The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 is 101.2 (same as yesterday's index).

     The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (December 29) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of Korea about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Buan-gun of Jeollabuk-do Province in Korea, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

     A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 10 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 280 000 poultry eggs from Korea in the first nine months of this year.

     "The CFS has contacted the Korean authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

     The new sky show "HAYABUSA2~REBORN" will be screened at the Hong Kong Space Museum's Space Theatre from January 1 (Saturday). The show will let audiences follow Japan's unmanned probe Hayabusa2 on its 3.2 billion-kilometre journey to the asteroid Ryugu with the mission of helping scientists understand the origins of life.
 
     In order to study the formation of the solar system, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the unmanned probe Hayabusa in 2003 to reach the asteroid Itokawa and collect rock samples. Hayabusa succeeded in returning collected asteroid samples back to Earth for the first time ever in human history. To continue the Hayabusa mission, Hayabusa2 was sent to the asteroid Ryugu in 2014 to collect samples that might contain water and organic matter, the essential elements for life, and could shed light on the origins of life on Earth.
 
     The new sky show "HAYABUSA2~REBORN" describes the dire situation of Hayabusa2 when the probe, upon its arrival at the asteroid Ryugu, found that the terrain was more rugged than expected and left no place to touch down. To complete the mission, Hayabusa2 had to bring the asteroid samples back to Earth against all odds.
 
     The 44-minute show will screen until September 30 next year. Screening times are 5pm on weekdays and 11am, 3.30pm and 8pm on weekends and public holidays. The Hong Kong Space Museum, located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays).
 
      Tickets priced at $24 (front stalls) and $32 (stalls) are now available at the Hong Kong Space Museum Box Office and URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For details of the show, please visit hk.space.museum/en_US/web/spm/spacetheatre/skyshow.html, or call 2721 0226 for enquiries.
 
     All persons are required to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter offices and venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), except for exempted persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above and those with disabilities that render use of the app difficult. Exemptions will also be granted to individual persons depending on the actual circumstances. All exempted persons are required to complete a record form to register their personal particulars and the date and time of their visit. As it will take time to verify personal particulars of exempted persons under the arrangement, their waiting time for using public services or entering the relevant venues may be lengthened. The LCSD suggests that members of the public arrive early, and appeals for their understanding. The department also encourages the exempted persons to use the app as far as possible to save time.

      

     The 10th meeting of the Assessment Committee for the Funding Scheme to Support Transitional Housing Projects by Non-government Organisations, chaired by the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So Wai-man, was convened via video conferencing this morning (December 29).
 
     The Assessment Committee agreed to subsidise the following transitional housing projects:
 
(i) Transitional housing development at Area 1B2, Muk On Street, Kai Tak, by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. With total funding of $262.9 million, it is expected to provide about 478 units.
 
(ii) Transitional housing development at vacant residential flats at 11-19 Peace Avenue and 22-24 Victory Avenue, Ho Man Tin, and 72 Peel Street, Central, by Lok Kwan Social Service. With total funding of $17.2 million, it is expected to provide about 86 units.

     The 10th meeting of the Assessment Committee for the Funding Scheme to Support Transitional Housing Projects by Non-government Organisations, chaired by the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So Wai-man, was convened via video conferencing this morning (December 29).
 
     The Assessment Committee agreed to subsidise the following transitional housing projects:
 
(i) Transitional housing development at Area 1B2, Muk On Street, Kai Tak, by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. With total funding of $262.9 million, it is expected to provide about 478 units.
 
(ii) Transitional housing development at vacant residential flats at 11-19 Peace Avenue and 22-24 Victory Avenue, Ho Man Tin, and 72 Peel Street, Central, by Lok Kwan Social Service. With total funding of $17.2 million, it is expected to provide about 86 units.