The Home Affairs Bureau today (November 2) announced the re-appointment of Mr Vincent Chow Wing-shing as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development (ACAD). The new appointments and re-appointments are made for a two-year term from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2020.

     The membership of the ACAD in its new term is as follows:

Chairman
——– 
Mr Vincent Chow Wing-shing

Members
——-
Mr Arnold Chan Kwan-yeung *
Ms Susanna Chiu Lai-kuen 
Professor Gilbert Fong Chee-fun 
Dr Ho Siu-kee
Miss Cecilia Ho Chung-chee *
Mr Chris Ip Ngo-tung *
Ms Catherine Kwai Yuk-nin 
Mr Ronald Kwok Wing-chung 
Mr Lau Hang-on *
Mr Danny Lee Chin-fai *
Ms Candice Leung Wai-yee 
Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May-yee *
Professor Lui Yu-hon
Professor Christopher Pak Tak-wan  
Ms Helen So Hiu-ming *
Miss Agnes Tang In-kwan
Ms Lina Yan Hau-yee 
Dr Royce Yuen Man-chun

Ex-officio Members
——————
Representative from the Home Affairs Bureau
Representative from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Representative from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council

(* new appointees)

     The ACAD advises the Secretary for Home Affairs on matters relating to local arts development, including issues in relation to the use of the Arts and Sport Development Fund (Arts Portion) and the operation of the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme, funding policies and strategies, issues in relation to the strategies for supporting the development of visual arts, the promotion of cultural exchange and assessment of applications received under the Arts Development Fund, and the strengthening of cultural software.

     The Employment (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance 2018, which was passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo) on October 25, was gazetted today (November 2).

     "The Amendment Ordinance seeks to increase the statutory paternity leave under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) from three days to five days. Male employees with children born on or after the commencement of the Amendment Ordinance are entitled to five days' paternity leave for each confinement of his spouse or partner if they fulfil other requirements as stipulated in the law," a spokesman for the Labour Department said.

     The Amendment Ordinance will come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare by notice published in the Gazette. The Government is arranging the gazettal of the Commencement Notice (CN) and the tabling of the CN at the LegCo. If the CN is supported by the LegCo, the Amendment Ordinance will come into effect by Lunar New Year at the earliest.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (November 2) announced that the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point will be reopened at 11.45am.

     Lichtbende from the Netherlands will perform "Me and the Flea", featuring magic lanterns and live music, in December.
 
     "Me and the Flea" is a hilarious slapstick work about an adorable street dog who finds a new home with a caring family. What the family does not know is that there is a family of fleas hidden in its fur and ready to terrorise the entire household. As they try to fight against the fleas in all possible ways, a witty and bizarre story unfolds ahead of a surprising ending.
 
     Fusing visual arts, music and theatre, Lichtbende brings light to life and will introduce a fantasy world of light and shadow to the audience. Since its founding in 2010, Lichtbende has created light art performances which make a multi-layered reality visible and tangible by combining antique magic lanterns with live music. Lichtbende has toured in Brazil, Turkey, Chile and many countries in Europe. The arts group is beloved by audiences from different countries for its poetic associative shows.
 
     "Me and the Flea" by Lichtbende is one of the highlights of the "Cheers!" Series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The performance will be held at 3pm and 5pm on December 23 (Sunday) at the Black Box Theatre of Tai Po Civic Centre, at 3pm and 5pm on December 25 (Tuesday) at the Cultural Activities Hall of Tsuen Wan Town Hall, and at 3pm on December 26 (Wednesday) at the Auditorium of North District Town Hall. Tickets priced at $200 (Tai Po Civic Centre and Tsuen Wan Town Hall) and $140 and $180 (North District Town Hall) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).
 
     The show is best suited for those aged 4 or above. Audience members will be admitted with tickets regardless of age. Those aged under 3 will not be admitted.
 
      "Little Shadow Puppeteer Workshop" (to be conducted in English with simple Cantonese interpretation) will offer a chance for participants to create their own shadow figures from cardboard and translucent coloured plastic with their creativity and imagination, and to make the characters come to life with light. The workshop, suitable for participants aged 4 or above, will be held at 2.30pm on December 24 (Monday) at the Black Box Theatre of Tai Po Civic Centre. Tickets priced at $80 are also available at URBTIX.
 
      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/f_entertainment/programs_645.html.
 

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) is promoting the vibrant filmmaking industry of Hong Kong in the United Kingdom by sponsoring the Hong Kong Programme of the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) 2018, with screenings in London from October 31 to November 2 (London time) and in Oxford today (November 2, London time).

     LEAFF was first launched in 2015 to champion the growing collaboration and diversity in East Asian film-making. With the support of London ETO, Hong Kong films have all along played an important part of LEAFF. This year, the Festival has brought over four Hong Kong films as part of its special Hong Kong Programme. In addition to a launch Gala screening of the European Premiere of Felix Chong's highly acclaimed action film "Project Gutenberg", the festival also features "Distinction" by Jevons Au; "Tomorrow is Another Day" by Chan Tai-lee; and the documentary "I've Got the Blues" by Angie Chen. The Gala screening of Project Gutenberg was followed by a question-and-answer session with director Felix Chong and a Hong Kong Night Reception, while the special in-competition screening of Distinction yesterday (November 1, London time) was followed by a question-and-answer session with director Jevons Au.

     Speaking at the Gala screening of Project Gutenberg which launched the LEAFF Hong Kong Programme on October 31 (London time), the Director-General of the London ETO, Ms Priscilla To, highlighted Hong Kong's success in film-making. "Despite the fact that Hong Kong is only a small city with a population of about seven million, Hong Kong is one of the world's largest film production bases. Many of our talent in the film making industries, including actors and actresses, directors, cinematographers and producers, have become household names in the world, and our films have also been inspirational to many outside Hong Kong," Ms To said. "This year is already the third occasion we have partnered with LEAFF, and we are very pleased to once again bring some of the best films produced by Hong Kong directors to film lovers in London."

     "The Hong Kong Government is committed to supporting our local film industry. In her second Policy Address announced in October 2018, our Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, reaffirmed our commitment to build up the brand name for Hong Kong Films. She also announced the injection of one billion Hong Kong dollars into the Film Development Fund, with a view to boosting the development of our film industry through measures under the four broad directions, i.e. nurturing talent, enhancing local production, market expansion, and building audience. Indeed, many excellent productions like 'Tomorrow is Another Day' that we feature this year were made with the support of the Film Development Fund. " Ms To added.

     LEAFF 2018 is being held in London and Oxford from October 25 to November 4 (London time). For more information visit: www.LEAFF.org.uk.