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.

     The Government published the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2018 in the Gazette today (June 15).

     "The Bill seeks to increase statutory paternity leave from the existing three days to five days under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57), while other features of the PL regime would remain unchanged," said a spokesperson for the Labour Department (LD).

     "The proposed Bill is based on the outcome of a review of the implementation of statutory paternity leave and has been supported by the Labour Advisory Board and the Legislative Council Panel on Manpower. It would help male employees better discharge their family responsibilities around the time of their children's birth."

     The spokesperson added that the Government had, in formulating the legislative proposal, taken into account the views of employees, the affordability of employers including small and medium enterprises, and the operation of paternity leave since 2015. If the Bill can be passed quickly by the Legislative Council, parents-to-be will be able to enjoy the improvement at an earlier time.

     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 20.

     The Government announced today (June 15) an in-situ land exchange with the Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers (the Mission) for the redevelopment of the Mariners' Club at Tsim Sha Tsui to enable the continued provision of welfare services to seafarers.
 
     The current site of the Mariners' Club at 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, was acquired by the Mission through land exchange on full market value in 1965. Over the years, the Mariners' Club has been providing, at its own cost, affordable accommodation and a range of other welfare services to transiting seafarers and their family members. With time, the facilities at the Mariners' Club have deteriorated and become outdated, making it difficult for the Mission to sustain its services to seafarers. 
 
     With the approved in-situ land exchange, the Mission, upon settlement of the premium, can identify a development partner to redevelop the site into a composite building with a new Mariners' Club on the lower levels and a commercial hotel on the upper levels. The redevelopment will allow the Mission to modernise the facilities of the Mariners' Club for the continued provision of affordable welfare services to seafarers.
 
     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, "The redevelopment will support Hong Kong's maritime industry and tourism development by providing the much needed welfare facilities for seafarers as well as bolstering the supply of hotel rooms in a key tourism district. The redevelopment can maximise the potential of the site and uphold Hong Kong's status as a major international port and tourist destination."
 
     It is an international common practice for major ports to provide seafarers, who are away from home for prolonged periods at sea, with social and welfare services and onshore facilities that typically include affordable accommodation of reasonable standard and other leisure facilities. In Hong Kong, such support services are provided by the Mission, which is a non-profit organisation incorporated in 1930 under the Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers Incorporation Ordinance (Cap. 1042).

     The Government today (June 15) announced the Chief Executive's appointment of Mr Maurice Lee Wai-man as the Chairman of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for a term of two years from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2020.
 
     Mr Lee is an experienced solicitor who has been practicing law in Hong Kong for over 30 years. He is currently the Vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Moreover, he has been actively involved in community, cultural and social services for many years.
 
     The Government expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Mr Lambert Lee Ka-chai, for his valuable contribution to the Tribunal in the past.
 
     The Tribunal comprises a Chairman, 15 medical members, 15 social work members and 15 other members with experience and knowledge of administration or clinical psychology or other suitable qualifications or experience. The membership list of the Tribunal is available at the webpage of the Food and Health Bureau (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/committees/mhrt.htm).
 
     The Tribunal was set up in 1989 pursuant to the enactment of the Mental Health (Amendment) Ordinance. The function of the Tribunal is to consider applications or cases of patients who are liable to be compulsorily detained in mental hospitals or to compulsory guardianship, as well as to determine whether these patients should be discharged in accordance with the Mental Health Ordinance (Cap.136).