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     Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Hong Kong Disneyland Welcome Party for “Moana: A Homecoming Celebration” today (May 24):
 
Mike (President and Managing Director of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Asia Pacific, Mr Michael Colglazier), Sam (Managing Director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Mr Samuel Lau), Anthony (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Anthony Lau), Consul General (Consul General of the United States to Hong Kong and Macau, Mr Kurt Tong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good afternoon.
 
     I am delighted to be here today. It’s indeed not often I get to watch a stage show during office hours. And I’m certainly looking forward to the very first public showing of “Moana: A Homecoming Celebration”. I’m told that rare pleasure is ours immediately following today’s opening ceremony celebrating the latest addition to Hong Kong Disneyland.
 
     The show, of course, is based on “Moana”, the 2017 Academy Award-nominated animated feature film from Disney.
 
     It is also the very first “Moana” stage production to be featured at a Disney theme park around the world.
 
     And there’s more good news. “Moana: A Homecoming Celebration” is just the beginning of a series of new attractions under the multi-year expansion and development plan of the Hong Kong Disneyland.
 
     The plan is being jointly funded by the Hong Kong SAR Government and Disney. And it will fuel expansion of the park’s world-class entertainment offerings right through 2023.
 
     That’s marvellous news for park visitors, for Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and, no less, for the Hong Kong economy. Enhancing our entertainment attractions and offerings can only attract more tourists to Hong Kong from all over the world.
 
     The Resort, of course, has done a good job of that since its opening back in 2005, welcoming more than 70 million visitors from all over the world.
 
     Boosting Disneyland’s appeal through new attractions and offerings is, and will continue to be, a high priority.
 
     It’s a strategy that’s working well. Over the past two years, “Star Wars” and Iron Man have turned into resident superheroes, capturing the imagination of our park visitors. And I have no doubt that the inspired musical theatre, and visual storytelling, of “Moana” will do very much the same – captivate the world, right here at Hong Kong Disneyland.
 
     And there’s more magic on the way. Next year, Ant Man and the Wasp will set up home at the park – here to take on all villains in thrilling, non-stop adventure.
 
     Hong Kong, I should add, is also up to some pretty amazing stuff these days.
 
     This year alone, two world-class infrastructure developments near the park are slated to open. I’m talking about the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
 
     All that state-of-the-art connectivity between Hong Kong and the Mainland can only boost the flow of business people, tourists and superheroes, creating unprecedented opportunities for Disney.
 
     Thank you. Now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s get on with the show.

      

     To combat climate change, the Government is actively promoting the development of renewable energy (RE) to encourage and support the community to install distributed RE systems. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Depar… read more

     Yuen Tat Construction Limited and another renovation contractor illegally carried out renovation works at night and during holidays at Amoy Plaza in Kowloon Bay and at a ground floor shop at Kwong Tin Shopping Centre in Lam Tin respectively, causing noise nuisance. The contractors were fined a total of $18,000 by Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (May 24) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).

     â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received public and Police referrals regarding the noise nuisance generated by renovation works at Amoy Plaza and Kwong Tin Shopping Centre. After investigation, it was confirmed that the contractors concerned were using electric drills after 7pm and carrying out hammering work during holidays, causing noise nuisance to nearby residents. The construction company and the contractor involved did not apply for a valid noise permit (CNP) prior to the commencement of the works and the EPD thus initiated prosecutions against the construction works company and the responsible person in accordance with the NCO.

     The EPD spokesman stressed that construction contractors should schedule works for the daytime and non-general holidays as far as possible. If any part of the construction work has to be conducted during restricted hours (between 7pm and 7am on weekdays or at any time on a public holiday), the contractor has to obtain prior approval from the EPD for a CNP. After the CNP has been granted upon completion of assessment to support compliance with regulatory requirements, applicants must also implement noise mitigation measures in accordance with the CNP, including the erection of noise barriers at the site, to minimise the impact of noise to nearby residents. Otherwise it constitutes an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Thursday, May 24, 2018 is 99.6 (up 0.1 against yesterday’s index). read more

     The Education Bureau (EDB) issued a circular memorandum to all secondary schools (excluding English Schools Foundation schools and international schools) today (May 24) to announce the Revised Curriculum Frameworks of Junior Secondary Chinese History (Secondary 1-3) and History (Secondary 1-3).
      
     The revised curriculum frameworks will be implemented progressively in all of these schools, starting from Secondary 1 in September 2020 at the earliest.
      
     An EDB spokesman said, “The revised curriculum frameworks aim at enhancing the learning and teaching of the two History subjects. Through strengthening enquiry learning and encouraging students to use various skills to study history both inside the classroom (for example, by engaging in co-operative group learning) and outside (for example, by taking field trips), students’ interest in learning history will be raised.”
      
     The Revised Curriculum Framework of Chinese History (Secondary 1-3) divides Chinese history into nine “historical periods”. The curriculum contents are structured around the “learning focuses” of the nine periods, with the aim of helping students develop a comprehensive and holistic understanding of Chinese historical development. The curriculum also subsumes elements of “Cultural Characteristics” and “Hong Kong Development” into different topics of these historical periods to be taught, so that students will learn Chinese historical development from political, cultural, social and other aspects, thus widening their perspective of history. In addition, the revised curriculum framework, by including elective and extended topics, provides a flexible structure to cater for the diverse learning needs of students and promote their self-directed learning capabilities.
      
     The Revised Curriculum Framework of History (Secondary 1-3), which is designed in chronological order, is composed of 12 topics, with a particular theme suggested for each school year. The three-year curriculum helps students understand world development trends and their impact on the present day. In order to broaden students’ international perspectives and enhance their understanding of other major civilisations of the world, the histories of civilisations and countries in other regions, such as the rise of Islamic civilisation and the founding and development of the United States, have been added to the revised curriculum. The revised curriculum framework is flexible, with foundation and extended parts for each topic, enabling schools to adapt the curriculum to their school contexts and students’ diversity in abilities and interests.
     
     Details of the revised curriculum frameworks of the two History subjects are available at the following web link: www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/kla/pshe/whats-new.html.
      
     The EDB hopes the revised curriculum frameworks of the two History subjects will enable students to study Chinese and world history and culture in a holistic and systematic manner and develop a sense of national identity, love for Hong Kong and international perspectives for coping with opportunities and challenges ahead.
      
     The existing junior secondary curricula of the two History subjects have been implemented for over 20 years. In view of the need to renew the curriculum, and of students’ learning needs, the Curriculum Development Council (CDC) endorsed the setting up of an Ad Hoc Committee for Revising Junior Secondary Chinese History and History Curricula (Secondary 1-3) in December 2013 to conduct a full review of the curricula of the two History subjects and make suggestions for revision. The Ad Hoc Committee adopted a multi-stage opinion-collection strategy to widely gather views from all schools and the professional sector in Hong Kong through various channels including feedback collection seminars, focus group meetings and two stages of consultation. After more than four years of professional discussion, the revised curriculum frameworks of the two History subjects have been generally well received by the education sector and endorsed by the CDC and accepted by the EDB.
      
     The spokesman thanked the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Professor Leung Yuen-sang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Chairman of the Working Group on Revising Junior Secondary History Curriculum (Secondary 1-3), Professor Mak King-sang of the Hong Kong Baptist University, for leading the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as all committee members for their efforts and contributions over the years. Under the spirit of professional leadership, the Ad Hoc Committee has completed the revision of the curriculum frameworks of the two History subjects for the junior secondary level for the promotion of history education.
      
     The spokesman said that since the 2016/17 school year, some schools had participated in the tryout of the revised Chinese History and History curricula. The EDB will continue to collaborate with the tryout schools, tertiary institutes and different scholars and experts to produce diversified teaching resources; provide systematic teacher training courses and history study tours for teachers; further strengthen teachers’ networks to promote teachers’ professional experience sharing; and conduct various student activities on history and culture. Through adopting diversified strategies and continued collaboration with schools and the education sector, the EDB aims to strengthen the learning and teaching of the two History subjects for the benefit of students.   read more