The New Vision Arts Festival (NVAF) will be held from October 19 to November 18, featuring pioneering shows by overseas and local performing groups. In addition to the 10 selected programmes launched in the early bird period, tickets for all other programmes will be available for sale from tomorrow (September 7).
 
     These programmes are Zuni Icosahedron's Z Innovation Lab: "Blind Musician Dou Wun", "Monkey Business" and "The Interrupted Dream"; orleanlaiproject's "Zoo as Metaphor (2)"; and 11 programmes from ArtSnap – a unique festival within a festival.
 
     ArtSnap features a series of improvisational interactive micro-programmes from overseas, the Mainland and Hong Kong, including internationally renowned British lighting designer Michael Hulls' installation and production "LightSpace". Most of the other programmes are newly commissioned Hong Kong works, displaying local artists' creativity and reflecting the support for nurturing home-grown talent.

     World-class dancer Wayne McGregor, visual artist Olafur Eliasson and musician Jamie xx will open the festival with the cross-boundary creative work "Tree of Codes", combining literature, sculpture, architecture and space design with performing arts. It will be held from October 19 to October 21 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
 
     Asia premiere programmes will include Grammy and Academy Award-winner Tan Dun's new work "Buddha Passion"; the underwater concert "AquaSonic" by Between Music, the world's first underwater ensemble; and composer Du Yun's Pulitzer Prize for Music-winning work "Angel's Bone".
 
     Apart from staging performances, the festival will also offer an inspiring range of extension activities, including guided tours, meet-the-artist sessions, talks, workshops, foyer performances, exhibitions and an outdoor carnival.
 
     Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the NVAF showcases innovative interdisciplinary collaborations, new talents and cutting-edge commissions, offering a range of new experiences for audiences.
 
     Tickets will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.newvisionfestival.gov.hk.

          

     The Trade and Industry Department (TID), the Hong Kong Brand Development Council (BDC), the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong (CMA) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will jointly hold the "Branding to Win Seminar: New Era．New Vision" on September 11 (Tuesday). Guest speakers will explore opportunities and challenges brought about by various revolutionary business trends, and share branding strategies that enterprises can adopt to capture growth and enhance competitiveness under the changing market and economy.
 
     Guest speakers at the seminar will include the Presidential Chair Professor of the Shenzhen Finance Institute and the School of Management and Economics of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dr Jamie Jia; Partner of China Tax of KPMG Mr Daniel Hui; the Sales and Marketing Director of Octopus Holdings Limited, Ms Rita Li; Partner of Greater China of OC&C Strategy Consultants, Mr Jack Chuang; and the General Manager of Ettason (HK) Limited, Ms Diana Lam.
 
     The seminar, to be conducted in Cantonese and Putonghua, will be held from 2.30pm to 5.15pm in rooms S226 and S227 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Admission is free.
 
     For those interested, online registration is available via the websites of the BDC (hkbrand.org/en/registration/1040) and the CMA (event.cma.org.hk/registrations/register/740), as well as the TID's Brand Development and Promotion website (www.branding.tid.gov.hk). Due to limited seating capacity, seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2542 8635.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited the Labour Department (LD) Headquarters this afternoon (September 6) to take a closer look at its work.

     Accompanied by the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Carlson Chan, he first met with the directorate staff to get an update on the LD's work and challenges. He said that with colleagues' professional and proactive attitude, various policy initiatives on improving employees' welfare as well as occupational safety and health have been moving forward. He encouraged colleagues to maintain a good partnership with employee and employer stakeholders to respond to the new trends of the labour market.

     Dr Law then proceeded to the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW) Division and was updated on the work of the Division in overseeing the implementation of the SMW and providing secretariat support for the Minimum Wage Commission (MWC). In accordance with the Minimum Wage Ordinance, the MWC is conducting a new round of review on the SMW rate, and will submit a report on its recommendation to the Chief Executive in Council by end-October.

     He also went to the Labour Inspection Division (LID) and was briefed on inspections of workplaces in various trades conducted by labour inspectors and investigations into cases of suspected breaches of labour laws for prosecution of law-infringing employers. In addition to district offices, three Special Enforcement Teams in the LID are tasked with monitoring government service contractors' compliance with relevant labour legislation and terms of the employment contract to safeguard the rights of non-skilled workers, conduct labour inspections relating to the Supplementary Labour Scheme to protect imported workers, and inspect construction sites.

     He also visited the Occupational Health Service and was introduced to its daily work by occupational hygienists, including the use of different instruments to assess the hazards affecting employees' health in the workplace, such as detecting toxic gases, asbestos and thermal stress. He expressed concern about the safety of workers working in confined spaces, such as manholes, underground sewers and tunnels. He reminded persons in charge of construction works to carry out risk assessment in advance, while workers should take all safety precautions.

     Noting that a number of fatal industrial accidents which occurred in recent years involved workers falling from height, Dr Law also visited the Safety Promotion Division to hear about the LD's stepped up education and publicity on safety for working at height.

      

     The Home Affairs Department will open 19 temporary night heat shelters tonight (September 6) for people in need of the service.
      
     The shelters will be open from 10.30pm until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department's enquiries hotline before midnight on 2835 1473.
      
     The 19 night heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex,
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
Waiting Lobby, 3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
Multi-purpose Room, 1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices,
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate,
Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
Hall, G/F, 45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
      
     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 21 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For addresses of the community centres or community halls, please browse the following webpage: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 6) announced that a popsicle sample of mango pomelo coconut cream flavour was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit. Follow-up is in progress.
      
     Details of the product are as follows:
      
Product: Mango Pomelo Coconut Cream Ice Pop
Product brand: Nice Pops Hong Kong
Manufacturer/packer: Nice Company HK, Limited
Net volume: 82 millilitres
Best-before date: December 23, 2018
      
     A spokesman for the CFS said, "Subsequent to announcing earlier that a honeydew berry sorbet popsicle sample taken from the premises of a frozen confection factory in Ap Lei Chau was found to contain coliform bacteria exceeding the legal limit, the CFS has enhanced surveillance on the products of the premises and has detected from the above-mentioned sample coliform bacteria of 140 per gram, exceeding the legal limit. The results for pathogen tests were satisfactory."
      
     Under the Frozen Confections Regulation (Cap 132AC), frozen confection for sale should not contain more than 100 coliform bacteria per gram. The maximum penalty for offenders is a fine of $10,000 and three months' imprisonment upon conviction. The fact that the coliform bacteria exceeded the legal limit indicated that the hygienic conditions were unsatisfactory, but did not mean that consumption would lead to food poisoning.
      
     "The CFS has informed the manufacturer concerned of the irregularity and the premises of its factory has temporarily stopped production and sale of all kinds of popsicles according to the CFS' instructions until completion of improvement measures. The CFS has provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the staff of the premises concerned again, and requested them to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection," the spokesman said.
      
     The CFS will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.