After a hiatus of eight years, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) once again has invited Kodo, Japan's taiko (Japanese drumming) performing arts ensemble, to perform in Hong Kong in early September, bringing Hong Kong audiences one of its 40th anniversary productions, "Warabe". It is the first time for this piece of work to be performed outside Japan. This soul-inspiring Japanese drum music will also kick-off the Great Music 2023.
 
     Kodo has created two pieces of works based on its name: "Tsuzumi" and "Warabe". The theme of "Warabe" surrounds its home base, Sado Island, where the ensemble creates the work by drawing inspiration from the location's unique environment. Kodo's "Warabe" references its classical repertoire and aesthetics from its early years. It presents various simple forms of taiko expression that celebrate the unique sound, resonance and physicality synonymous with Kodo. In addition, "Warabe" brims with diverse creative expression, filled with taiko drumming, regional performance art, traditional vocals, dance performance and more, which combine to create soul-touching rhythms of life with new music sparkling with originality.
 
     Kodo's mission is to explore the possibilities of the traditional art of taiko, and in the process forge new directions for a vibrant living art form. Since Kodo's debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, it has given over 7 000 performances in 53 countries on five continents. The Boston Globe, a United States newspaper, once commented on Kodo's performance, "Indeed, if there is such a thing as perfection in music, Kodo comes as near to it as any group in the world."
 
     "Warabe" by Kodo will be held at 7.30pm on September 8 and 9 (Friday and Saturday) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC). Each performance will run for about two hours, including an intermission of 20 minutes. Tickets priced at $180, $280, $380 and $480 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1580.html.
 
     In addition, Kodo, together with local arts group Refiner Drums, will present a free performance at 2pm on September 10 (Sunday) at the Foyer of the HKCC. Both groups will perform their own pieces respectively and collaborate on stage. Transcending languages and cultural boundaries, the performance will allow members of the public to enjoy Chinese and Japanese drum music up close, and experience its artistic charm. The performance will run for about 45 minutes. For details, please refer to the above-mentioned website.
 
     The LCSD will present the Great Music 2023 from September to November. Various internationally acclaimed musicians and ensembles will gather in Hong Kong to perform an array of exciting and diversified music programmes. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1576.html.

          

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the Competition Enforcers and Academics Summit, today (August 10):
 
Samuel (Chairman of the Competition Commission, Mr Samuel Chan), Professor Cai (Dean of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School, Professor Cai Hongbin), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is my great pleasure to be here with you today at the Competition Enforcers and Academics Summit, the largest international competition event co-organised by the Competition Commission and the HKU Business School in Hong Kong. This Summit is a significant milestone as it is the Competition Commission's very first physical international event since Hong Kong fully bounced back from COVID-19 earlier this year. On behalf of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government, I would like to welcome all of you here, especially our distinguished academics and our fellow colleagues of competition agencies from the Mainland and the Asia Pacific region.  
 
     Under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. Having direct access to the huge Mainland markets and strong international connectivity at the same time, Hong Kong serves as a bridge linking the Mainland and the rest of the world. I am happy to see that the Competition Commission is leveraging Hong Kong's distinctive advantages in bringing together experts and scholars from both the Mainland and overseas to harness their objectivity, wisdom and creativity, fostering exchanges for betterment in the area of competition.
 
     In Hong Kong, fair competition plays a pivotal role in consolidating our status as an international commerce and financial centre in Asia. The Competition Commission, our competition law enforcement agency, is a central pillar in maintaining Hong Kong's long-standing tradition of free and open markets, ensuring that the markets function effectively with fair competition and free from anti-competitive practices. This helps create an environment in which both local and international businesses can thrive and, more importantly, a level playing field for all businesses regardless of sector or size, thereby attracting new enterprises and investments into our vibrant city.
 
     The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in different areas. It has led to dramatic changes to the way businesses operate and perhaps more importantly, what the general public expects from service or goods providers. For example, the pandemic has led to a surge in e-commerce and accelerated digital transformation. From online shopping to food delivery, we can now buy what we want more easily with just a single click on our mobile phones. With these ongoing digitisation of various economic activities, competition enforcement work must also adapt, which is why attention of competition enforcement agencies worldwide is naturally turned to conduct that affects digital markets. I am pleased to learn that fellow academics and enforcers will discuss this issue later today, especially with regard to the challenges faced by competition authorities in regulating digital markets, and whether there is a need to apply a standard set of competition law tools to tackle difficulties arising from the fast-growing digital economy. 
 
     Apart from digital markets, I am also glad to know that the Summit today will cover other interesting and meaningful topics such as resale price maintenance as well as the interplay between competition law and ESG (environmental, social and governance). I am confident that the Summit is a platform to facilitate our exchanges of ideas and will provide us with a wealth of insightful ideas for enhancing our competition enforcement work.
 
     My heartfelt thanks to the Competition Commission and the HKU Business School for organising the Competition Enforcers and Academics Summit today. My team and I at the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will continue to render our full support to the Competition Commission in further fostering international partnerships and collaborating with competition agencies in the Mainland and overseas, in promoting our common value of fair competition.
 
     I wish you all a fruitful day ahead, and the best of health in the coming year. Thank you.

     A man who went missing in Kwun Tong has been located.

     Lau Choi-hing, aged 73, went missing after he left his residence in Yau Lai Estate on August 6 morning. His family made a report to Police on August 7.
    
     The man was located at the hillside near Wan Po Road and Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O in the small hours today (August 10). He was sent to Tseung Kwan O Hospital for examination. No suspicious circumstances were detected.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) hosted a networking reception in Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK), on August 8 (London time) evening, for about 100 guests in celebrating the participation of Hong Kong performance art groups in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The audience included members of the Scottish Parliament, local council members and leading figures in the local arts and cultural sector. 

     Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, mentioned that the London ETO is proud to support three troupes to join the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. He further highlighted that Hong Kong, under the unique "one country, two systems" principle, enjoys the solid support of national strategies while maintaining unparalleled ties around the globe.

     "To achieve our cultural goal, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is developing numerous strategic policies and programmes, which include strengthening our connections with overseas arts and cultural organisations. We are glad to witness that Hong Kong artists have all along been promoting telling the world the good stories of Hong Kong through this festival. In fact, one of the sponsored performance groups this year, TS Crew, is the winner of the Asian Arts Award for Best Show of last year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. With the concerted effort of the HKSAR Government and our practitioners, Hong Kong would continue to achieve artistic and cultural excellence, affirming its role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange as supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan," he continued. 

     The reception featured an excerpt of the performances of Théâtre de la Feuille and TS Crew. Representatives from the two troupes were also invited on stage to engage with the audience.

     The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023 runs from August 4 to 28 in Edinburgh, UK. "Diary VII: The Story of…" by Mui Cheuk-yin, and "No Dragon No Lion" by TS Crew play at C Arts, Lauriston Halls till August 13. "Fall and Flow" by Théâtre de la Feuille plays at Underbelly, Cowgate till August 27.