allowing both local citizens and tourists to appreciate and explore the artworks.

     For more details about the exhibition, please visit the website of the APO at www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/here_hkia_traversing_past_and_present.html and follow the "apo.here" page on Facebook and Instagram.

            

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, leading a delegation of about 20 persons comprising representatives from the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong and related sectors, arrived in Foshan yesterday afternoon (August 7), starting a visit to gain a better grasp of the opportunities brought about by the developments in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). They first attended a dinner and met with the Mayor of the Foshan Municipal Government, Mr Bai Tao, in the evening.

     This morning (August 8), Mr Lam and his delegation had a meeting with Foshan Federation of Industry and Commerce representatives to gain a better understanding of business developments there and the demand for cross-border legal services. They also exchanged views on how Hong Kong's comprehensive legal and dispute resolution services could facilitate the development of enterprises in the GBA. Mr Lam then attended a luncheon with the Federation and gave a keynote speech.

     In the afternoon, Mr Lam and his delegation visited the Keda Industrial Group Company Limited to learn more about its diverse global businesses, and how Hong Kong, as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, can further promote GBA development under the auspices of the Belt and Road Initiative by providing high-quality one-stop legal services to enterprises in the region.

     Mr Lam and his delegation concluded their visit and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

              

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs detected three illicit cigarette smuggling cases involving seaborne containers on July 11, July 17 and August 7 in Kwai Chung. A total of about 28.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $128 million and a duty potential of about $94 million were seized.

     Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs on July 11 and 17 selected and inspected two 40-foot seaborne containers, arriving from Singapore and re-exported to the Mainland and declared as carrying plastic particles and beddings, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a total of about 20.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the two containers.

     Upon follow-up investigation, Customs on August 7 inspected a 40-foot seaborne container, arriving in Hong Kong from Singapore and declared as carrying plastic pellets, at the same compound. About 8 million suspected illicit cigarettes were further seized.

     Investigations of the three cases are ongoing.

     Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and step up enforcement actions to combat smuggling of illicit cigarettes. Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

    

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, visited Beijing for two consecutive days from yesterday (August 7), together with the Convenor of the Working Group on Patriotic Education, Ms Starry Lee, to call on the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Ministry of Education, and to visit the Museum of the Communist Party of China. They learnt about the country's experience of implementing the Patriotic Education Law of the People's Republic of China, which they will reference when devising and implementing strategies and work plans of patriotic education that suit the circumstances of Hong Kong. The aim is to build and foster mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for the country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the "one country, two systems" principle, and to enable the spirit of patriotism to take root in society and people's hearts.
      
     Yesterday, Mr Chan and other delegates met with Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Mr Hu Heping, who is in charge of the department's daily operations, to exchange views on taking forward patriotic education in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Mr Chan said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) established the Working Group on Patriotic Education in April this year, with four sub-groups set up to strengthen patriotic education on all fronts in Hong Kong. The four sub-groups focus efforts on school education; the local community; history, politics, economy and culture; and media publicity. The work directions concerned are in line with the spirit of the Patriotic Education Law, underlining the richness and breadth of the content of patriotic education. Mr Chan pointed out that the long history and profound cultural heritage of the country have laid a solid foundation for the work of patriotic education, and that the HKSAR Government will continue to deepen people's understanding of national developments and achievements in various aspects and strengthen their sense of national identity and national pride.
      
     Mr Chan and other delegates then visited the Museum of the Communist Party of China. Through performing the comprehensive functions of display, commemoration, publicity, education and research, the Museum fully showcases the endeavours of the Communist Party of China over the past century and the great spirit of struggle embodied therein. Also, the Museum showcases quite a lot of content related to Hong Kong, with details on the city's return to the motherland and display of various printed versions of the Basic Law. Mr Chan said that the delegation will share with members of the Working Group their experience at the Museum after returning to Hong Kong. Also taking into account the takeaways from the Working Group's visit to the patriotic education bases in Hong Kong, as well as the views from various sectors of society, the Working Group will explore how best to unite and give full play to the forces of the Government and the local community when taking forward patriotic education, in terms of both hardware and software, to further strengthen people's sense of identity with, belonging to, and pride towards the country and the nation.
      
     Today (August 8), Mr Chan and other delegates met with the Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs and Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, Mr Yang Dan, to exchange views on taking forward patriotic education at schools in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. Mr Chan said that, as an integral part of the school curriculum, national education and national security education in Hong Kong have incorporated patriotic education's elements and spirit. The Education Bureau will continue to adopt a multipronged and co-ordinated approach to supporting schools in carrying out patriotic education and dovetailing it with the content of the Patriotic Education Law. The work concerned includes strengthening teacher training, enhancing students' national affairs education, and organising joint school national education activities, Chinese culture immersion activities and Mainland study tours. The aim is to enable the younger generation to gain a deeper understanding of global trends and delve into the history and culture of the country and national affairs, and strengthen their affection for and sense of belonging to the country.
      
     Mr Chan and other delegates then visited the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing to learn about the work of its staff. They also chatted with Hong Kong students who are based in Beijing and currently interning at the Office. They said they were pleased to learn that the students have developed a strong affection for the motherland and have been enjoying studying and living in Beijing. Mr Chan encouraged them to continue actively equipping themselves and make contributions to the high-quality developments of the country and Hong Kong in the future.
      
     Mr Chan concluded his visit to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong today.

              

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
 
     The Ministry of Finance will issue Renminbi Sovereign Bonds through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Sovereign Bonds to be issued by the Ministry of Finance. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.