Four concerts to present delightful alternative classical music

     The Music Delights Series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will feature four concerts from September to January to offer alternative enjoyment for classical music fans.

     The Real Group is a renowned a cappella group from Sweden whose amazing and pure folk, jazz and pop vocal performances touch hearts. The concert will be staged at 4pm on September 25 (Tuesday, a public holiday) at the Auditorium of the Yuen Long Theatre. Tickets are priced at $120, $180 and $220.

     Leonis Quartet from France will perform hilarious string quartet music filled with theatrical twists and brilliant musicality. The concert will be staged at 8pm on October 6 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets are priced at $120, $180 and $240.

     "Queenz of Piano" will see German pianists Jennifer Rüth and Ming play their two grand pianos with amazing audacity. The concert promises to be an entertaining show with dazzling performances. The concert will be staged at 8pm on November 17 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets are priced at $120, $180 and $220.

     "Beyond Boundary, Beyond Time" is a crossover musical feast by local talents C Y Leo and Chan Pik-sum. When erhu jams with harmonica to reinvent classical music, pop and jazz, the results are irresistible. The concert will be staged at 8pm on January 5, 2019 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of the Yuen Long Theatre. Tickets are priced at $120, $160 and $220.

     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 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_599.html.




LD to hold occupational health public talks

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold a public talk entitled "Occupational health hints for new recruit young employees" on August 7 (Tuesday) to enhance understanding and awareness of occupational health among young people having joined or about to join the workforce. The talk will cover the basic concepts of occupational health, and explain through case scenarios some occupational health hazards and their preventive measures.
      
     The talk, to be given by the LD's occupational health nurse, will be held at 3pm in Activity Room 1, Hong Kong Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay.
      
     The LD will hold another talk entitled "Health hazards of hot environment at work" on August 13 (Monday). The talk, designed for workers in hot environments to enhance their awareness of heat stroke prevention, will cover symptoms of heat stroke, its first aid management and preventive measures.

     The talk, to be given by the LD's occupational health nurse and occupational hygienist, will be held at 3pm in the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
      
     Both talks will be conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free. For enquiries or registration, please call 2852 4040.




Schedule for issuing press releases on statistical data

     Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between August and October 2018. The schedule for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2018 was provided to the media in September 2017. No change has been made to the original schedule.
 
August 2018
==========
Date     Press Release
—–     ——————
1        Retail sales statistics for June 2018
3        Restaurant receipts and purchases statistics for second quarter 2018
9        Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade
          for June 2018
10       Gross Domestic Product for second quarter 2018: data contained
           in the press release entitled "Economic Situation in the Second
           Quarter of 2018 and Latest GDP and Price Forecasts for 2018"
           issued by the Office of the Government Economist under the
           Financial Secretary's Office (Note)
14       Mid-year population for 2018
17       Unemployment and underemployment statistics for May – July 2018
21       Consumer Price Index for July 2018
27       External merchandise trade statistics for July 2018
30       Retail sales statistics for July 2018
 
September 2018
============
Date     Press Release
—–      ——————
6          Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for second
            quarter 2018
10        Quarterly business receipts indices for service industries for
            second quarter 2018
11        Construction output statistics for second quarter 2018
11        Statistics on trade involving outward processing in the mainland
            of China for second quarter 2018
13        Index of industrial production and producer price index for
            the industrial sector for second quarter 2018
14        Gross National Income and external primary income flows for 
            second quarter 2018
18        Unemployment and underemployment statistics for June – August
            2018
19        Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic
            activity for second quarter 2018
20        Consumer Price Index for August 2018
20        Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for
            July 2018
20        Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2018
21        Balance of Payments and International Investment Position
            statistics for second quarter 2018
27        External merchandise trade statistics for August 2018
27        Wage and payroll statistics for June 2018
 
October 2018
==========
Date      Press Release
—–      ——————
2          Retail sales statistics for August 2018
18        Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade for
            August 2018
19        Unemployment and underemployment statistics for July –
            September 2018
19        Business expectations for fourth quarter 2018
23        Consumer Price Index for September 2018
25        External merchandise trade statistics for September 2018
26        Salary indices for managerial and professional employees for
            June 2018
 
Note: The Office of the Government Economist under the Financial Secretary's Office will issue a press release on the Half-yearly Economic Report 2018 and second update of the GDP and prices forecasts for 2018 as a whole. The GDP for the second quarter of 2018 will also be released there. No separate press release on the GDP for the second quarter of 2018 will be issued by the Census and Statistics Department on that day.
 
     The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2018 can be downloaded from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp).




Regional Traffic Day of Kowloon West

     Police yesterday (July 30) held the Regional Traffic Day in Kowloon West to raise public awareness of road safety through stringent enforcement actions.

     A total of 243 officers from Traffic Kowloon West and District Traffic Teams of Kowloon City, Mong Kok, Shum Shui Po and Yau Tsim Districts were deployed to take enforcement actions at traffic black spots in Kowloon West.

     The operation resulted in the issue of 1 726 fixed penalty tickets and 128 summonses. Among the fixed penalty tickets and summonses issued, a total of 1 588 fixed penalty tickets were issued for illegal parking and the rest are for other traffic offences.

     Police figures revealed that a total of 1 539 traffic accidents involving casualties occurred in Kowloon West in the first six months of 2018, of which 385 cases involved pedestrian injuries.

     Police will continue to take regular enforcement actions to ensure road safety.




Import and export declaration charge to be capped at $200 from tomorrow

     The Government's measure to cap the import and export declaration (TDEC) charge at $200 will take effect from tomorrow (August 1). The cap will apply to goods imported to Hong Kong, or exported or re-exported from Hong Kong, on or after August 1.
 
     Under the above measure, for each TDEC involving goods at a value above $1.644 million, the TDEC charge will remain at $200. 
 
     The arrangements for the lodgement of TDECs and payment of charges will remain unchanged. For enquiries, please contact the Customs and Excise Department (hotline: 2707 7748, email: customsenquiry@customs.gov.hk), the Census and Statistics Department (hotline: 2877 1818, email: trade-declaration@censtatd.gov.hk) or the three Government-appointed service providers of Government Electronic Trading Services (namely Brio Electronic Commerce Limited, Global e-Trading Services Limited and Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited, with contact information available at www.cedb.gov.hk/citb/en/Policy_Responsibilities/gets_sp.html).