The outreach performance "A Tale of Two Circles" and a sharing session (in Cantonese) of the Community Oral History Theatre Project – Central and Western District will be held at 3pm on July 21 (Saturday) at JC Cube in Tai Kwun. Free tickets with free seating will be distributed from tomorrow (June 21) on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     The Central and Western districts are two important locations on Hong Kong Island, combining the best of East and West. Old Central, characterised by its European influence, was the heart of politics and economic affairs, while old Western district, primarily settled by Chinese people, was a trade port for food products.
 
     More than 20 elderly participants will take part in the show to re-enact their own precious stories. Some of them worked diligently in Central to earn a living; some strived to support their children's schooling, hoping they would become professionals in Central; and some were trained to become craftsmen and set up small businesses in the Western district.
 
     The performance has Ko Tin-lung as the artistic director and Issac Siu as the scriptwriter, director and drama tutor. Free tickets will be distributed from tomorrow (a maximum of two tickets per person) at the following locations:
 
* Nga Yin Association Neighbourhood Elderly Centre, the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (1/F, Lung Cheung Garden, 26 Praya, Kennedy Town); and
* Enquiry Counter, Hong Kong City Hall Low Block (5 Edinburgh Place, Central).
 
     The Community Oral History Theatre Project – Central and Western District co-organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Chung Ying Theatre Company and the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council was launched in 2017. Through a series of workshops, the project has gathered the personal experiences and valuable recollections of the elderly from Central and Western District. Scripts have been written with the oral information collected, providing an opportunity for the elderly to tell their stories onstage.
 
     Tai Kwun is located at 10 Hollywood Road, Central. For programme enquiries, please call 2591 1300 (LCSD), 8106 8336 (Chung Ying Theatre Company) or 2819 8727 (Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council), or visit
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/ab/en/OH_central_western_phase4.php.

      

     The Tobacco Control Office (TCO) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 20) reminded the trade and the public that the packets or retail containers of all tobacco products for sale in Hong Kong should only carry the new form of health warnings as set out in the Smoking (Public Health) (Prescribed Information) Order from tomorrow (June 21).

     Taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and overseas experience, the Government amended the legal requirements of the health warnings on packets or retail containers of tobacco products in 2017. Major changes include:

(1) The area of the graphic health warning is required to increase from 50 per cent to at least 85 per cent of two largest surfaces of the packet and of the retail container;
(2) increasing the number of forms of health warning from six to 12; and
(3) incorporating new health warning messages and the smoking cessation hotline number on packets or retail containers of tobacco products.

     The Order came into operation on December 21, 2017, with a transitional period of six months, which ends today.

     To assist the trade to understand the requirements and comply with the Order, the TCO has prepared and distributed a set of guidelines and a DVD with graphical files of the health warnings to the trade. In addition, the TCO issued letters in December 2017, March 2018 and May 2018 to remind stakeholders including retailers regarding the new requirements. The Government will monitor the implementation of the new health warning requirements of tobacco products in the market.

     The DH appeals to smokers to quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. Smokers who intend to quit smoking can call the DH's Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183. The hotline is operated by registered nurses, providing professional counselling services on smoking cessation. Cases will be referred to suitable community smoking cessation service providers for follow-up when necessary.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 20) that due to big waves, red flags have been hoisted at Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lo So Shing Beach, Pui O Beach and Tong Fuk Beach in Islands District.  Beach-goers are advised not to swim at these beaches.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, continued her visit to France in Paris today (June 19, Paris time), where she met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, and visited innovation and technology (I&T) as well as cultural institutions.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, Mrs Lam met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian in the morning.  She noted that this is her first visit to France as the Chief Executive and the visit covers three cities, reflecting the importance she attaches to the close and multi-faceted relationship between Hong Kong and France.  She expressed the hope that Hong Kong and France will have more collaboration in the future, including in the promotion of free trade and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative.  Noting that Hong Kong will play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative, she looked forward to collaborating with France at both the government and enterprise levels with a view to grasping future opportunities.

     Mrs Lam and Mr Yau then joined a breakfast meeting hosted by Institut Montaigne, a think tank in France, which was attended by French business leaders, academics, etc.  She briefed the attendees on Hong Kong's latest development, including the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems", the highly regarded rule of law and judicial independence, and the adequate protection of people's freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.  She also exchanged views with attendees on such areas as the promotion of free trade, the Linked Exchange Rate System, the healthcare system and development of innovation and technology.

     Accompanied by Mr Yau and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, Mrs Lam then visited Ecole Polytechnique to learn about its development and its research projects on biomedical technology.  Ecole Polytechnique is a top institution of higher education in France with over 220 years of history and has many talents in innovation and technology as well as successful entrepreneurs as its alumni.  She was pleased to note that Ecole Polytechnique has started cooperation with universities in Hong Kong and expressed the hope that the exchange will promote the internationalisation of Hong Kong's higher education.  She also pointed out that biomedical technology is one of the priority areas of Hong Kong as its application would help provide better care to patients.

     During the visit, Mrs Lam and other officials also attended a gathering with a group of students of different nationalities.  She encouraged them to visit Hong Kong and consider joining the Working Holiday Scheme which has been popular among young people from Hong Kong and France.  She was pleased to learn that Ecole Polytechnique has started to offer courses in English and looked forward to having Hong Kong students pursuing their studies in it.

     Mrs Lam and other officials then attended a lunch hosted by the Chargé d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in France, Mr Wu Xiaojun, to learn about the bilateral relationship between the nation and France.  She also thanked the embassy for its support in various exchanges between Hong Kong and France.

     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam and other officials visited the Louvre Museum.  She met with the President-Director of the Museum, Mr Jean-Luc Martinez, and toured part of the collection.  She thanked the Louvre Museum for co-organising with the Hong Kong Heritage Museum a large-scale exhibition in Hong Kong last year, providing the opportunity for members of the public in Hong Kong to see the rich collection of the Louvre Museum.

     Mrs Lam will continue her visit to Paris tomorrow (June 20, Paris time).

                    

     In response to the recent media report on June 17 about the excavation works at the Exhibition Centre Station under the Shatin to Central Link project that have raised public concern on the associated works safety at the Exhibition Centre Station, the Highways Department (HyD) have received the written information submitted by the MTRCL last evening (June 19).

     After a review of MTRCL's information, the HyD is deeply dismayed by the fact that the contractor has proceeded with excavation exceeding the allowable depth before installation of the final layer of temporary steel struts, and that MTRCL has allowed the situation to persist for a prolonged period. The Transport and Housing Bureau and the HyD also deeply regret that the attitude of the MTRCL, as a project manager, and the contractor in handling the incident has unsatisfactorily put the public safety at risks. 

     In addition, it is totally unacceptable that the MTRCL has repeatedly failed to timely notify the HyD of incidents related to the construction of Hung Hom Station, To Kwa Wan Station and Exhibition Centre Station. The HyD has not been informed of the incidents until media enquiry were received.

     Regarding the information the HyD received from MTRCL, there are still many questions left unanswered and the HyD will demand a full and proper account of the incident, including a comprehensive review of MTRCL's implementation of the supervision system.