Hongkong Post announced today (November 22) that, due to a mail backlog at the Chicago airport, all mail delivery services (including Speedpost) to Chicago and nearby areas (postcodes 400XX to 799XX, except for 59XXX) are subject to delay. 

   The 17th Cantonese Opera Day will be held on November 24 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) and the Hong Kong Space Museum. Admission is free.
 
   This entertaining annual event includes a film screening about Cantonese opera, which will start at 11am at the Hong Kong Space Museum Lecture Hall. The event will also feature a variety of family activities to be held from 1pm to 5:30pm at the HKCC's foyer, Exhibition Gallery, conference rooms and nearby piazzas.
 
   Attractions will include performances of Cantonese opera excerpts and operatic music; talks on Cantonese opera songs and two generations of Cantonese opera artists; demonstration workshops on the stylised movements and postures of Cantonese opera, make-up, dress-up, music and miniature props; a Cantonese opera exhibition and game-stall virtual reality experiences. Cantonese opera virtuosos Loong Koon-tin, Chan Wing-yee, Yuen Tak-man, Ko Lai, Leung Siu-ming, Cheng Wing-mui, Wai Chun-fai, Zong Yun-sin, Sun Kim-long, Tang Mi-ling, Ng Chin-fung and Wan Fai-yin will also be present for autograph signing.
 
   The event is organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. For more information, please refer to the programme leaflet or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_925.html.
 
     For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325.
 
   Since 2003, the cultural sectors of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong have designated the last Sunday of every November as Cantonese Opera Day to promote the valuable vernacular art of Cantonese opera. By holding this territory-wide activity on a regular basis, it is hoped that a broader audience base can be developed to hold the torch of Cantonese opera alight for future generations.

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) supported and participated in the Dongzhi business seminar and networking reception in Wassenaar in The Hague, the Netherlands, on November 21 (The Hague time). The Office took the opportunity to continue its promotion of Hong Kong's unique role in connecting European companies to the Mainland and Asian markets and the vast business opportunities in Hong Kong under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.
        
     Organised by the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association (NHKBA), with the support of HKETO, Brussels as well as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Invest Hong Kong, the Dongzhi business seminar has become an important annual event in which speakers from Hong Kong and the Netherlands update Dutch companies on the latest developments and business opportunities in Hong Kong. About 70 business representatives attended the seminar.

     Speakers included the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau; the Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia and Israel of the HKTDC, Mr William Chui; the Consul General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong, Ms Annemieke Ruigrok; and the Chairman of the NHKBA, Mr Hans Poulis.

     In her remarks, Miss Chau emphasised that no other economy can take Hong Kong's place as Mainland China's window to global markets, capital and expertise. Hong Kong continues to be a leading financial centre and China's global financial centre, and the Greater Bay Area, bringing together Hong Kong, Macao and nine other thriving cities in the Pearl River Delta, is a major economic zone. The city cluster development boasts a collective population of more than 70 million consumers and a combined GDP of some US$1.6 trillion. Co-operation among Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao will further deepen and the complementary advantages of the three places will be fully leveraged on. As Hong Kong plays a dominant role in the development of the Greater Bay Area, the city is also the perfect place for Dutch businesses to capitalise on the growth potential of this key economic area, she said.

  

     The Rating and Valuation Department has completed its review of more than 39 000 objections received from March 18 to May 31 in regard to the new rateable values in the Valuation List and Government Rent Roll. Notices of Decision (Form R22A) in respect of these objections have been issued in phases by the department.

     A spokesman for the department today (November 22) said that anyone who lodged an objection during this period and who had not yet received a Notice of Decision should contact the department's Customer Service Officer, Mr Brian Ng, on 2150 8902.

     The spokesman said that any alterations in rateable values as a result of the objections would take effect retrospectively from April 1 this year and adjustments to the amount of rates and Government rent payable would be made in subsequent demand notes.

     The Government has proposed to allow China Mobile International Limited to carry out protection works along a section of the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) submarine cable system in Tseung Kwan O. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (November 22).

     The proposed works involve installation of precast concrete mattress units, with a width of approximately 6 metres, along a section of approximately 100 metres of the APG within an area of approximately 580 square metres of foreshore and seabed in Tseung Kwan O waters. Each unit will be lowered into position from a barge and will sink into the marine mud to a depth of around 1m (the sinking depth). In the event that the marine mud is particularly soft and the sinking depth is exceeded, the unit will be lifted off the seabed. A steel seabed bearing sheet will be installed on the seabed first and the unit will then be lowered onto the bearing sheet. The units will be connected together one by one by divers with short link steel chains. The proposed works are tentatively scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2020 for completion within four weeks.

     The notice and its related plan are posted near the site. The plan is also available for inspection at:

* Survey and Mapping Office of the Lands Department (23/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong) (where copies can be purchased on order);

* Sai Kung Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Sai Kung District Office (G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories); and

* Lands Department's website (www.landsd.gov.hk) under Government Notices.

     Any person who considers that he or she has an interest, right or easement in or over the foreshore and seabed involved may submit a written objection to the Director of Lands, 20/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, within two months from the above-mentioned date, i.e. on or before January 22, 2020. The notice of such objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.