The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a programme entitled "Artist Enoch Cheng's Project: An experiential tour 'TO ARRIVE'" on May 28 and 29 (Saturday and Sunday) to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Hong Kong City Hall (HKCH). Combining an audio guide and an on-site exploration experience, this experiential tour allows participants to embark on a unique journey at HKCH, inspiring them to imagine both the past and the future and enriching their experience of present times. The programme is free of charge and pre-registration is required.

     The tour starts with a predetermined assembly point, and participants are required to follow a digital audio guide to walk around HKCH and its adjacent public areas, immersing themselves in the history, culture and architecture of this iconic building. Unlike an ordinary guided tour, this experiential tour focuses on the personal experience of city life, allowing participants to have the opportunity to take a slow tour of HKCH at their own pace and in line with their interests in the Central district, the bustling heart of the city, reminiscing about the past in the light of the present while looking forward to the future.

     Enoch Cheng is an independent artist. His practice spans moving image, installation, dance, events, theatre, performance and curating. Concerned with the everyday subtleties in contemporary urban lives, his works explore recurrent themes of place, fiction, memory, time, migration and more. Cheng received his master's degree in creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, and has lectured at the Hong Kong Art School. He is a recipient of the Award for Young Artist at the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards, and was an artist fellow at Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany.

     Each session of "Artist Enoch Cheng's Project: An experiential tour 'TO ARRIVE'" lasts for approximately 45 minutes. The programme is now open for online registration (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/hkch/60A/tour.html) on a first-come, first-served basis. Successful registrants will receive an email with details of the assembly point of the tour. They are required to follow the instructions to download the pre-recorded audio file (Cantonese and English versions are available) in advance, and bring their own mobile devices or smartphones and headphones on the day of the tour. For programme enquiries, please call 2921 2840 or visit the above website.
 
     Members of the public are also welcome to visit the Hong Kong City Hall 60th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition "Imagine beyond Imagination" which is being held at the Exhibition Hall on the first floor of the Low Block of HKCH during the programme period. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/hkch/60A/exhibition.html.
 
     In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code before being allowed to enter the performing venues managed by the LCSD for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the requirement of the Vaccine Pass.

     The new extension of the Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) will be open to the public tomorrow (May 24). Oi! is launching 10 art projects, hoping to provide the district with more community art and leisure space, and to become a cultural landmark in Hong Kong.

     Located in North Point, Oi! rolled out an expansion project in 2019, in which an adjacent open space of over 3 000 square metres was integrated with the original premises. The new extension features a two-storey building for staging exhibitions and holding activities. 

     The 10 art exhibitions and public engagement activities launched by Oi! include two highlight exhibitions to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. "Joyful Trees (Arbores Laetae)", a kinetic art installation on the theme of trees, is created by the renowned American architectural group Diller Scofidio + Renfro. A number of Chinese junipers are planted at the Oi! Garden, with three planted at a 10-degree bias in rotating turntables. Dappled light, shade and patterns overlap when the trees rotate, and visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the "unnatural nature".

     Three-dimensional digital art exhibition "d'strict Remix" is created by renowned Korean art group d'strict, showing anamorphic projection works of ocean waves and a massive blue whale moving freely in the sea. The exhibition provides a spectacular visual experience to visitors on a large screen, and connects art and technology in a subtle way. The multi-disciplinary artworks exhibition "Digital Muse" with the theme of "mutation of ideas in the digital city", presented by six Hong Kong artists, aims to transform the Oi! Deck into an immersive three-dimensional space.

     Other art projects include the six-month-long project "Our Living Library", in which the artists and creative groups hope to engage the public to exchange lived experiences through displays, performances and activities; the art exhibition "Neverending Garden", which interprets the conflict and coexistence between urban development and the natural environment from different perspectives; the "XCHANGE" series, which delivers an array of public engagement activities based on the idea that creativity is the best problem-solving tool in life; the "People-Plant-Place" project promoting urban gardening; "Three Gardens", presenting virtual and actual rock installations designed under the notions of Chinese landscape architecture; "Oi! Sunday", providing the public with opportunities to experience art creations; and the outdoor art works "Branching Benches" and "Mapping Oi!". Through this series of projects, Oi! sets out to connect art and the community, and to build a sustainable future through collective creativity and collaboration.

     Oi! Is located at 12 Oil Street, North Point. For details of the art projects, please visit the website of Oi! at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/APO/en_US/web/apo/oi.html or call 2512 3000 for enquiries.

     In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the museum for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department must comply with the relevant requirement of the Vaccine Pass.

        

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold 19 thematic talks under the "Echoing Voices: Hong Kong City Hall 60th Anniversary Arts Salon Series" from June to December. All talks are under the theme of Inheritance and topics include Cantonese opera, music, dance, theatre, film, reading, arts exhibition, arts administration and architectural aesthetics. Arts practitioners of different periods will be invited to Hong Kong City Hall (HKCH) to review local art developments, outlook and inheritance.

     Being a cradle of local culture for over 60 years, HKCH has been a stage for local artists and arts groups for generations to shine and inherit their talents. For the three talks under the series "On the Preservation and Inheritance of Cantonese Opera", veterans of Cantonese opera and their mentees are invited to share the pains and gains in their inheritance and transmission of the art form, despite the challenges from modern entertainment and popular culture.

     Four talks on music, namely, "The Hong Kong Harmonica Trilogy: Inspired · Inspiring · Inspirational", "Opera in Hong Kong: Yesterday, Today and Beyond", "Piano Masters and their Protégés" and "Embracing the Heritage · Cantonese Music in Hong Kong", invite both the masters and young talents of different music genres to share their trainings in the past, and their future prospects on the development of music in the city.

     The talk series "4 Ws about Dance" will explore the development of dance in Hong Kong in four aspects: the possibility of space, creativity in choreographic elements, dance education and community engagement. Local dancers of different generations are invited to share their experience and discuss the future of local dance industry.

     For the two talks under the theme of "Theatre: Inheritance and Development", veteran multi-disciplinary dramatists cum culturists will explore how local culture and arts and pop culture influence each other; while theatre professors will share those traditions in drama they have inherited, beliefs they are holding, and artistic skills they are passing to young practitioners.

     HKCH has been a major screening venue of film festivals and programmes in the city for decades. In the two talks entitled "From Cine Clubs to Film Festivals" and "City Hall – Hong Kong Film Culture: Now and Beyond", veteran curators, critics and renowned directors will revisit the vital role the venue has played in the development of film culture in Hong Kong over the years.

     Apart from talks related to performing arts, there is also a thematic talk on arts administration, namely "Artspeak: Words from the Arts Administrators". Veteran arts administrators who had worked at HKCH at different times are invited to share their experience and backstage stories, enriching audiences with their understanding of the arts sector.

     Since its inauguration in 1962, HKCH has provided members of the public with a public space of exhibition and reading. The place also gave birth to the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) and the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL). There will be two talks focusing on the related cultural services in the series. A talk titled "60 years in a blink: From MA to MoA" reviews the growth of the HKMoA, which has risen to become one of the world's top 100 most popular art museums in 2021, as listed by The Art Newspaper. Meanwhile, in a talk entitled "Six Decades of the Libraries", librarians serving in different periods are invited to share their work experiences and recall the transformation of the HKPL's services.

     As the finale of the series, a talk entitled "Our Youngest Monument: Architectural Aesthetics of the City Hall" will be held in December to reveal the modest and timeless architectural concept of HKCH, which has recently been upgraded from a Grade 1 historic building to a declared monument, making it the "youngest monument" in the city. Details of this talk will be announced on the website of the Arts Salon Series later.

     For event dates and details, please see the Annex. The talk on libraries will be held at the Extension Activities Room, 8/F, High Block, HKCH, while other thematic talks will be held at the Recital Hall, 8/F, High Block, HKCH. Each talk is approximately one hour and 30 minutes long and conducted in Cantonese. Admission is free. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis with free seating. Registration is required and details are as follows:

Talks on Cantonese opera, music, dance, theatre and arts administration: Open for online registration now.
Talks on film: Online registration will be open from 10am on July 20 (Wednesday).
Talk on the museum: Registration will be open from 10am on June 13 (Monday) by fax (2723 7666) and email (hkmoa_enquiries@lcsd.gov.hk).
Talk on libraries: Registration will be open from 9am on July 20 (Wednesday) online or by calling 2921 2672.
Talk on architectural aesthetics of HKCH: Details will be announced later.

     For more details of specific talks and online registration, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/60A/groups_1284.html.

     In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, members of the public are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the art performing venues managed by the LCSD for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the requirement of the Vaccine Pass.

     The Registration and Electoral Office (REO) today (May 23) appealed to eligible persons/bodies who have not yet registered as geographical constituency (GC), functional constituency and/or Election Committee subsector electors/voters to submit registration applications on or before the statutory deadline of June 2 so that they can be included in the final registers of electors/voters to be published in September this year. From May 1 this year, new GC voter registrations are also required to provide address proof.

     There is no need for registered electors/voters (persons/bodies) to register again, but they are reminded to fulfil their civic responsibility by notifying the REO of any changes in residential address or other registration particulars by the statutory deadline of June 2. Electors must submit their applications for changing their residential address along with address proof for verification by the REO.

     A spokesman for the REO said, "As a measure to assist electors, applicants who are the registered occupants of public rental housing under the Housing Department or subsidised housing under the Hong Kong Housing Society are exempted from the address proof requirement, be it for application for voter registration or application for change of residential address by registered electors."

     The specified application forms can be obtained from the REO, the District Offices and the management offices of public housing estates. They can also be downloaded from the voter registration website (www.voterregistration.gov.hk). When submitting their application forms, applicants should also provide their telephone numbers and email addresses, so that the REO can contact them more promptly and efficiently when needed.

     Completed application forms may be submitted no later than the statutory deadline of June 2 via the following channels:
 

• by email to (form@reo.gov.hk) – please do not attach a large number of application forms to a single email and send it to the REO's email account, as the large file size may cause delivery failure. Also, application forms and supplementary documents should be attached to the email. The REO does not accept submissions through email by providing a hyperlink to cloud storage. After sending their applications through email, applicants are advised to check if they receive a confirmation email (see attached), which is automatically sent by the REO email server. If they do not receive such a confirmation email, applicants are advised to resubmit their applications by email or via the other submission channels;
• through the REO e-Form Upload Platform (www.reo-form.gov.hk) – if submitting via this channel, please take note of the application number generated by the system so that the application status may be checked afterwards when needed;
• by post to the REO office, 13/F, Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay – for applications submitted by post, the date of the postmark will be taken as the date of submission. The REO reminds members of the public to send out their application forms early in order not to miss the statutory deadline; or
• by fax to 2891 1180.

     "The REO office on 13/F of Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, will remain open until 11.59pm on the statutory deadline of June 2 to receive application forms from members of the public who wish to submit the forms in person," the spokesman added.

     In addition, the REO again urges registered electors who received inquiry letters issued by the REO to, as per the instructions of the letter, reply as soon as possible by the statutory deadline of June 2 via post, fax or email, so as to maintain their voter registration status.

     Members of the public may check their registration status and particulars by logging into the Online Voter Information Enquiry System (www.voterinfo.gov.hk) or calling the REO hotline at 2891 1001.

     â€‹Hong Kong Customs conducted a one-month joint operation with Mainland and Macao Customs from April 22 to yesterday (May 22) to combat cross-boundary counterfeiting activities in the three places and with goods destined for overseas countries. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs seized about 32 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $13.5 million.

     This was the first joint operation mounted this year, during which the three Customs administrations have stepped up inspection of goods across the three places and destined for North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and elsewhere to effectively curb cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities. The suspected counterfeit goods seized by Hong Kong Customs included sports shoes, handbags, mobile phone accessories, watches, sunglasses and clothes.

     Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipping activities vigorously through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions. 

     Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).