The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, today (August 17), attended a sharing session on the 2023 Internship Programme for Non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) Students to learn about their internship experiences and takeaways. She encouraged them to study hard to better equip themselves for their future careers.

     After listening to their sharing of internship experiences, Mrs Yeung was pleased to learn that they have gained something from the internship programme, and have had a happy and unforgettable experience. She said the Government has all along attached great importance to youth training and development, and has provided working and learning opportunities to students with different backgrounds so as to encourage youths with aspirations to serve the community to join the civil service and fulfil their goals. NEC students are also welcome to apply for government jobs.
 
     The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has been organising the Internship Programme for NEC Students since 2019, with a view to helping young NECs accumulate work experience and enhance their competitiveness for employment. So far, over 140 NEC students have taken part in the programme. They were posted to various government bureaux/departments for an internship lasting about eight weeks. Starting from this year, the CSB has been providing NEC interns with basic workplace Chinese language training (e.g. official writing format), with a view to enhancing their awareness and interest in learning Chinese. NEC interns are also encouraged to continue to strengthen their competency in Chinese through other community resources after the internship period so as to be better equipped for their future career development.
 
     Ms Ashok Aswany, who is studying business administration at a university and participated in the internship programme this year, will soon finish her internship in the Community Relations Unit of the Environment and Ecology Bureau (Environment Branch). During her internship, she assists in designing activities to promote carbon neutrality at the Wan Chai Environmental Resource Centre which will be reopened soon, and drafting user guidelines for the new electronic platform of the Environment and Conservation Fund. Despite the fact that some of the tasks were not easy, she enjoyed learning and said that the internship gave her opportunities to meet with different professionals, participate in work meetings and apply what she has learned

     Some placements of the internship programme have involved provision of public services to NEC communities. The NEC interns generally believe that they had a fruitful time during the internship, and that it has enhanced their understanding of the Government's support services for NEC communities.

      

     The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, visited Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) this afternoon (August 17) to inspect its work on setting up an Integrated Neuroscience Centre.
 
     Accompanied by the Director of Cluster Services of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Simon Tang, and the Cluster Chief Executive of New Territories West Cluster of the HA, Dr Wong Yiu-chung, Professor Lo and the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, received a briefing from the healthcare personnel of TMH on the progress in establishing the Integrated Neuroscience Centre. The Chief Executive set out in last year's Policy Address that the HA would set up integrated neuroscience centres with TMH being one of the hospitals taking the lead to establish such a centre. 
 
     Professor Lo said, "To tie in with the establishment of the Integrated Neuroscience Centre, TMH will actively press ahead with cross-specialty collaboration and service integration, alongside the introduction of advance technologies. I earnestly anticipate that the Centre will provide one-stop, safe and efficient, as well as patient-oriented, integrated neuromedicine services for patients suffering from acute stroke, dyskinesia and epilepsy, etc."

     Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the New Vision Arts Festival (NVAF) will be held from October 20 to November 19, showcasing an array of interdisciplinary programmes by overseas and local performing groups and artists. An early bird discount of 30 per cent off all full-price tickets for stage programmes will be offered from tomorrow (August 18) to September 5.
 
     The NVAF, held annually in autumn, strives to push boundaries across different cultures, disciplines and regions, introducing to audiences groundbreaking and innovative performing arts productions from around the world to broaden viewers' horizons. Ten amazing stage programmes will be featured during this year’s festival. The brief introductions are as follows:
 
Opening programme: "Double Murder"
The internationally celebrated Israeli-British choreographer Hofesh Shechter, following his critically acclaimed 2014 performance in Hong Kong, will kick off this year's NVAF with his latest work, "Double Murder". Consisting of two halves of distinctly contrasting styles, the double bill conveys the message that only hope can counter loneliness and rupture.
 
"INK"
Following the world tour of "The Great Tamar", internationally acclaimed Greek choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou will return to Hong Kong and perform onstage for the first time in a decade. His works have always been known as being visual spectacles. For "INK", the master of spectacle will create a water-filled stage and present together with young German dancer Šuka Horn.
 
"RAIN"
Adapted from the famous work "Rain" by British novelist Somerset Maugham in the early 20th century, Japanese choreographer Ryu Suzuki partners with visual artist Shinji Ohmaki and sound artist evala in the dance work "RAIN", a programme that shines a light on human relationships under the pandemic.
 
"The Once and Future"
"The Once and Future" is a seamless blend of film, live music, vocal music and a laser display, inviting audiences to explore the essence of humanity together. The programme features a film directed by acclaimed Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua, which was shot entirely in Argentina, with an original musical score written by composer Eugene Birman and performed live by the ZeMu! Ensemble Berlin, a group from the Berliner Philharmoniker. Also performing is young Indian vocalist Anandi Bhattacharya, who will personify artificial intelligence.
 
"Tao of Glass" (Asian premiere)
Co-created by minimalist music legend Philip Glass from the United States and British award-winning director Phelim McDermott, "Tao of Glass" marries 10 new music pieces with 10 meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom, weaving into a most personal and touching collaboration of the two masters.
 
"Book of Mountains and Seas" (Asian premiere)
A contemporary vocal puppetry theatre work by highly popular American Chinese composer Huang Ruo and American puppetry master Basil Twist, "Book of Mountains and Seas" recasts ancient Chinese mythology, featuring singers from Denmark's Ars Nova Copenhagen alongside two Hong Kong percussionists to recount well-known myths.
 
"In the Name of Hanjin"
Multi-talented musician Hanjin Tan, who has jumped from pop to art tech, will partner with Banky Yeung, a one-of-a-kind theatre playwright and director, in the music theatre work "In the Name of Hanjin". The interdisciplinary collaboration fuses 3D immersive music, dance, stand-up comedy, installation art with Web3 elements, offering audiences an innovative theatre experience.
 
"The Old Man and His Sea"
A groundbreaking collaboration of Yuen Siu-fai and Tang Shu-wing, who are esteemed in their respective fields of Cantonese opera and theatre, will present "The Old Man and His Sea", a production adapted from Nobel laureate Ernest Hemingway's classic, fusing contemporary theatre with Chinese opera.
 
"Bach im Theater: St John Passion"
Fusing Baroque music with contemporary theatre, "Bach im Theater: St John Passion" by choral artist Patrick Chiu and choreographer Ivanhoe Lam bestows the crucifixion story and Bach's choral masterpiece with an entirely new character. The programme received rave reviews last year at its premiere in Bach's home country of Germany.
 
"Oh, To Believe In Another World" (Asian premiere)
Leading contemporary artist William Kentridge adds multimedia projections to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 in the production "Oh, To Believe In Another World" in which historical Soviet icons will be brought to life through puppetry in a film to be screened at a concert hall. Shostakovich's classic will be performed by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, offering audiences a thought-provoking arts experience.
 
     Tickets for the NVAF early bird offer will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow (August 18) until September 5. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".
 
     For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.nvaf.gov.hk.

                    

     â€‹Correctional officers stopped a female 38-year-old remand person in custody attempting escape at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) today (August 17).

     The remand person in custody was referred to QEH for treatment due to physical discomfort this morning. At about 10.40am, the remand person in custody suddenly attempted to escape after medical consultation at the Accident and Emergency Department. Officers at the scene immediately subdued her on the spot and escorted her back to the institution.

     The case has been reported to the Police for investigation.

     The person in custody was remanded for the offence of trafficking in a dangerous drug in August 2023.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Queen Mary Hospital made the following update today (August 17) regarding a patient leaving the hospital without notification earlier:

     The 48-year-old female patient who left the hospital without notification yesterday (August 16) has been located by her family member at around 2pm today and was then sent back to the hospital in stable condition.