Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding that comes to their notice to the Drainage Services Department by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline on 2300 1110.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (SBHK) this afternoon (August 22) to get an update on its services provided to persons with emotional stress or suicidal risk.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the SBHK, Mr Robert Wong, Dr Law toured its Suicide Crisis Intervention Centre in Shek Kip Mei. The centre provides outreach service, crisis intervention and intensive counselling to persons with emotional stress and suicidal risk. It also offers support to their carers as well as friends or relatives of people who committed suicide. Apart from carrying out suicide prevention efforts via online chat room, websites and social media, the SBHK launched a mobile application on suicide prevention and emotional support to identify early and proactively reach out to students and youths with suicidal thoughts via an interactive platform.
Dr Law said that the SBHK is committed to promoting cherishing lives and providing valuable services in suicide prevention. The Social Welfare Department has again increased subventions to the SBHK in 2018-19 to address service needs. Noting that the Government will continue to strengthen suicide prevention through early identification, counselling and support as well as professional training, Dr Law added that discussion of the cross-bureaux/departments task force set up by the Labour and Welfare Bureau on new measures to prevent youth suicide is under way and is expected to complete within 2018. He appealed to members of the public to hold a positive attitude when facing adversity and encouraged them to approach families, friends or professionals for help when in need.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art announced today (August 22) that the family of celebrated artist Wu Guanzhong has generously made another round of donations of Wu's invaluable works to the museum for its permanent collection.
The donated works include the painting "A household at the foot of mountain", which was created when Wu was sent to the countryside to do hard labour in the 1970s and was painted on cardboard placed on top of a dung basket, as well as sketches for several masterpieces such as "A riverside village of Ningbo" (the sketch for "Two swallows"), "The original draft of Chinese cypresses" and "A river alley of Suzhou". Together with the existing Wu Guanzhong collection of oil paintings and ink paintings that the museum holds, these works showcase the epitome of Wu's artistic creation. In addition to paintings and sketches, the donation also includes items that chronicle Wu's journey of artistic pursuit, including his work seals, documents he used and a certificate received in France as well as a ribboned gilt medallion awarded by the French Government.
Thanks to the generous donations from Wu and his family over the years, the Hong Kong Museum of Art now boasts the biggest and most diverse collection of works by Wu in the world, making up a huge collection of over 450 items. These comprise oil paintings, ink paintings, sketches, watercolours, gouache paintings, acrylic paintings and a porcelain painting made by the great artist over more than half a century. The museum is also one of the key international centres for modern Chinese painting collection and research. To present this celebrated collection with due esteem and to share such kind and gracious donations with the public, a permanent Wu Guanzhong Art Gallery will be set up, showcasing the master's donated works and related collection when the museum reopens in the second half of 2019. A series of activities will also be organised to commemorate the centenary of Wu's birth.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the Donation Ceremony for the Works of Wu Guanzhong today at Government House and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the eldest son of Wu Guanzhong, Mr Wu Keyu, who received the certificate on behalf of his family.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art has received two remarkable donations from Chih Lo Lou Art Promotion (Non-profit making) Ltd and the Wu Guanzhong collection within the span of a month. The donations reflect Hong Kong's status as the international centre for preservation and conservation of Chinese cultural treasures with its unique positioning as a mix of East and West. At the same time, the donations again attest to the recognition of the professionalism and passion of the Hong Kong Museum of Art within the community of collectors and artists for its conservation of art treasures and promotion of art.
Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010) was a master in Chinese art with a comprehensive knowledge of art of both the East and the West. Dedicating his entire life to the exploration of the modernisation of Chinese painting and the nationalisation of oil painting, Wu produced works that juxtaposed the aesthetic perspectives and connotations of traditional Chinese ink painting and contemporary Western painting. Notably, Wu created scenes of Jiangnan waterways with Western painting touches to express rich Eastern emotions. He depicted the vitality of wisteria and old cypress with flexuous lines, and added brilliant colours to nature and life. His vivid artistic language featured works of dots, lines and cubes, as well as palettes comprising black, white and grey or red, yellow and green. Establishing the unique "Wu studio style", he distinguished himself as a master painter of the 20th century in China and indeed the rest of the world.
Wu's connection with Hong Kong extended a long way. He returned to China by train via the old Kowloon terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui – near where the Hong Kong Museum of Art is located nowadays – in the early 1950s upon completing his studies in Paris. Subsequently, he visited Hong Kong on various occasions to create artworks, hold art exhibitions, attend academic seminars and give lectures. He travelled widely throughout the city to do sketches, including in Central, the Mid-levels, Tsim Sha Tsui, Aberdeen, Repulse Bay, Cheung Chau, Temple Street and Ma Liu Shui. In 2002, the Hong Kong Museum of Art organised a large-scale exhibition, "Wu Guanzhong: A Retrospective", and invited Wu to give his unprecedented demonstration of sketching in public. Unperturbed by bad weather, he captured Victoria Harbour on paper in the rain and the occasion has become a well-known story in the art circle. He once said, "In Hong Kong, I could see the East and the West. People can exchange their ideas in almost anything … That's why I like Hong Kong."
Commenting on the success of that exhibition, Wu wrote in his autobiography "I Owe Painting", "(The Hong Kong Museum of Art) did not simply hang up my works. They thoroughly understood and interpreted my artistic endeavour as well as the context of my art exploration … For example, 'Two swallows' drawn in the 1980s, 'Former residence of Qiu Jin' painted 10 years later and 'Time passed and the two swallows gone' (that is 'Reminiscence of Jiangnan') painted another 10 years down the road, were exhibited side by side. I felt that I had been captured, and my heart and private thoughts revealed; I was so touched and shocked at the same time … As an artist, I rejoice in knowing that someone understands me." Through his own words, one can see the affection that Wu had towards Hong Kong and the trust and recognition that he held for the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has recorded higher than normal pollution levels. At 4pm today (August 22), the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) at some general stations reached 10, corresponding to the "Very High" health risk category.
There are sunny periods with relatively low visibility and light winds in Hong Kong today. Higher than normal levels of nitrogen dioxide and ozone have been recorded in the territory since this morning. Hong Kong is being affected by an air mass with higher background pollutant concentrations. In addition, the light wind hinders effective dispersion of air pollutants. The sunshine enhances photochemical smog activity and the formation of ozone and fine particulates, resulting in high pollution in the Pearl River Delta region. The high level of ozone has promoted the formation of nitrogen dioxide, particularly in parts of the urban areas and at the roadside. It is expected that the AQHI at some general and roadside air monitoring stations may reach the "Serious" level later today.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, there will still be light winds in the following days. It is expected that pollution levels will remain higher than normal until the wind strengthens.
With a health risk category in the "Very High" range or above, children, the elderly and persons with existing heart or respiratory illnesses are advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities to a minimum or avoid such activities. The general public are advised to reduce, or reduce to a minimum, outdoor physical exertion, and to reduce time staying outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. As health effects of air pollutants may vary for individuals, persons who are in doubt or experience discomfort should seek advice from health-care professionals. The public may visit the Centre for Health Protection's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/3557.html) for more information on health effects of air pollution and relevant health advice.
The Education Bureau (EDB) urges all schools to visit the EDB's website for appropriate measures to safeguard students' health and take note of changes in the index. The relevant hyperlink is as follows:
www.edb.gov.hk/en/sch-admin/admin/about-activities/sch-activities-guidelines/index.html.
When the AQHI is at the "Very High" level, employers of outdoor workers performing heavy manual work are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees such as reducing outdoor physical exertion and the time of their stay outdoors, especially in areas with heavy traffic. At the "Serious" level, employers of all outdoor workers are advised to assess the risk of outdoor work and take appropriate preventive measures to protect the health of their employees.
Members of the public can check the current AQHI readings at the EPD's website (www.aqhi.gov.hk/en.html) or by calling the hotline 2827 8541.
"Circus Funestus" by Sofie Krog Teater from Denmark will be performed in September as the first highlight of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "From Puppets to Humans" series.
The apocalyptic love comedy puppet show "Circus Funestus" follows the happenings at a circus after its microscopic hero, Mr Flea, declares his love for an adorable elephant. His declaration of love makes the evil villain, Mr Whip, mad with jealousy and he conspires with a bunch of evil props to take over the circus. What was once a circus show is now a power struggle between good and evil. Puppets, movies, music and transformative effects create a comical and magical universe for the audience. The programme premiered at the April Festival 2016 in Denmark and was taken on tour to Italy, France, Russia and Spain.
Founded in 2003, Denmark's Sofie Krog Teater produces filmic puppet theatre for teens and adults and is known for its unique comic productions with magical set designs. The theatre troupe made a breakthrough on the international front with the award-winning show "Diva". Then, in 2008, the theatre expanded by working in collaboration with David Faraco on new performances that were taken on tour at home and abroad.
The show (to be performed in English with Chinese and English surtitles) will be staged at 8pm on September 21 and 22 (Friday and Saturday) and at 3pm on September 22 and 23 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $200 and $260 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_577.html.
