The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 29) announced that a trace amount of metabolite of furazolidone (a type of nitrofurans) (AOZ), a non-permitted veterinary drug, … read more
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (June 29) announced that two prepackaged dried mushroom samples were detected with cadmium, a metallic contaminant, exceeding the lega… read more
The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Hermes Tang, signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the Acting Comptroller of the New Zealand Customs Service, Ms Christine Stevenson, in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday (June 28, Brussels time) during the 132nd Council Session of the World Customs Organization.
Under the MRA, the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (HKAEO) Programme and the New Zealand Secure Exports Scheme are mutually recognised, by which Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs) of both economies enjoy mutual customs clearance benefits, including reduced examination and prioritised clearance.
This is the ninth MRA that the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has concluded with other Customs administrations after those with the Mainland, India, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan and Australia. Apart from demonstrating the two Customs administrations’ efforts in strengthening international cargo security, the signing of the MRA with New Zealand also enables accredited Hong Kong traders to better explore the market there by leveraging their edge of certified status under the Belt and Road Initiative.
MRA negotiation is now extending to North America. During the same Council Session today (June 29, Brussels time), the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Excise and Strategic Support), Mr Jimmy Tam, signed an MRA Action Plan with the Vice President of the Canada Border Services Agency, Mr Martin Bolduc, to mark the commencement of formal negotiation for mutual recognition of the HKAEO Programme and the Partners in Protection programme in Canada.
Participation in the HKAEO Programme is free, open and voluntary. Any company engaging in business principally related to the international supply chain is welcome to apply for AEO status. Since the formal launch of the HKAEO Programme in April 2012, the C&ED has accredited 47 companies as AEOs, including multinational companies and small and medium-sized local enterprises.
Correctional officers at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (June 29) intercepted a remand person in custody smuggling suspected dangerous drugs into the centre by concealing them inside his body. The 54-year-… read more
More than 400 young musicians and choristers who participated in the 2018 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp will perform Chinese and Western music pieces in two concerts to be held in July to showcase their musical achievements.
Presented by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the 2018 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts will be held at 3pm on July 22 and 29 at the Concert Halls of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong City Hall respectively. The concerts will be conducted by internationally acclaimed maestros and are part of the summer programme International Arts Carnival 2018.
The first concert will be performed by the camp’s Children’s Choir, Junior String Orchestra and Chinese Orchestra. Highlights of the programme will include the choral piece “My Favourite Things” from “The Sound of Music”, and a dynamic strings’ repertoire of the gypsy spirit “Capriccio Espagnol”. The conductors will be the Resident Conductor of the Macao Chinese Orchestra and Head of the Teaching-Research Section for Ensemble and Artistic Direction, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, Sun Peng; the Music Director of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and the Music Director of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (United States), Kirk Trevor; and the Founder and Director Emerita of Syracuse Children’s Choir and the former Professor of Choral Music Education, Syracuse University (United States), Dr Barbara Tagg. The concert will also feature Law Wai-lun and Cheng Chai-man’s “The Legend of the White Snake” (Dizi Concerto), to be performed by celebrated dizi performer Sun Yongzhi in collaboration with the camp’s Chinese Orchestra.
The second concert will be conducted by the renowned symphonic and operatic conductor and Guest Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera (United States), Paul Nadler; the Resident Conductor of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Peng Fei; and renowned Taiwanese conductor and clarinetist, Lin Shih-wei. Under their batons, the camp’s Junior Chinese Orchestra, Junior Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra will perform music pieces including local favourite “Selections from Tales of the Walled City” by Chen Ning-chi; Japanese composer Masanori Taruya’s fascinating band repertoire “Tears of the Princess Kushinada Flowing in Hii”, and the mesmerising orchestral classic “Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture” by Tchaikovsky.
The Hong Kong Youth Music Camp is a major annual summer activity of the Music Office which provides intensive training to musicians in a scenic campsite setting. Participants can also enjoy recreational and sports facilities at the camp.
Tickets for the concerts priced at $50, $70 and $90 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 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/upcoming/2018hkymcc.html. read more