The Leisure and Cultural Services Department's annual "Cheers!" Series will be held from November 2018 to February 2019. Offering a variety of family entertainment ranging from music and dance to puppetry, acrobatics, multimedia performances and film, the line-up promises audiences a festive season of fun and entertainment.
 
      Details of the "Cheers!" Series are as follows:
 
"Red Racing Hood" by Terrapin Puppet Theatre (Australia)
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December 7 to 9 (Friday to Sunday)
Cultural Activities Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $200
 
"What the Moon Saw" by 2Faced Dance Company (United Kingdom) 
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December 14 to 16 (Friday to Sunday)
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
Tickets: $140, $180 and $240
 
"Loulan Dream" by Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Acrobatic Troupe
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December 23 (Sunday)
Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
Tickets: $150, $180 and $240
December 25 and 26 (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
Tickets: $150, $200, $240 and $280
 
"Me and the Flea" by Lichtbende (The Netherlands) 
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December 23 (Sunday)
Black Box Theatre, Tai Po Civic Centre
Tickets: $200
December 25 (Tuesday)
Cultural Activities Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $200
December 26 (Wednesday)
Auditorium, North District Town Hall
Tickets: $140 and $180
 
"TAGO: Korean Drum" co-produced by TAGO Group and AtoBIZ Ltd. (Korea)
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December 28 (Friday)
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets: $150, $180, $200 and $240
December 29 (Saturday)
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $150, $200, $240 and $280
 
"Sleepy Little Pillow" by Ion Creangă Theatre (Romania)
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December 28 and 29 (Friday and Saturday)
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
Tickets: $220
December 30 (Sunday)
Black Box Theatre, Tai Po Civic Centre
Tickets: $200
January 1, 2019(Tuesday)
Cultural Activities Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets: $200
 
"Loo" by Ponten Pie (Spain)
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January 4 to 6, 2019 (Friday to Sunday)
Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Tickets: $240
 
"Strange Feathers" by Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre (Ireland)
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February 15 to 17, 2019 (Friday to Sunday)
Black Box Theatre, Kwai Tsing Theatre
Tickets: $220
 
     Tickets for the above programmes are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. There are also a wide variety of exciting programme under "Cheers!" Series. For programme enquiries and discount schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment.

     The Government will resume three private agricultural lots with a total area of about 318.2 square metres at Queen's Hill, Fanling, to facilitate the construction of an estate road, drains and sewers of a public housing development.

     A notice for the land resumption was published in the Gazette today (October 5).

     The construction works of the estate road, drains and sewers are expected to commence in early 2019 for completion in 2021. The construction of public housing is expected to be completed in 2021 in phases.

     Demand notes for rates and/or Government rent for the quarter from October to December 2018 have been issued, and payment should be made by October 31, 2018.
 
     The demand notes have reflected the rates concession for this quarter, subject to a ceiling of $2,500 for each rateable tenement. Any unused portion of the concession in this quarter will not be used to offset the outstanding rates in any other quarter. The concession does not apply to payment of Government rent.
              
     Payment can be made:
 
(1) by using autopay or electronic means (such as PPS, bank automated teller machines (ATMs) or the Internet);
 
(2) by uploading an e-Cheque/e-Cashier's Order via the Pay e-Cheque portal www.payecheque.gov.hk; 

(3) by sending a crossed cheque to the Treasury, PO Box 28000, Gloucester Road Post Office, Hong Kong (please note that mail with underpaid postage will be rejected); or 

(4) in person at any of the post offices or designated convenience stores. For the addresses and opening hours of post offices, please call Hongkong Post's hotline (2921 2222), or visit www.hongkongpost.hk. 

     If demand notes have not been received, members of the public may call 2152 0111, fax 2152 0113, or visit the Rating and Valuation Department, 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.
 
     Members of the public can also visit the department's website at www.rvd.gov.hk to obtain replacement demand notes or take a demand note for any previous quarter to any of the following post offices, where replacement demand notes can be obtained and payment can be made:
 
(1) General Post Office, 2 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong;
 
(2) Gloucester Road Post Office, 1/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; 

(3) Kowloon Central Post Office, G/F, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon;
 
(4) Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, G/F and 1/F, Hermes House, 10 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.
 
     A surcharge of 5 per cent will be imposed for late payment and a further surcharge of 10 per cent will be levied on the amount (including the 5 per cent surcharge) that remains unpaid six months after the payment deadline.
 
     To support environmental protection, payers are advised to utilise the free eRVD Bill service to receive e-bills and make payments. They are also encouraged to settle bills by autopay or other means of e-payment (e.g. PPS, ATM, the Internet or e-Cheque/e-Cashier Order) in order to save queuing time. Application forms for autopay are obtainable from the Rating and Valuation Department, District Offices and major banks in Hong Kong or by telephoning 2152 0111. Payers may also download the form from the department's website.

     The Government today (October 5) announced the appointments to the Endangered Species Advisory Committee (ESAC) for the period from October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2020.
 
     The ESAC was established in accordance with the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap 586) to advise the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation on the administration of the ordinance.
 
     The following members will serve in the new term:
 
Professor Shaw Pang-chui (Chairman)
Mr Ken Chang Kin-ming
Dr Cheung Siu-gin
Ms Chiang Mei-ling
Ms Colleen Chiu Yuk-lin
Dr David Lau Tai-wai
Mr Ricky Leung Lak-kee
Dr Xoni Ma Kwan-ki
Professor Winnie So Wing-mui
Dr Sung Yik-hei
Ms Karen Tang Mui-fun
Ms Tsang Wing-wing
Mr Matthew Wong Yin-shun
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation with Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation as alternate Member
Commissioner of Customs and Excise with Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Boundary and Ports) as alternate Member
Assistant Director of Environmental Protection (Nature Conservation and Infrastructure Planning) with Senior Administrative Officer (Nature Conservation) as alternate Member
Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Conservation)
 
     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department expresses its gratitude for the service and valuable contributions of the outgoing members, Ms Ophelia Chan Chiu-ling, Mr Chan Wing-suen, Mr Cheung Chi-wah, Ms Gabriella Wong Siu-ling, Ms Yu Li-hua, and Professor Zhao Zhong-zhen.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending the special meeting of the Legislative Council House Committee today (October 4):
 
Reporter: Mr Chan, are you concerned that the project would be further delayed if the platform has to be …… opened for investigation?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: As we understand as of now, there is certainly some kind of delay. How long is it? It's yet to be ascertained because we have yet to ascertain what is exactly being built, how is being built, and whether or not there would be necessary remedial corrections.

Reporter: Does ….. open the platform would further delay the project?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: We are not ruling out the need to open up the concrete slab, but whether or not we should do it would depend on the outcome of the MTR's investigation and their proposal to us.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)