The Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation (Cap. 311AB) (the Regulation) came into effect today (January 1). All vessels, except for specified vessel types as set out in the Regulation, are required to use complian… read more
The Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation (Cap. 311AB) (the Regulation) came into effect today (January 1). All vessels, except for specified vessel types as set out in the Regulation, are required to use complian… read more
A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said today (January 1) that the Air Pollution Control (Non-road Mobile Machinery) (Emission) (Amendment) Regulation 2018, which aims to tighten the statutory emission standards in phases for newly approved non-road vehicles to improve air quality, came into effect today. Details of the Amendment Regulation are as follows:
(a) newly approved non-road goods vehicles, petrol private cars, buses with design weight of more than 9 tonnes and light buses with design weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes are required to comply with Euro VI emission standards;
(b) newly approved non-road diesel private cars are required to comply with California LEV III emission standards; and
(c) the emission standards for other non-road vehicle classes, including buses with design weight not exceeding 9 tonnes, light buses with design weight of more than 3.5 tonnes and special purpose vehicles remain unchanged.
The spokesman added that to prevent the transfer of old road vehicles which are no longer roadworthy into use for non-road applications, it is the Government’s standing policy to adopt the same emission standards for non-road vehicles as those for road vehicles. The Government had tightened the emission standards for newly registered road vehicles to Euro VI in phases since July 1, 2017. The Amendment Regulation tightens the emission standards of the same classes of newly approved non-road vehicles in line with the latest emission standards for road vehicles.
Compared with their Euro V counterparts, Euro VI heavy duty diesel vehicles emit about 80 per cent less nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 50 per cent less respirable suspended particulates, while Euro VI light duty diesel vehicles emit about 55 per cent less NOx.
For enquiries, please contact the EPD on 2594 6590 or at nonroadenq@epd.gov.hk. read more
The Home Affairs Department (HAD) published today (January 1) the Administrative Guidelines on Best Practices on Building Management. The Administrative Guidelines contain best practices related to different areas of building management for the reference of owners, owners’ corporations (OCs), owners’ committees (OComms), Deed of Mutual Covenant (DMC) managers and property management companies (PMCs), etc, with a view to assisting them in better fulfilling the responsibilities in managing their buildings.
The Administrative Guidelines contain the updated best practices in building management issued by the HAD, and have incorporated the proposals in the public consultation on the review of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (BMO) conducted in 2014-15 and the enhanced proposals presented to the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs in November 2017 by the Home Affairs Bureau and HAD.
The Administrative Guidelines cover the following areas:
(i) formation of an OC;
(ii) procurement process, including preparation of invitation to tender, consideration and decision on acceptance of tenders and actions after the acceptance of tenders;
(iii) general meeting and use of proxy instruments, including the convening of a general meeting and issuance of notice of meeting, submission of proxy instruments, conduct of a general meeting and actions after the conclusion of a general meeting; and
(iv) financial arrangement.
The HAD encourages owners, OCs, OComms, DMC managers and PMCs to follow the Administrative Guidelines above. The Administrative Guidelines can be downloaded from the dedicated homepage on building management of the HAD. To facilitate relevant parties in following the requirements, the HAD will also issue shortly a Checklist on Procedural Propriety, which is a checklist consolidating the requirements under the BMO and the Codes of Practice (CoP) issued by the Secretary for Home Affairs under the BMO and the Administrative Guidelines. Meanwhile, the HAD will also provide to OCs in need the “Advisory Services to OCs”, with a view to assisting them in complying with the requirements under the BMO and the CoP and following the Administrative Guidelines. read more
Hong Kong action films are world-famous for stars who are good at both fighting and acting. The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the programme “Dynamic Duos: Neck and Neck” in the “Morning Matinee” series, screening the works of four iconic action star pairs from different eras at the HKFA Cinema at 11am on Fridays from February to May. Some of the screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by film critics Hui Kin-cheung, Tsang Siu-wang and David Chan respectively.
In the 1950s, Wong Fei-hung, played by Kwan Tak-hing, and his nemesis ‘Villain Kin’, played by Sek Kin, formed a classic duo in the Master Wong film saga. In “How Wong Fei-hung Subdued the Two Tigers” (1956), both are seriously wounded after a face-off. Kwan is then determined to train hard to find a new winning move in order to claim victory. Produced by Kwan, “Wong Fei-Hung’s Battle with the Five Tigers in the Boxing Ring” (1958) features Master Wong assisting the border generals against Villain Kin and other martial arts masters. The fighting scenes include not only hand-to-hand combat but also stunning scenes using assorted weaponry. The duel between Sek and Kwan is the highlight in “Wong Fei-hung: The Invincible Lion Dancer” (1968), in which Sek attacks fiercely with double sabres in his hands while Kwan skilfully confuses him by using feinting moves, showing his acting talent as well. “The Mystical Whip-wielding Hero” (1968) showcases the duo’s on-screen feud beyond the Wong Fei-hung film series.
Suet Nei, agile in action and with a face reflecting sweetness and steely courage, and the urbane-looking Kenneth Tsang Kong with his charming swagger, made arguably the best action partners in 1960s Cantonese cinema. Starring as wuxia masters in “The Green-Eyed Lady” (1967), the duo chase their common enemy together. Suet thinks herself invincible but Tsang’s secret helping hand saves her. In “The Black Musketeer, Part Three” (1967), the dark heroine Muk Lan-fa, played by Suet, pairs up with Tsang to fight against the Judo Master and ruin the criminal gang’s treasure-hunting scheme. “Three Heroines, Part One” (1968) features Tsang as the swordsman who is rescued by Suet, the White Phoenix. Tsang then meets the Red and Black Phoenix and together they destroy the evil Skeleton Sect. In “Three Heroines, Part Two” (1968), the swordsman and the three Phoenix fight against their new enemy. Designed by action choreographers Tong Kai and Lau Kar-leung, the action sequences in the two series are refreshingly innovative. In her last film before getting married, “A Mysterious Weapon” (1969), Suet successfully proves her senior fellow’s innocence using her signature “iron hair move” and helps Tsang take revenge on the villain.
Ti Lung and John Chiang, with their distinctive charisma and charm, stand out as the most successful duo of director Chang Cheh’s staunchly masculine cinematic world of the 70s. “The Anonymous Heroes” (1971) tells the story of a pair of small-time crooks played by the duo who become patriotic after meeting a rebel group, and they fight both mentally and physically with the warlord. In “Duel of Fists” (1971), Ti and Chiang are half siblings. Ti, a Thai boxer, and Chiang, a Chinese martial artist, jointly fight against the triad boss. Unlike the usual casting of action duos, Ti and Chiang are portrayed as mortal enemies in “The Blood Brothers” (1973), in which Ti, the eldest brother, kills the second brother and takes his wife, while Chiang, the youngest brother, decides to take revenge. The film earned Ti the Best Actor Award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival 1973. In “The Savage Five” (1974), the duo lead Chan Koon-tai, Wong Chung and Danny Lee to rebel against bandits in a gruesome battle to help villagers.
In the 80s, brothers-in-arms Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, who were members of the ‘Seven Little Fortunes’ trained by Yu Zhanyuan, collaborated frequently and helped create the genre of Hong Kong action comedies. “Knockabout” (1979) is Hung’s tailor-made work for Yuen and features his fantastic somersaults, flips and rhythmic fighting, proving Yuen’s mettle as a leading star. “The Prodigal Son” (1981) tells the story of the apprenticeship of wing chun hero Leung Jan, played by Yuen. Hung and Yuen’s fighting scenes are full of laughter. Starring the duo, the Chinese New Year film “The Millionaire’s Express” (1986) showcases the new Hong Kong style of entertainment comprising elements of martial arts action in a ‘western’ film. With an ensemble cast of stars giving a fresh take on the action sequences, the film was a blockbuster at the time. In “Eastern Condors” (1987), the duo lead a makeshift team of convict soldiers out to destroy American ammunition left behind in Vietnam. The action scenes in the film are innovative, and Yuen Wah, a member of the ‘Seven Little Fortunes’, also performs extraordinarily well. “Dragons Forever” (1988) marked the last onscreen work between the duo and another ‘Seven Little Fortunes’ superstar, Jackie Chan. The interaction of the trio is hilarious and their precise and fast-paced fighting moves showcase the chemistry they developed by collaborating together for a long period.
“The Anonymous Heroes”, “Duel of Fists”, “The Blood Brothers” and “The Savage Five” are in Mandarin, while the other films are in Cantonese. “A Mysterious Weapon”, “Knockabout”, “The Prodigal Son”, “The Millionaire’s Express”, “Eastern Condors” and “Dragons Forever” are shown with Chinese and English subtitles while the other films are without subtitles.
Tickets priced at $30 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme details, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/2019mm-n/index.html.
