Tag Archives: China

     The Government announced today (June 29) the Chief Executive’s appointment of the Chairperson and five members to serve on the Harbourfront Commission (HC) for a two-year term commencing on July 1, 2018.
      
      Mr Vincent Ng Wing-shun, a long-serving HC member, will succeed Mr Charles Nicholas Brooke as the new Chairman. Ms Janice Lai Wai-man and Ms Christina Lee Maisenne will join the HC for the first time as members, while three existing members, Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau, Mr Alan Lo Yeung-kit and Mr Ngan Man-yu, have been re-appointed. 
      
     The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, welcomed the appointments and re-appointments.
      
     “With Mr Ng’s rich experience in the work of harbourfront enhancement and his outstanding leadership demonstrated as the chairman of the Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development, I am confident that the good work of the HC can be sustained in the years to come. The HC deliberations will also continue to benefit from the diversity brought about by the different backgrounds of new and existing members,” Mr Wong said.
      
     “I wish to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Mr Nicholas Brooke, who has been involved in harbourfront-related matters since the establishment of the former Harbour-front Enhancement Committee (HEC) back in 2004, for his able chairmanship since 2010 and his invaluable contribution to the HC over the past years.
      
     “Harbourfront development and enhancement is a core vision shared by both the Government and the HC. The next few years will be challenging for the HC, which is expected to take forward a number of major harbourfront initiatives including those funded by the $500 million dedicated funding,” Mr Wong added.
      
     To provide enhanced support to the HC in taking forward harbourfront initiatives, the Government will, from July 1, 2018, onwards, re-organise the Harbour Unit under the Development Bureau into a dedicated Harbour Office (HO). The HO will be staffed by a multi-disciplinary team comprising different professional and supporting officers. 
      
     The HC was established in July 2010 to succeed the HEC to advise the Government on harbourfront planning, design, management and other related matters with the objective of fostering and facilitating the development of the Victoria harbourfront.  
      
     Following is the membership of the HC commencing on July 1, 2018:
 
Chairperson
—————-
Mr Vincent Ng Wing-shun
 
Vice-Chairperson
————————-
Secretary for Development
 
Non-official Members (Organisations)
—————————————————–
Business Environment Council
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong
Conservancy Association
Friends of the Earth
Hong Kong Institute of Architects
Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects
Hong Kong Institute of Planners
Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design
Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong
Society for Protection of the Harbour
           
Non-official Members (Individuals)
————————————————
Mr Chan Ka-kui
Mr Walter Chan Kar-lok
Ms Kelly Chan Yuen-sau
Mr Hans Joachim Isler
Mr Karl Kwok Chi-leung
Ms Janice Lai Wai-man
Ms Christina Lee Maisenne
Ms Vivian Lee Ying-shih
Mr Alan Lo Yeung-kit
Mr Ngan Man-yu
Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen
 
Official Members
————————–
Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) or her representative
Commissioner for Tourism or his representative
Commissioner for Transport or her representative
Director of Civil Engineering and Development or his representative
Director of Leisure and Cultural Services or her representative
Director of Marine or her representative
Director of Planning or his representative
 
Secretary
————-
Principal Assistant Secretary for Development (Harbour) 
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     After a five-year hiatus, the Ballet Nacional de España (Spanish National Ballet) will return to Hong Kong in September to stage three performances of its latest production, “Zaguán & Alento”.
 
     “Zaguán & Alento” comprises two renowned pieces and follows a challenging proposition to the Spanish National Ballet from the company’s director, Antonio Najarro, through which he aims to showcase the company’s new aesthetic and style. The performances will be held at 8pm on September 21 and 22 (Friday and Saturday) and at 3pm on September 23 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall.
 
     “Zaguán” is a flamenco ballet that seeks to portray transitional space from an array of perspectives, in which three young artists will showcase their personal dance vocabulary, approach and style. The company will also perform “Soleá del Mantón” by Blanca del Rey, one of the grand dames of Spanish flamenco.
 
     “Alento” is presented as a living reflection of Najarro’s style as a creator, as well as of his personal vision of classic Spanish dance. It is a reminder of his choreographic trajectory, inspired by the scores of the great composer and guitarist Fernando Egozcue, who has created music full of rhythm and sensitivity.
 
     Founded in 1978, the Spanish National Ballet is one of the original projects of the National Institute for the Stage Arts and Music. The Ballet has evolved with the times but has preserved its interest in all styles of Spanish dance, performing choreographies, flamenco and stylised Spanish dance. It combines tradition and modernity while not forgetting key aspects such as training and performing new projects.
 
     Antonio Najarro is an accomplished dancer and choreographer. He began his career at 15, performing in many prominent Spanish dance companies. He was accepted into the Spanish National Ballet in 1997 and three years later ascended to the rank of Principal Dancer under the direction of Aida Gomez. Najarro was appointed the ballet’s director in 2011.
 
     “Zaguán & Alento” by the Spanish National Ballet is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets ranging from $160 to $460 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 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/dance/programs_572.html. read more

     The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 5) Ordinance 2018 (the Amendment Ordinance) was gazetted and came into operation today (June 29) to expand the scope of profits tax deductions for capital expenditure incurred by enterprises for t… read more

     Following is a reminder of the press releases on statistical data to be issued between July and September 2018. The schedule for issuing press releases on statistical data in 2018 was provided to the media in September 2017. No change has been made to the original schedule.

July 2018
======

Date        Press Release
—–        —————
3             Retail sales statistics for May 2018
19           Unemployment and underemployment statistics for 
               April – June 2018
19           Volume and price statistics of external merchandise
               trade for May 2018
20           Business expectations for third quarter 2018
23           Consumer Price Index for June 2018
26           External merchandise trade statistics for June 2018

August 2018
========

Date        Press Release
—–        —————
1             Retail sales statistics for June 2018
3             Restaurant receipts and purchases statistics for second
               quarter 2018
9             Volume and price statistics of external merchandise
               trade for June 2018 
10           Gross Domestic Product for second quarter 2018: data
               contained in the press release entitled “Economic 
               Situation in the Second Quarter of 2018 and Latest
               GDP and Price Forecasts for 2018″ issued by The
               Office of the Government Economist under the
               Financial Secretary’s Office (Note)
14           Mid-year population for 2018 
17           Unemployment and underemployment statistics for
               May – July 2018 
21           Consumer Price Index for July 2018 
27           External merchandise trade statistics for July 2018
30           Retail sales statistics for July 2018

September 2018
==========

Date        Press Release
—–        —————
6             Statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for
               second quarter 2018
10           Quarterly business receipts indices for service
               industries for second quarter 2018 
11           Construction output statistics for second quarter 2018
11           Statistics on trade involving outward processing in the 
               mainland of China for second quarter 2018 
13           Index of industrial production and producer price index 
               for industrial sector for second quarter 2018
14           Gross National Income and external primary income
               flows for second quarter 2018 
18           Unemployment and underemployment statistics for
               June – August 2018 
19           Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by
               economic activity for second quarter 2018
20           Consumer Price Index for August 2018 
20           Volume and price statistics of external merchandise
               trade for July 2018
20           Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2018
21           Balance of Payments and International Investment
               Position statistics for second quarter 2018 
27           External merchandise trade statistics for August 2018
27           Wage and payroll statistics for June 2018

Note: The Office of the Government Economist under the Financial Secretary’s Office will issue a press release on the Half-yearly Economic Report 2018 and second update of the GDP and prices forecasts for 2018 as a whole.  The GDP for the second quarter of 2018 will also be released there.  No separate press release on the GDP for the second quarter of 2018 will be issued by the Census and Statistics Department on that day.

     The schedule for regular press releases in the other months of 2018 can be downloaded from the website of the Census and Statistics Department (www.censtatd.gov.hk/press_release/index.jsp). read more

     Firing practice will take place at two military sites, namely the San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range and the Tsing Shan Firing Range, next month (July).        Red flags or red lamps will be hoisted at the firing ar… read more