The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
 
     The Legislative Council (LegCo) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a public hearing on "Planning, provision and management of public toilets by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department" (Chapter 1) of the Director of Audit's Report No.73 at 9am tomorrow (December 21) in Conference Room 3 of the LegCo Complex.
 
     Seven witnesses have been invited to appear before the above hearing to respond to points raised in the Report and answer questions asked by PAC members.
 
     The programme for the public hearing is as follows:

Date: December 21 (Saturday)
Time: 9am
Venue: Conference Room 3

Subject: Planning, provision and management of public toilets by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
(Chapter 1 of the Director of Audit's Report No.73)

Witnesses:
Secretary for Food and Health
Professor Sophia Chan

Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene
Miss Vivian Lau

Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene (Environmental Hygiene)
Miss Diane Wong

Assistant Director (Operations) 3, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Mr Fork Ping-lam

Director of Architectural Services
Mrs Sylvia Lam

Senior Property Services Manager/TS3, Architectural Services Department
Mr Fung Kar-chun

Project Manager 365, Architectural Services Department
Mr Lee Cheuk-hang

     PAC is chaired by Mr Abraham Shek, and its Deputy Chairman is Mr Kenneth Leung. Other members include Mr Paul Tse, Mr Steven Ho, Mr Lam Cheuk-ting, Mr Shiu Ka-fai and Ms Tanya Chan.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, December 20, 2019 is 106.3 (down 0.1 against yesterday's index).

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has launched its enhanced "Enjoy Hiking" website (https://www.hiking.gov.hk) which provides hiking information and highlights scenic attractions through a variety of new features.
 
     With a new and more convenient interface for viewing, the new website showcases the information, photos and videos of a wide range of scenic trails (including 13 family walks, 15 nature trails, 32 country trails, six geo-trails, 16 tree walks and four long trails) and has strengthened transport information. Recommended routes and themed attractions of each season will also be updated from time to time, so hikers can appreciate the best possible scenery of the season.
 
     Moreover, the new website is enhanced by a series of personalised search tools. Members of the public can select a suitable route according to their own interest, physical strength and hiking experience so they can plan a safe and enjoyable hike more effectively.
 
     The AFCD will continue to provide information on hiking to the public through different channels. Members of the public are encouraged to prepare before hiking by bringing their own water bottles and towels to avoid using one-off disposables and to take away their litter to help maintain the naturalness of the country parks.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
 

     The Outreach Music Interest Courses organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for over 100 courses, ranging from Chinese and Western musical instrument classes to music workshops, which will be held from March to August next year. 

     Among them, a new course, Advanced Choral Conducting Workshop, will cover music analysis, articulation and rehearsal techniques. The course will also include individual podium time. The course, at a fee of $320, welcomes adults who have previously attended the Choral Conducting courses organised by the Music Office, or school music teachers and choir conductors who have acquired basic conducting skills and have passed ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory. 

     Instrumental enrichment courses of zheng, violin and trumpet and ensemble training courses of Chinese wind instruments and Chinese string instruments are also newly added to cater for participants who possess basic playing techniques of the relevant instruments. The course fees of instrumental enrichment courses and ensemble training courses are $1,005 and $805 respectively.
 
     The Music Office will continue to offer elementary courses on ocarina, keyboard, ukulele, classical guitar and classical vocal singing; Western music theory (Grades 1 and 2); aural training; instrumental enrichment courses of erhu; and ensemble training of flute, saxophone and Western chamber music. The course fees range from $320 to $1,005.

     The Outreach Music Interest Courses also provide basic training on the xiao, liuyeqin, zhong-ruan, pipa, yangqin, zheng, dizi, erhu, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad), violin, viola and cello. The course fee is $1,070.

      All courses are conducted in small groups in Cantonese and will be held at different venues territory-wide, namely the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sha Tin Town Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office's music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan.
 
     Online applications are now available at the Music Office website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Course prospectuses and application forms are also available at various performance venues of the LCSD and music centres of the Music Office. The deadline for applications is January 20. Oversubscribed courses will be processed by ballot. For courses not fully taken up after the first round of application, places will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis from February 25.

     For enquiries, please call 3842 7773, 2596 0898 or 2598 8335.