Tag Archives: China

     The Town Planning Board today (July 13) announced amendments to the draft Mong Kok Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
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     The Board’s decisions on two representations were the subjects of judicial reviews (JRs). According to the Court’s ruling on one of the JRs, the Board’s decisions on the related representation had to be remitted to the Board for consideration. The Board has reviewed the development restrictions, including building height restrictions and requirements of non-building area, and setback and building gap for various development zones, taking into account the implications of various building and design guidelines, permissible development intensity, as well as planning, air ventilation and urban design aspects to provide flexibility for future redevelopments.  

     The Board has now made amendments to the OZP as outlined in the Schedule of Amendments. The amendments mainly involve revisions of building height restrictions for various development zones; rezoning of the government sites at Sai Yee Street mainly from “Government, Institution or Community” and “Other Specified Uses” (“OU”) annotated “Multi-storey Car/Lorry Park” to “Commercial (4)”; amendment to the development requirements for a site at the junction of Shanghai Street and Soy Street; and incorporation of “Art Studio (excluding those involving direct provision of services or goods)” as a Column 1 use in Schedule II of the “OU” annotated “Business” and “Residential (Group E)” zones and corresponding amendment to replace “Place of Recreation, Sports or Culture” under Column 2 by “Place of Recreation, Sports or Culture (not elsewhere specified)”. Opportunity is also taken to amend the Notes and Explanatory Statement of the OZP to reflect the above amendments and to update the general information on various land use zonings and the planning circumstances, where appropriate.

     The draft Mong Kok OZP No. S/K3/31, incorporating the amendments, is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office, and the Yau Tsim Mong District Office.

     Any person may make written representation in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Board on or before September 13. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft Mong Kok OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed at the Board’s website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb). read more

     The Government announced today (July 13) that the Chief Executive has appointed Mr Thomas Ho On-sing as a member of the Advisory Committee on Post-service Employment of Civil Servants (ACPE) for a term of two years from July 17… read more

     The Second Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will perform in the final highlight of the Chinese Opera Festival, “A Showcase of Cheng School Classics”.
 
     The Cheng school was founded by one of the “Four Great Actors in ‘Dan’ (female) Roles” in Peking opera, Cheng Yanqiu. The singing art of the Cheng school is highly distinctive and is particularly skilful in singing with a tone projected from the back of the head. The singing style fully highlights the contrasts of high and low, and between strong and weak, creating a soulful appeal.
 
     The year 2018 marked the 60th anniversary of the passing of Cheng Yanqiu. In order to commemorate this virtuoso, the Second Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company is bringing three full-length plays to audiences. All three plays are headlined by Li Haiyan, a renowned “qingyi” (virtuous female) role actress of the Cheng school and a winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre. She presents the uniquely stylish vocal style, visual expressions, stylised movements, footwork, hand gestures, sleeve movements and more of the Cheng school fully on stage.
 
     The programme includes the beautifully sung “Consort Mei” created by Cheng in 1925. The work has not been presented on a Hong Kong stage for a long time. Different from the well-known story of Imperial Concubine Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang presented by the Mei school, this repertoire depicts the sad emotions between Consort Mei and the Emperor through the interpretation of the Cheng school. “The Unicorn Pouch” is a classic play of the Cheng school and is characterised by sophisticated singing and a variety of “ban” patterns. It is a classic that demonstrates the vocal style and the art of stylised movements of the Cheng school. “Anecdotes about Empress Wu Zetian” is a grand production written by Li Shiji in the 1990s. Li was a disciple of Cheng and received personal training from the master. Li Haiyan has inherited the art and received personal supervision from the late Li Shiji in her rehearsal of the play, and she is currently the only Cheng school bearer of this repertoire.
 
     Details of the performances are as follows:
 
August 10 (Friday): “Consort Mei”
August 11 (Saturday): “The Unicorn Pouch”
August 12 (Sunday): “Anecdotes about Empress Wu Zetian”
 
     All performances will be staged at 7.30pm at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $150, $250, $350 and $450 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk).
 
     For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.cof.gov.hk.
 
     A Meet-the-Artists session entitled “Boundless Ideas of the Cheng School – A Tribute to My Great Mentor Madam Li Shiji” (in Putonghua) featuring Li Haiyan and with Chinese opera researcher Chan Chun-miu as moderator will be held at 7.30pm on August 9 (Thursday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free. Limited seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. read more

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Friday, July 13, 2018 is 102.9 (same as yesterday’s index). read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 13) reported the latest number of cases of dengue fever (DF), and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel.
 
     From July 6 to 12, the CHP recorded three confirmed DF cases. The patients had been to Thailand (two cases) and the Philippines (one case) during the incubation period.
 
     As of yesterday (July 12), 47 cases had been confirmed this year, all of which were imported cases. The cases were mainly imported from Thailand (21), the Philippines (nine) and Cambodia (six).
 
     DF remains endemic in some areas in Asia and overseas. The latest figures for 2018 reveal that 28 732 cases have been recorded in Thailand, 1 467 in Singapore (since December 31, 2017) and 62 in Japan. Two local cases have been recorded to date in Taiwan in 2018. In the Americas, the latest figures indicate that 161 154 and 15 131 cases have been filed in Brazil and Mexico respectively in 2018.
 
     The public should take heed of the following advice on mosquito control:
 

• Thoroughly check all gully traps, roof gutters, surface channels and drains to prevent blockage;
• Scrub and clean drains and surface channels with an alkaline detergent compound at least once a week to remove any deposited mosquito eggs;
• Properly dispose of refuse, such as soft drink cans, empty bottles and boxes, in covered litter containers;
• Completely change the water of flowers and plants at least once a week. The use of saucers should be avoided if possible;
• Level irregular ground surfaces before the rainy season;
• Avoid staying in shrubby areas; and
• Take personal protective measures such as wearing light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers and apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothing or uncovered areas of the body when doing outdoor activities.
   

     To reduce the risk of infections spread by mosquitoes, apart from general measures, travellers returning from affected areas should apply insect repellent for 14 days (DF) or at least 21 days (Zika virus infection) upon arrival in Hong Kong. If feeling unwell, seek medical advice promptly and provide travel details to the doctor. DEET-containing insect repellents are effective and the public should take heed of the tips below:
 

• Read the label instructions carefully first;
• Apply right before entering an area with risk of mosquito bites;
• Apply on exposed skin and clothing;
• Use DEET of up to 30 per cent for pregnant women and up to 10 per cent for children*;
• Apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent; and
• Re-apply only when needed and follow the instructions.
   

* For children who travel to countries or areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic or epidemic and where exposure is likely, those aged 2 months or above can use DEET-containing insect repellents with a DEET concentration of up to 30 per cent.

     The public may refer to the CHP’s tips for using insect repellents for details. read more