The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a wide range of activities including festive lantern carnivals and an interactive lighting installation to celebrate the coming Mid-Autumn Festival. Admission to all activities is free.
 
     An interactive lighting installation entitled "To the Moon" is on display at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza until October 1. The installation features two miniature illuminated trains that depart from the former Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus with 10 moons floating up and down with music along the tracks. More than 300 boxes, each containing a moon story, are placed at both sides. These moon stories have been created by local families and each tells a different family tale. In addition, a special event entitled "Storyline under the Moon" will be held in the evening from September 22 to 25, featuring storytelling and lantern making workshops.
 
     Three lantern carnivals showcasing a variety of entertainment will be held at Tai Po Waterfront Park on September 23, at Victoria Park on September 24 and at Tuen Mun Park on September 25. Details are as follows:
 
     1. New Territories East Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
         September 23 (Sunday), 7.30pm to 10pm
         Tai Po Waterfront Park
         Programmes: Spectacular Chinese ethnic songs, dances and acrobatics, a Chinese orchestral performance, crosstalk, a band performance, a magic performance with Noh theatre, a harmonica ensemble performance and demonstrations of Guangdong and Hong Kong folk crafts.
         Lantern display period: September 21 to 25
 
     2. Urban Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
         September 24 (Monday), 8pm to 11pm
         Victoria Park
         Programmes: Spectacular Chinese ethnic songs, dances and acrobatics, a choral performance, children's theatre performances, a fire dragon dance parade, a lantern riddle quiz, astronomy talks and documentary screenings, a star-gazing activity, a creative market and demonstrations of Guangdong and Hong Kong folk crafts.
         Lantern display period: September 21 to 25
 
     3. New Territories West Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival
         September 25 (Tuesday), 7.30pm to 10pm
         Tuen Mun Park
         Programmes: Spectacular Chinese ethnic songs, dances and acrobatics, a luminous dragon dance performance, a choral and orchestral concert, a Chinese instrumental concert, pop and street music performances, rhythmic gymnastics, dance and rope skipping performances, Nepalese dance and band performance, and demonstrations of Guangdong and Hong Kong folk crafts.
         Lantern display period: September 21 to 25
 
     The Ningxia Arts Troupe, supported by the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will perform spectacular folk songs, dances and acrobatic shows in the three carnivals. In addition, folk craft demonstrations by Guangdong and local masters, including Guangdong paper-cutting, plaster moulding, unicorn paper crafting and Guangcai (Guangzhou famille rose porcelain) craftsmanship, will also be featured.
 
     The carnival sites will each be decorated with dazzling lanterns. With the theme of "Full Moon across the Universe", the Victoria Park carnival will showcase different lighting installations inspired by the starry sky, including "Time Expressions", "Asteroids and Comets" and "Cassiopeia Constellation", presenting a journey into the galaxy.
 
     Another highlight at Victoria Park is an exhibition on traditional paper crafting. Organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the LCSD and inspired by the lucky bat decoration used in fa pau (paper floral tributes), a local craftsman handmade some 90 colourful bat-shaped lanterns to create the image of auspicious bats dancing in the sky.
 
     Following themes of "A Walk in the Park" and "Sparkling Joy under the Moon" respectively, Tai Po Waterfront Park and Tuen Mun Park will be filled with festive programmes and displays for members of the public to enjoy in a relaxing atmosphere.
 
     Apart from lantern carnivals, the programme "Youth Night" will be held at the above venues one night before each carnival from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, showcasing the energy and creativity of young people with a variety of programmes.
 
     People are urged not to litter or burn wax while celebrating the festival.

     For more information on the above programmes, please call 2591 1340 or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/territoryevents/midautumnlantern/midAutumn2018.html.

        

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (September 19) visited Victoria Park and Lei Yue Mun to learn about the relief work that has taken place in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Mangkhut.
      
     Mr Lau first visited Victoria Park to learn more about the clearance work after the passage of the typhoon, so as to confirm that the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival can be held in the park as scheduled. He also thanked the park staff for their work. The typhoon caused severe damage and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is making great efforts to conduct clearance and repair work at the venues affected under its management. Coastal facilities including all gazetted public beaches and some water sports centres, as well as promenades in many districts, have been temporarily closed.
      
     In addition, the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and a number of land-based leisure facilities including Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground and Aberdeen Sports Ground have also been closed due to serious damage brought about by the typhoon. Mr Lau appealed for public understanding, as it may take longer for these venues to undergo large-scale repair works before they can reopen for public use.
      
     Accompanied by the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Steve Tse, Kwun Tong District Council member Mr Lui Tung-hai and representatives of Lei Yue Mun resident organisations, Mr Lau then went to Lei Yue Mun to inspect the Government's typhoon defences, including Lei Yue Mun Sports Centre which was designated as a temporary shelter during the typhoon, as well as flood prevention facilities installed by various government departments after the passing of typhoon Hato in 2017. Mr Lau also observed the condition of villages affected in Lei Yue Mun and extended his sympathy to residents and business operators.
      
     Mr Lau said the Home Affairs Department (HAD) had spared no efforts in providing emergency support services during the typhoon, including the early evacuation of residents in low-lying areas and the opening of 53 temporary shelters, which had around 1 700 visits. After the typhoon, the District Offices immediately liaised with relevant departments and arranged contractors for clean-up operations and tree removal, so as to enable the opening of roads as soon as possible.
 
     Mr Lau thanked all staff members of the Home Affairs Bureau for remaining united and committed to their work during the typhoon. The HAD provided full support in different districts and maintained close communication with other departments, thereby handling the relief work systematically and efficiently to facilitate the early resumption of normal operations.

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
 
     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (September 19) commended members of the civil service for their commitment and sense of duty during and after the passage of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, showing no fear in the face of difficulties and risks in serving the public and protecting people's lives and property.
 
     The Convenor of the ExCo Non-official Members, Mr Bernard Chan, said, "Through the wholehearted and co-ordinated efforts of civil servants from different departments, as well as organisations and contractors which provide public services, in carrying out comprehensive precautionary, emergency and recovery work, we were able to weather the storm with minimum adverse impact on Hong Kong. The city's normal operations and people's daily lives have resumed very quickly. In addition, we are glad to learn that members of the public have also been helping to restore our community on their own accord.
 
     "On behalf of all ExCo Non-official Members, I would like to thank all who have been involved for their contributions and hard work, and I wish those who were injured during the typhoon a speedy recovery."

     The Secretary for Education, Mr Kevin Yeung, today (September 19) visited Kowloon City District to follow up on the progress of repair works for schools that were severely damaged by Super Typhoon Mangkhut. He also exchanged views with members of Kowloon City District Council (KCDC) on local developments and called at an integrated children and youth services centre in Kai Tak Development Area.
 
     Accompanied by the District Officer (Kowloon City), Mr Franco Kwok, as well as the KCDC Chairman, Mr Pun Kwok-wah, and the Vice-Chairman, Mr Cho Wui-hung, Mr Yeung went to Alliance Primary School, Whampoa and GCEPSA Whampoa Primary School to meet with their school heads and staff members. He thanked them for having taken good care of students’ learning needs through various means such as the Internet during class suspension and for their efforts in dealing with repair work.
 
     Mr Yeung said that on the whole, secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong resumed classes quite smoothly today. As for these two schools, which sustained relatively severe damage, one will resume class tomorrow while the other is expected to resume class on Friday after urgent repair works arranged by the Education Bureau and the schools' management. The Bureau will continue to follow up on the needs of the schools and provide them with appropriate support.
 
     Mr Yeung also called on the KCDC and exchanged views with members. He noted that there have been rapid developments in Kowloon City in recent years. In addition to the new Kai Tak Development Area, the redevelopment of old buildings in the district has also renewed the local environment. In view of the new demand for social services brought by the population growth, the Government will improve both the related facilities and services accordingly.
 
     During the visit, Mr Yeung saw for himself the latest developments of a few old streets in Hung Hom. He recalled that he was serving as the District Officer (Kowloon City) in 2003 when Hong Kong was hit by SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the environmental hygiene problem at the Eight "Wan" Streets was one of the urgent tasks for the district. These eight streets, surrounded by old buildings, were owned by private owners without proper management and repair works. The accumulation of rubbish, sewage and manure had posed a serious threat to public health.
 
     Mr Yeung said, "In order to take swift action, the Government established a new modality. The District Office played a co-ordinating role in the liaison with residents and relevant departments. The 'act first, recover costs later' initiative was also adopted to expedite the improvement works, including the repair of lightwells, vertical pipes and underground drains as well as the repaving of the private streets.
 
      "It is evident that no livelihood issue is too trivial. The problems involved can be very complicated. However, they can be resolved through honest communication, mutual understanding and co-operation."
 
     Mr Yeung made a final stop at Kai Tak Development Area, where he visited the HKSKH Kowloon City Children and Youth Integrated Service Centre in Ching Long Shopping Centre. While touring its various facilities designed for children and youths, he chatted with some young people and gave them encouragement.

     An exhibition entitled "Craft and Technology: Applications of three-dimensional laser scanning for heritage conservation and education" will open on September 21 (Friday) at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. The exhibition will introduce details of how the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) applies innovative 3D laser scanning and 3D printing technologies to heritage conservation and education.

     Through the display of "point cloud" images, 3D printout models, photos, videos and interactive exhibits, the public can learn how the AMO makes use of the "point clouds" captured by 3D laser scanning to generate digital models of historic buildings, archaeological relics and building components. By applying 3D printing technologies, 3D solid models can be produced to build up an archive for reference in future heritage conservation works. The exhibition will also introduce how the AMO uses 3D laser scanning for monitoring any changes in monuments, and the data collected for planning and implementation of heritage education activities.

     Highlight exhibits include a 3D printout model of "Inviting Phoenix by Flute-playing" on the roof ridge of Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan; "point cloud" images of the interior of Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda and its environs; and a 3D mesh model of the Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower.

     Officiating at the opening ceremony today (September 19) were the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; the Chairman of the Antiquities Advisory Board, Mr Andrew Lam; the Commissioner for Heritage of the Development Bureau, Mr José Yam; and the Executive Secretary of the AMO, Ms Susanna Siu.

     The exhibition, which offers free admission and runs until December 2, is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the AMO. For details of the exhibition, please visit the AMO's website at www.amo.gov.hk, or call 2208 4400.

     The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is located in Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.