The Ferry Services (Amendment) Bill 2018 was gazetted today (June 15).
 
     As currently required under section 29 of the Ferry Services Ordinance (Cap. 104), the maximum duration of a licence, whether newly granted or extended, is three years on each occasion, whilst the aggregate licence period (i.e. including any extended period(s)) shall not exceed 10 years. This requirement not only creates administrative burden on ferry operators (increasing the number of applications for licence extension under a 10-year period), but also hampers ferry operators' ability to make longer-term planning and investment for their ferry services to a certain extent.
 
     "The Bill seeks to lengthen the period for which a licence to operate a ferry service may be granted and extended, from three years to five years, while the existing cap of a 10-year aggregate licence period remains unchanged. We hope that the proposal could facilitate ferry operators' longer-term planning and investment, and in turn enhance the financial viability of ferry services and encourage continuous improvement of service quality," a Government spokesman said.
  
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 27.
 

     The Highways Department (HyD) today (June 15) invited tenders for a four-year contract for the management, operation, installation and maintenance of the public lighting system in Kowloon and New Territories East (contract No. 01/HY/2018) from October 2018 to September 2022.
 
     The contract, which will be supervised by the Lighting Division of the HyD, covers the design, installation, management, operation and maintenance of the public lighting system in Kowloon and New Territories East. The public lighting system generally consists of conventional road lighting, village lighting, gantry sign lighting, roadside directional sign lighting, traffic bollard lighting and the associated network of cables, ducts and peripheral items.
 
     Within the designated contract area, there are about 55 400 road lighting points, 3 700 traffic bollards and 2 800 lighting installations on illuminated gantry signs and roadside directional signs.
 
     Tender submissions should be placed in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box at G/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Submission of tenders will close at noon on July 27, 2018 (Friday).
 
     For enquiries, please call 3903 6550.

     A female remand person in custody attacked a correctional officer at Tai Lam Centre for Women yesterday (June 14).

     At 7.24pm, a 37-year-old remand person in custody suddenly turned emotional while being escorted to the Dormitory and attacked a correctional officer with her hand. The staff immediately stopped her and called for reinforcement.

     The correctional officer felt discomfort at her neck. After examination and treatment provided by the Medical Officer at the institution hospital, the officer was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. The assailant did not sustain any injury.

     The Correctional Services Department has referred the incident to the Police for investigation.

     The assailant was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug.

     The Government Property Agency is inviting tenders for a three-year tenancy of government properties at China Hong Kong City, China Ferry Terminal, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui and the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan.

     The properties should be used for general retail purposes only (including storage, sale and display of duty-free liquor, cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products but excluding any goods or commodities that are prohibited under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), any regulations made thereunder and any amending legislations).

     The tender notice was uploaded today (June 15) to the Agency's website: www.gpa.gov.hk. Tender documents are available for collection at the Government Property Agency, 31/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, during office hours (8.30am to 5.45pm from Mondays to Fridays). The documents can also be downloaded from the Agency's website.

     Interested tenderers who wish to inspect the sites should make prior appointment with the Government Property Agency by calling 2594 7697 on or before June 26.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box at the ground floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, before noon on July 6, 2018. Late tenders will not be accepted.

     Talented local bassoonist Toby Chan will perform a selection of classical compositions in August.
 
     The programme of the bassoon recital will feature Stravinsky's "Pulcinella Suite" arranged by Cornelia Sommer for solo bassoon and piano, Bernard Andrés' "Chants d'arrière-saison" for bassoon and harp, Weber's "Andante and Hungarian Rondo", Ludwig Milde's "Polonaise" and Glinka's "Trio Pathetique in D minor" for clarinet, bassoon and piano.
 
      After graduating from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) under the tutelage of Benjamin Moermond, Principal Bassoon of the Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil), Chan received his Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School in New York under Judith LeClair, the Principal Bassoon of the New York Philharmonic. He was awarded the Bernard van Zuiden Music Fund Scholarship and the Juilliard Scholarship in support of his education. He is currently serving as an instructor of the chamber music faculty in the HKAPA.
 
     In 2014, Chan was invited to perform with the Hong Kong Obsession at the International Double Reed Conference in New York. From 2011 to 2014, he held the vice-chairman position of Hong Kong bassoon ensemble the Bassoonion, and gave numerous ensemble concerts aimed at promoting the bassoon to the public.
 
     Chan was appointed Co-principal Bassoon of the HK Phil in 2016. As an active orchestral musician, he has performed with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has worked under the batons of world-renowned conductors including Michael Tilson Thomas, Andris Nelsons, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel and Fabio Luisi. He was a member of the Asian Youth Orchestra in 2010 and 2011, touring with the orchestra to 12 cities in Asia and performing 32 concerts during the two summers.
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "City Hall Virtuosi Series: Bassoon Recital by Toby Chan" will be staged at 8pm on August 3 (Friday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $150 and $200 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/programs_557.html.