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
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Mr Vincent Ng Wing-shun
 
Vice-Chairperson
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Secretary for Development
 
Non-official Members (Organisations)
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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)
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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
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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
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Principal Assistant Secretary for Development (Harbour) 
 

     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.

     The Government intends to deploy a number of artificial reefs in the Brothers Marine Park to provide an artificial habitat for marine and fisheries resources enhancement. The extent of the area of foreshore and seabed affected is described in a notice published in the Government Gazette today (June 29).

     The proposed works will collectively occupy a footprint area of less than 0.7 hectares within an area of approximately 66 hectares of foreshore and seabed in the Brothers Marine Park. The proposed works are tentatively scheduled to commence at end-2018 for completion in 2019.

     The notice and the 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);

* Tuen Mun Home Affairs Enquiry Centre of the Tuen Mun District Office (2/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices, 1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, 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 August 29, 2018. The notice of such an objection shall describe the interest, right or easement of the objector and the manner in which he or she will be allegedly affected.

     The Government today (June 29) gazetted the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 (Commencement) Notice and the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation Commencement Notice.

     Under the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 which became effective on April 6, the number of lay members of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) increases from four to eight.

     Among them, three of the four additional lay members are to be elected to the MCHK by patient organisations. Moreover, patient organisations shall nominate two to 10 assessors for the MCHK's appointment to take part in the complaint investigation and disciplinary inquiry of the MCHK.

     "There is an imminent need to commence the relevant provisions in the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 and the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation, so that the patient organisations can start election and nomination procedures as soon as possible," a Government spokesman said. 

     The relevant provisions of the Ordinance and the Regulation came into effect today when the commencement notices were gazetted, the spokesman added.

     The Government introduced the Medical Council (Election and Appointment of Lay Members) Regulation into the Legislative Council in May this year to provide for the election procedures of the three lay members who represent patients' interests.

     Upon the commencement of the Regulation, the MCHK Secretariat will invite patient organisations to apply for registration as eligible electors for the election. After the compilation of the electoral register, the MCHK Secretariat will proceed with the procedures on candidate nomination and polling.

     The election is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and the target is for the three lay members to assume office in early 2019.

     The Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 was published in the Gazette today (June 29). The Bill amends certain electoral legislation to improve the voter registration (VR) arrangements, and the electoral procedures for the Chief Executive, Election Committee Subsector, Legislative Council (LegCo), District Council and Rural Representative elections.

     "We are preparing for the elections in the next election cycle, and have reviewed the electoral legislation in the light of the experience gained. We propose to introduce certain amendments through the Electoral Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018," a Government spokesman said.

     In addition, the Bill proposes to enhance the VR system, including increasing maximum penalties for offences relating to VR to strengthen the deterrent effect, and improving the VR claim and objection mechanism so as to process relevant cases more effectively and minimise the chance of any possible abuse. The Bill also proposes to broaden the pool of eligible candidates for appointment as Revising Officer to include former and retired magistrates, in order to allow more flexibility for the Judiciary to make suitable appointment of Revising Officers.

     Furthermore, the Bill proposes to introduce a targeted exemption of the criminal liability in respect of a third party who incurs merely electricity and Internet access charges in publishing election advertisements on the Internet, to safeguard the freedom enjoyed by the public in their daily expression of views on the Internet under the premise of upholding the fairness of elections, and to rationalise electoral procedures and improve the clarity and consistency of certain electoral legislation.

     "We plan to introduce the Bill into the LegCo for first and second readings on July 11, 2018. We hope that the Bill can be passed within 2018, so that the amendments to enhance the voter registration and electoral procedures can come into effect as soon as possible," the spokesman said.

     The Bill and details of the proposals have been made available at the LegCo webpage.