The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (November 16) gazetted the 2018 Edition of the Code of Practice for Energy Efficiency of Building Services Installation (BEC) and Code of Practice for Building Ener… read more
Korea’s TAGO Group and co-producer AtoBIZ Limited will stage “TAGO: Korean Drum” in December.
“TAGO: Korean Drum” comprises acclaimed young drummers who specialise in different Korean percussion instruments, ranging from joong-go (gigantic drums) and jang-go (mini drums) to yul-go (a new style by TAGO) and other traditional drums. The young musicians combine the percussion with dynamic movements to create a new style that energises the traditional music.
TAGO Group, established in 2005, is a Korean traditional music group formed by a group of young artists. At the time of TAGO’s formation, traditional drumming or gugak was not popular among Korean youngsters, and the group was founded with the aim of developing the art form in a way that would gain youngsters’ attention. TAGO has toured in Germany, Spain, the United States, Australia and South Africa, and has also performed twice at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In partnership with AtoBIZ Limited, the arts group participated in filming the promotional video for the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games 2018.
Details of the performances are as follows:
December 28 (Friday), 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets: $150, $180, $200 and $240
December 29 (Saturday), 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $150, $200, $240 and $280
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, “TAGO: Korean Drum” 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_638.html. read more
The Government announced today (November 16) that the Chief Executive, in exercise of her authority under the Civil Aid Service Ordinance (Cap 518), has appointed Mr Lo Yan-lai as the Commissioner of the Civil Aid Service … read more
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at the Musicus Fest 2018 Opening Ceremony and Concert today (November 15):
Mrs Choi (Chairman of the Musicus Society, Mrs Janice Choi), Ms Lee (President and Development Chair of the Musicus Society, Ms Lee Chui-inn), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you all at the opening concert of the Musicus Fest 2018.
Since its foundation in 2010, the Musicus Society has played a commendable role as a facilitator of musical collaboration between celebrated international artists and promising local musicians. Over the years, the Society has brought us many memorable performances. Returning for its sixth edition, the Musicus Fest has established itself not only as a highly anticipated event in our cultural calendar, but also a wonderful occasion for musicians of different backgrounds to engage in cultural and artistic exchange as well as showcase their musical artistry.
I am delighted to have witnessed Musicus Society’s realisation of its mission by providing invaluable opportunities for local musicians to perform alongside world-renowned maestros. Through its acclaimed Heritage Community Concert Series, the Society reaches out to the public by bringing music directly into the community. And by organising on-campus programmes for students to enjoy classical music, the Society also contributes actively to music education in Hong Kong.
Sharing the same vision with the Musicus Society, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to nurturing gifted local artists and promoting cross-cultural collaboration. In this year’s Budget, we have set aside $20 billion to develop and expand our cultural facilities. Besides, we have injected an additional $500 million into the Art Development Matching Grants Scheme and have relaxed its matching parameters to encourage donations from the business and private sectors in support of the development of arts groups. We will also progressively increase the recurrent provision to support local arts groups and artists to take part in arts and cultural activities outside Hong Kong.
However, to enable the arts and culture sector to thrive, the Government’s efforts alone are never enough. I am very pleased to learn that the Musicus Society has formed close partnerships with its sponsors and patrons, and it is most encouraging to see that Hong Kong’s cultural life has been enriched by the support from our generous corporate citizens. Their contributions to this annual event as well as the wider arts community are indeed indispensable and greatly appreciated.
On this note, may I wish the Musicus Fest 2018 a phenomenal success and all of you a most enjoyable evening. Thank you. read more
The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) today (November 15) held the ground movement exercise of an exercise code-named “Onyx” at Wang Tau Hom Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) in Wong Tai Sin to assess the operability of the DH’s contingency plan for poliomyelitis and the interoperability of relevant government departments and organisations against poliomyelitis.
About 30 participants from relevant government departments took part in the exercise, which consisted of two parts. The first part was a table-top exercise conducted on November 1, in which relevant DH units and other government departments discussed and co-ordinated the communicable disease response measures required in a simulated scenario following the detection of a confirmed poliomyelitis case in Hong Kong.
The second part, conducted today, was a ground movement exercise. Under the exercise simulation, an imported poliomyelitis case involving a Pakistani boy, who had just arrived in Hong Kong and had visited Wang Tau Hom MCHC after disease onset, was reported. The DH conducted immediate epidemiological investigations and contact tracing to identify contacts of the index case, and conducted disinfection of the MCHC. A health talk on infection control measures against poliomyelitis was arranged for contacts of the index case and vaccinations were provided for those indicated.
“Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus and mainly affects young children. Most patients will recover, but in severe cases it can lead to permanent disability and death. Vaccination against the disease was introduced in Hong Kong in 1963, with the coverage rate of the vaccination among local children at more than 95 per cent for a long time. Hong Kong has been certified as polio-free by the World Health Organization since 2000,” a spokesman for the DH said.
“Nevertheless, since the disease still occurs in some countries, including Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, and given the busy population movement in Hong Kong and beyond, there is a risk of introduction of poliomyelitis to Hong Kong. Members of the public are reminded that vaccination is the most effective way of preventing the disease.”
The DH conducts public health exercises regularly to test and review the effectiveness of the Government’s preparedness and response plans, as well as procedures to combat communicable diseases. The exercises can help identify areas for improvement and enhancement, as well as heighten the alertness of relevant stakeholders towards public health crises.
“The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for relevant government departments to test and evaluate the response measures. We will continue to conduct interdepartmental exercises with government departments, organisations and stakeholders concerned in close partnership, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong’s overall preparedness in the control and prevention of communicable diseases,” the spokesman added.
