The Transport Department (TD) today (August 2) issued invitations to the operators of 11 selected red minibus (RMB) routes meeting specific conditions, to apply for conversion to green minibus (GMB) route operations (the Scheme) by October 31.
 
     Applicants are required to submit the completed application form and required documents to the TD. The TD will examine each application received to ensure that the route operator concerned complies with the Conditions for the Operation of Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Service, including hiring drivers to operate the routes concerned, and that its daily operations and fares are subject to the TD for approval and monitoring. The processing of the applications is expected to be completed by end-2024.
 
     It has been the Government's established policy to encourage the conversion of RMBs to GMBs to ensure the service quality of public light buses through more effective monitoring. The TD now invites operators of the RMB routes which have participated in the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities, and have met the specific conditions to apply for direct conversion of the RMB routes to GMB route operations. The specific conditions of the Scheme include: the RMB routes selected should have at least five years of service, the vehicles of the route operate only on that single route and provide daily and whole-day service, and the route concerned is operated by a single operator.
 
     The TD has consulted the public light bus trades extensively for their views on the Scheme in late May this year, and the trades generally supported the Scheme with positive feedback.
 
     The TD will hold a briefing on August 12 for the operators of the 11 selected RMB routes on the Scheme’s details, which have been uploaded to the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/minibuses/rtg/index.html) for reference.

     The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the world premiere of the 4K digitally restored version of "Last Romance" (1988) at 7.30pm on September 8 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC), allowing audience members to revisit this timeless classic on the silver screen. The screening is one of the celebratory programmes of the 35th anniversary of the HKCC.
     
     The film, which highlights director Yonfan's meticulous pursuit of aesthetics, has not only left a lasting impression on audiences since its release, but has also become one of the significant works that shines a light on Hong Kong's popular culture during the 1980s. The partner organisation of this screening, Far-Sun Film Company Limited, has commissioned and financed the 4K digital restoration of the film. It collaborated with the HKFA to present the world premiere of this cinematic gem, enabling this classic to appear on the big screen again.
    
     Adapted from the novel with the same Chinese title by renowned author Yi Shu, the film was written and directed by Yonfan, who is known for his romantic cinematic style. The two renowned film stars, Cherie Chung and Maggie Cheung, acted as the protagonists who have an inseparable bond since their teenage years. However, they fall in love with a boy named Ga-ming, played by Japanese actor Shingo Tsurumi, at the same time. The trio's brief encounters end when life takes them in separate directions, with the girls having very different turns in their journey into adulthood. When they cross paths with Ga-ming again, the friendship between the two protagonists becomes strained, but they ultimately navigate these complications to remain pillars of support for each other during hard times.
 
     Ticket holders of the screening can visit an exhibition at the 2/F foyer of the HKCC (near the entrance to the Grand Theatre) on the day of the screening, which showcases a selection of rare film stills and behind-the-scenes photos. The exhibits will also be displayed at the HKFA from September 11 to December 30 with free admission.
 
     The film is in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Tickets priced at $70 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from August 9 (Friday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/last-romance/pe-event-2024-last-romance.html or call 2739 2139.

    

     â€‹The Land Registry today (August 2) released its statistics for July 2024.
     
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in July was 5 262 (+0.3 per cent compared with June 2024 and +18.9 per cent compared with July 2023)

* The 12-month moving average for July was 4 928 (1.4 per cent above the 12-month moving average for June 2024 but 3.1 per cent below that for July 2023)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in July was $42.7 billion (+3.8 per cent compared with June 2024 and +29.4 per cent compared with July 2023)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3 723 were for residential units (-3.4 per cent compared with June 2024 but +21.5 per cent compared with July 2023)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $35.7 billion (+3.4 per cent compared with June 2024 and +34.2 per cent compared with July 2023)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in July was 396 209 (+11.0 per cent compared with June 2024 but -9.4 per cent compared with July 2023)
     
     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     The research findings of a Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) project in collaboration with guest curator Ms Janet Fong, titled New Horizons: Ways of Seeing Hong Kong Art in the 80s and 90s, have been uploaded onto the HKMoA's website hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/resources/hong-kong-art-research-portal/artists-and-research/research-projects/new-horizons.html for public access.
      
     The HKMoA launched this research project in 2019, focussing on eight artists and artist collectives who have strived to make creative breakthroughs in installation art, new media, photography and space, as well as exploring their representative artworks and art spaces, to delve into the development of contemporary art in Hong Kong during the 1980s and 1990s. Further to the exhibition held with the same name, the research team compiled the research findings after years of dedicated efforts, including seven video clips of artists' interviews, three archival fragment videos, six video recordings of the Art Talk Series, and a research project publication.
      
     The HKMoA is devoted to documenting and presenting the research and manifestation of Hong Kong art through study of the museum's collection and exhibition curation. In 2013, the HKMoA began the Hong Kong Art History Research Project, which is a collaboration with art professionals, experts, and scholars to study the ecology and evolution of art in Hong Kong to enrich the discourse on Hong Kong art. The project addressed topics such as "The development of art-making in Western media in Hong Kong from the early 1930s to the pre-1960s" and "Hong Kong's art ecology in the 1960s-70s", of which the research outcomes are continuously uploaded onto the Hong Kong Art Research Portal.
      
     The Hong Kong Art Research Portal is an online platform, established with the vision of providing access to digitised information and material about Hong Kong art. Currently, the HKMoA has initiated the project by sharing Hong Kong art-related material in its possession. This comprises lists of exhibitions, artists, publications, research projects and collection records, and includes links for downloading images, digitised texts, and audio and visual materials. The HKMoA has uploaded 10 research findings and donated artist materials, in approximately 280 files in the form of documents, audio, video and links onto the Hong Kong Art Research Portal: hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/resources/hong-kong-art-research-portal/artists-and-research/research-projects.html to share with the public these invaluable academic resources.

     Police today (August 2) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Wong Tai Sin.

     Ng Yun-ki, aged 30, went missing after she left her residence in Tsz Ching Estate on June 4. Her family made a report to Police yesterday (August 1).

     She is about 1.6 metres tall, 55 kilograms in weight and of normal build. She has a square face with yellow complexion and long purple and blue hair.

     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon East on 3661 0331 or email to rmpu-ke-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.