The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, will lead a delegation to Shenzhen this afternoon (December 19) to attend a conference on inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which will be held tomorrow (December 20).
 
     The conference, organised by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Bureau of Guangdong Province, provides a platform for the leaders and the industry in the field of Chinese medicine and the trade in Hong Kong, Macao and other cities in the Greater Bay Area to exchange views and share experience on policies, industry development and scientific research in relation to Chinese medicine. Professor Chan will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference tomorrow, and also participate in a roundtable meeting to discuss issues about the rapid rise of the Chinese medicine industry and the trade in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with other leaders and guests attending the conference.
 
     Professor Chan said, "Chinese medicine has been recognised as a crucial part of Hong Kong's healthcare system. As a city where East meets West, Hong Kong will capitalise on all of its unique strengths to foster the development of Chinese medicine benefiting from a robust healthcare system. We aim to develop the 'Hong Kong model' for promoting Chinese medicine overseas. Hong Kong will also actively take part in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Chinese medicine field, further promote Chinese medicine services and realise inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine in the new era."
 
     The delegation, comprising representatives from the Food and Health Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.
 
     During Professor Chan's absence from Hong Kong, the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health.

     The "Pets With love" Dog Adoption Carnival will be held at the Soccer Pitch of Lai Chi Kok Park Phase I from noon to 6pm this weekend (December 22 and 23). Admission is free.

     The event is jointly organised by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Animal Friends, Cheung Chau Animal Care, the Hong Kong Saving Cat and Dog Association, the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation, Lifelong Animal Protection, the Society for Abandoned Animals and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

     The carnival aims to encourage people to adopt abandoned or unclaimed animals, and promote responsible pet ownership. The AFCD always encourages the public to adopt animals through animal welfare organisations (AWOs). Currently, abandoned pets or unclaimed animals with a friendly temperament and good health will be sent to 18 partner AWOs for adoption. Free desexing operations will be offered for cats, dogs and rabbits when they are adopted.

     An array of informative and entertaining activities will be held at the carnival, including sharing sessions by guests and representatives of AWOs, game booths, a dogs' playground, an educational exhibition, handicraft workshops, dog adoption and dog licensing services as well as basic vet consultation services. Visitors can also meet some of the dogs that are up for adoption.

     Participants are welcome to take their dogs to the event. All dogs entering the venue should be under proper control, in addition to being licensed, vaccinated against rabies and microchipped.

     For details of the event, please read the attached poster or visit petswithlove.com.hk/home_eng.html.

    

     Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre from Ireland will perform "Strange Feathers" in February next year. The show is best suited for those aged 2 or above.

     "Strange Feathers" is an aerial dance performance. Two birds hatch into the world, and on a journey of discovery they hear the sounds of nature and learn how to fly. Mixing circus, aerial dance, live music, soft colourful lighting and soothing sensory sounds, the production sees these friendly birds explore their world.

     Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre has performed indoor, outdoor, crane and vertical dance performances and shows for young audiences in Ireland and internationally since its founding in 1998. For the past 20 years, the company has grown and nurtured the aerial dance sector in Ireland, and has organised Ireland's first-ever annual aerial dance festival since 2009. In 2013, Fidget Feet was awarded the Arthur Guinness Project fund for Ireland's first Irish Aerial Creation Centre, which was opened in 2015.

     Details of the performances are as follows:

February 15 (Friday), 3pm and 7.30pm
February 16 (Saturday), 11.30am, 3pm and 7.30pm
February 17 (Sunday), 11.30am and 3pm
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
Tickets: $220 

     The running time of each performance is approximately 35 minutes without intermission. Children must be accompanied by parents or adults, and one ticket per person is required regardless of age. A DIY mask-making session will be held 45 minutes prior to each performance at the Kwai Tsing Theatre Rehearsal Room. Ticket holders are welcome to join.

     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Strange Feathers" is one of the attractions of the "Cheers!" Series. Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/multi_arts/programs_654.html.

     Police advise motorists that special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Sha Tin to facilitate the race meeting today (December 19).

     The arrangements will come into effect two hours before the start of the first race and will last until the crowds have dispersed after the race meeting.

     Appropriate traffic signs will be put up and police will be on hand to guide motorists.

     The Police also appeal to people going to Sha Tin Racecourse for the race meeting and to Happy Valley Racecourse for cross betting to make maximum use of public transport.

     Parking spaces at the two racecourses are available only to holders of appropriate permits issued by Hong Kong Jockey Club and any vehicles illegally parked will be towed away.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 19) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Silverstrand Beach and Clear Water Bay Second Beach in Sai Kung District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.