Local museums to offer free admission in support of International Museum Day

     In support of International Museum Day (IMD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold International Museum Day 2018, Hong Kong (IMD 2018, HK) on May 12 and 13 (Saturday and Sunday). On these dates, a total of 40 cultural institutions including some museums and cultural venues under the LCSD as well as other local cultural institutions will offer free admission to the public. A wide range of educational and entertainment programmes will also be held.
 
     The IMD theme this year is "Hyperconnected Museums: New Approaches, New Publics", suggesting that as museums strive to maintain their relevance in society, they also need to make an effort to organise interactive projects with the local community and different social groups to engage new audiences and strengthen connections with them.
     
     During IMD 2018, HK, the 40 participating local cultural institutions will offer free admission to the public, except for thematic exhibitions and fee-charging programmes. The institutions include 20 LCSD museums and cultural venues, as well as the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, the Tung Wah Museum, the Po Leung Kuk Museum, the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, the Stephen Hui Geological Museum of the University of Hong Kong, the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, the Dr & Mrs Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine of the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Museum of Education of the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Racing Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, the Heritage of Mei Ho House, the City Gallery, the AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre, the Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture, the Jao Tsung-I Academy, the Police Museum and the HKDI Gallery.
 
     As the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Tung Wah Museum are closed for renovation, associated programmes will be held at other locations. The CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change will be closed on May 13 but open on May 12.
 
     For details of IMD 2018, HK, please visit the website of Hong Kong Public Museums at www.museums.gov.hk/en_US/web/portal/imd2018.html.
 
     The LCSD has held Hong Kong events annually in support of IMD since 2001. The International Council of Museums designated May 18 as IMD in 1977 to raise public awareness of the important role that museums play in society.




Residents move into three newly completed blocks of On Tai Estate (with photos)

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     Residents at Phase II of On Tai Estate at On Sau Road in Kwun Tong, Kowloon, began moving into three of the domestic blocks today (May 10). The estate is one of the public rental housing (PRH) estates within the Anderson Road Development Area. This shows the continuous efforts of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) to provide affordable rental housing to eligible low-income families with housing needs.

     "The three non-standard domestic blocks, namely Kui Tai House, Wo Tai House and King Tai House, are 30 storeys, 30 storeys and 31 storeys in height respectively, providing a total of about 2 640 PRH units for about 7 760 residents," a spokesman for the HA said. 

     The intake for the four domestic blocks at Phase I of On Tai Estate, namely Ming Tai House, Chi Tai House, Yung Tai House and Kam Tai House, providing about 2 850 units for about 7 900 residents, was conducted last year.

     On Tai Estate offers a number of recreational facilities including outdoor children's playgrounds, basketball courts, badminton courts and table-tennis tables. In addition, there will be two community farms for residents' use.

     A fast food restaurant in the shopping centre, a wet market, a carpark, two kindergartens and a community service centre will provide services later this year. The rest of the shops in the shopping centre will be completed by the second half of this year.

     The intake of residents for the remaining four domestic blocks at On Tai Estate will take place later this year. There will be around 8 500 PRH units for about 25 000 residents upon completion of the intake for the entire estate.

Photo  Photo  Photo  



Missing man in Sham Shui Po located

     A man who went missing in Sham Shui Po had been located.

     Woo Kai-yuen, aged 66, went missing after he left an elderly home on Lai Chi Kok Road on May 7 morning. Staff of the elderly home made a report to Police on the next day (May 8).

     The man returned to the elderly home this morning (May 10).




LegCo Finance Committee meeting

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

     The meeting of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Finance Committee originally scheduled at 3pm tomorrow (May 11) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex will start at 3.45pm.




May 31 deadline for proposals to alter rateable values

     The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (May 10) reminded the public that proposals to alter the rateable value of properties from April 1 this year must be served on the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation by May 31.

     Proposals should be made on the specified form (R20A) and be served by post or in person. Copies of the form can be obtained from the department at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 15/F, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, and the Home Affairs Enquiry Centres of the Home Affairs Department. The form can also be downloaded from RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk).

     The public can also lodge proposals on an electronic form (e-R20A) using the Electronic Submission of Forms service provided on the department's website. Proposals sent by fax are not acceptable.

     An RVD spokesman emphasised that under the Rating Ordinance and the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance, proposals served after May 31 will not be accepted.

     "Notwithstanding the lodging of a proposal, rates and rent payers must pay rates and government rent by the last day for payment shown on the demand notes. We will carefully consider all proposals and inform the proposers of our decisions before December 1. Any changes in rates and government rent payable resulting from such decisions will date back to April 1 this year and any overpayment will be adjusted in subsequent demands," he said.

     For enquiries, please call 2152 0111.