Tag Archives: China

     The Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) will launch two new exhibitions, “Vita in Movimento” and “The Digital Cuboid: Virtual Realm”, tomorrow (December 16). These exhibitions feature remarkable artworks created by architects and multimedia artists, which enable visitors to appreciate the interplay of light, shadows and colours of Hong Kong’s city and natural landscape and experience the visual impact of naked-eye 3D animation, allowing them to enjoy two distinct art experiences.
      
     The exhibition “Vita in Movimento” showcases nearly 100 watercolour paintings and photography works created by three influential Hong Kong architects, Vincent Ng, Jeff Tung and William Tseng. The works focus on Hong Kong’s natural landscape, old and new buildings, as well as snapshots of people’s daily lives. Drawing from their architectural expertise and sensibilities, the trio leads viewers to explore new perspectives for appreciating the city and revisit familiar and ordinary objects, presenting the collective memories embedded within the community. This exhibition also presents an outdoor installation by young architectural designer Tiffanie Tseng. The designer merges close-ups and colours of some of the exhibits of “Vita in Movimento” into the installation so that visitors can experience a harmonious interplay of colours of fiery oranges, soothing ambers, serene greens, blues, light and shadows, which symbolises the interconnectedness of life, art, nature and the urban landscape. The exhibition will also include a series of workshops and sharing sessions to arouse public interest in watercolour and photography. For details, please visit the website of Oi!.
      
     In the exhibition “The Digital Cuboid: Virtual Realm”, media artist Ng Tsz-kwan, as the exhibition’s Creative Technologist, led four art groups to create four sets of digital artworks respectively. While the “Emotional System” created by Axis Studio allows the audience to experience a transformative moment and share a sense of resonance by visually depicting the cyclical system that impacts emotional well-being and drive, the CT.LAB’s artwork “MPU‧Continents” invites the audience to participate and explore the potential application of artificial intelligence in understanding personal emotions. “Pearl” by Nine Monkeys Workshop applies the animation of the Sabah Grouper as a metaphor for people who survive to meet societal expectations. The animation “Beyond the Noosphere” presented by Zheng Mahler, which breathes life into visual depictions of geological, biological, and cultural histories, and invite the audience to reflect upon the intricate connections between nature, humanity and the relentless passage of time, by using animation techniques and artificial intelligence tools. These digital artworks brilliantly combine art and technology, resulting in a profound impact on the viewers’ visual perception through presenting on a large high-definition screen.
      
     The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by Oi!. The two exhibitions will be open to the public from December 16. “Vita in Movimento” will be on display at Oi! Glassie G/F and Oi! Garden until February 18 next year, while “The Digital Cuboid: Virtual Realm” will be on display at Oi! Deck. For details, please visit the website www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/oi_projects_and_programmes.html or call 2512 3000 for enquiries.

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     Regarding the incident announced on December 9 where samples of pigs from a Yuen Long pig farm tested positive for African Swine Fever (ASF), the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) launched a culling… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (December 15) reminded the public, particularly the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, to adopt appropriate measures to protect their health in view of the forecasted significant drop in temperature in Hong Kong.

     A spokesman for the CHP said that cold weather can easily trigger or exacerbate diseases, especially among the elderly and persons suffering from heart disease, respiratory illness or other chronic illnesses.
     
     “Elderly people have less insulating fat beneath their skin to keep them warm and their body temperature control mechanism may be weaker. Their body may not be able to appropriately respond to the cold weather,” the spokesman said.

     Some senior persons may have decreased mobility, which can in turn impair their ability to generate and conserve body heat. Chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes and endocrine disorders may undermine the health of elderly people and lower their metabolic rate, subsequently causing their body to generate less heat. Persons with chronic illnesses such as chronic respiratory illnesses or heart disease are vulnerable to disease aggravation due to cold weather.

     The CHP reminded the public, in particular the elderly and persons with chronic illnesses, to adopt the following preventive measures:
 

• Take note of the weather forecast. Wear warm clothing, including hats, scarves, gloves and socks accordingly;
• Consume sufficient food to ensure adequate calorie intake;
• Perform regular exercise to facilitate blood circulation and heat production;
• Stay in a warm environment and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure;
• Use heaters with care, and maintain adequate indoor ventilation; and
• Seek medical advice if feeling unwell.

     In addition, the public should avoid alcoholic beverages.

     “Drinking alcohol cannot keep you warm. Alcohol accelerates the loss of body heat through dilated blood vessels, resulting in chilling instead,” the spokesman said.

     “Parents should ensure that babies are sufficiently warm, but it is also important to keep babies relatively lightly clothed to avoid overheating them,” the spokesman added.

     Parents should observe the following safety measures when putting their children to bed:  

• Keep the room well ventilated and at a comfortable temperature;
• Always place babies on their back to sleep. Leave their head, face and arms uncovered during sleep;
• Babies do not need pillows. Place babies on a firm and well-fitted mattress to sleep. Avoid soft objects, pillows and loose bedding;
• Let babies sleep in a cot placed in the parents’ room and near their bed; and
• Maintain a smoke-free environment.

     In addition, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination early. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP’s website.
      
     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. Influenza vaccination may reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation and the length of stay. It is important for elderly persons, especially those residing in residential care homes, to receive both seasonal influenza vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination. They should also receive an additional booster against COVID-19 according to recommendations as soon as possible. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against respiratory illnesses and note the following:
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

    
     Food-borne diseases, particularly those linked to hot pot cuisine, are also common in cold weather. The following preventive measures should be taken:
 

• Wash hands before handling and consuming food;
• Do not patronise unlicensed vendors or those with poor hygienic standards while selecting food;
• Wash and cook all food thoroughly;
• Vegetables should be washed thoroughly in clean running water before cooking and consumption. When appropriate, scrub vegetables with hard surfaces with a clean brush to remove dirt and substances, including pesticide residues and contaminants, from the surface and crevices;
• Shrimps should be fully cooked until the shells turn red and the flesh turns white and opaque;
• For shellfish such as scallops and geoduck, scrub the shells thoroughly and remove internal organs;
• Most hot pot ingredients should be stored in a refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius or below, while frozen food should be stored in a freezer at -18 degrees C or below;
• Never use raw eggs as a dipping sauce for hot pot; and
• Use different sets of chopsticks to handle raw and cooked food to avoid cross-contamination.

     In addition, when using fuel-burning appliances, especially in indoor areas, the public should ensure adequate ventilation to avoid harmful exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and prevent CO poisoning.

     For more health information, the public may call the DH’s Health Education Infoline (2833 0111) or visit the CHP’s website and Facebook Fanpage.

     The public may also call Dial-a-Weather (1878 200) or visit the website of the Hong Kong Observatory for the latest weather information and forecast, or its page on Weather Information for Senior Citizens. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:
 
     The Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) and Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification (HKGOC) Presentation Ceremony was held today (December 15) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, to commend winners for their outstanding performance in green management and their contributions to environmental protection. Winners of the 2022 Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) and corporations certified as Hong Kong Green Organisations (HKGOs) in 2022 were also commended at the presentation ceremony. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the HKAEE, three Special Awards, namely the Super Gold Award, the Most Outstanding Promotional Partner Award and the Long Participation Award, have been established this year to recognise the continual support and outstanding performance of the organisations over the years.
 
     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, congratulated the winning companies and organisations through a video speech at the ceremony. He commended the winners for their innovation and efforts in environmental protection, and recognised their outstanding contributions to a greener Hong Kong. He looks forward to the support from all sectors in collaborating with the Government to promote green innovation in pursuit of carbon neutrality for the country and Hong Kong.
 
     The officiating guests of the ceremony included the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, Dr Eric Cheng; the Vice-chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), Ms Jenny Li; the Awards Committee Chairman of the HKAEE, Dr Conrad Wong; the Convenor of the Education Working Group under the ECC, Mr Wong Chi-keung; and the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse.
 
     The HKAEE commends organisations that have demonstrated outstanding environmental performance in 14 different sectors. The three judging criteria are green leadership, programme and performance, and partner synergy. The HKGIA aims to encourage local organisations to tackle environmental challenges using new ideas that will benefit the environment. The three assessment criteria are level of innovation, environmental achievements, and practicability and contribution to society. After two rounds of assessment by the technical consultants, the participating companies/organisations were assessed by the final adjudicating panels comprising the ECC and representatives from major chambers of different sectors in Hong Kong for selection of the gold, silver and bronze winners.
 
     The number of entries competing for the 2022 HKAEE reached a record high of 3 282, more than an eightfold increase compared with the figure for 2008, when the awards were launched. A total of 49 organisations won gold, silver or bronze awards this year, and 153 received certificates of merit. There were 80 entries in the 2022 HKGIA, a figure around five times higher than that of 2011 when the HKGIA was established. For the three 15th Anniversary Special Awards of the HKAEE, the Dairy Farm Company Limited – Wellcome was awarded the Super Gold Award for winning six gold awards in the past, the Seeding Green (Hong Kong) Limited was awarded the Most Outstanding Promotional Partner Award for partnering with a total of 45 companies in joining the HKAEE in the past, and 22 companies/organisations were awarded the Long Participation Award for joining the HKAEE continuously since 2008. To commend company management and employees for their dedication to enhancing the environmental performance of their respective companies and the community, five awardees were selected under the Outstanding Green Achiever Commendation Scheme. In addition, 17 organisations were honoured as Outstanding Promotional Partners. The detailed list of awardees can be accessed from the HKAEE website (www.hkaee.gov.hk).
 
     The HKGOC aims to benchmark the green performance of organisations and encourages them to sustain their environmental initiatives in four major aspects, namely waste reduction, energy saving, carbon reduction and indoor air quality improvement by issuing them relevant certificates. Participating organisations can obtain the title of HKGO if they can demonstrate and attain certain environmental achievements such as winning HKAEE awards, signing any of the environment-related charters launched or supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government or possessing a valid ISO 14001 certificate. To date, over 3 100 organisations from different industries have obtained the HKGO status. At the ceremony today, representatives from 585 organisations which obtained the HKGO status in 2022 were presented with certificates in recognition of their environmental achievements.
 
     The HKAEE and the HKGOC, with funding support from the Environment and Conservation Fund, are jointly organised by the ECC, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Business Environment Council, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ and Exporters’ Association, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council.
 

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     The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced today (December 15) that the incumbent Chief Executive Mr Nicolas Aguzin will not seek reappointment upon completion of his current contract. HKEX also announced that its Board of Directors has decided to appoint Ms Bonnie Chan, currently the Co-Chief Operating Officer, as the new Chief Executive following Mr Aguzin’s departure.

     The Government expresses gratitude to Mr Aguzin for his contributions to Hong Kong’s financial market during his tenure as the Chief Executive of HKEX over the past three years. Since taking office in May 2021, he has made notable contributions and led HKEX in achieving a series of breakthroughs in securities market development and mutual access with the Mainland financial market, as well as promoting at the international level the unique position of Hong Kong as an international financial centre connecting the world and the Mainland.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, said, “During his term, Mr Aguzin has driven the development of Hong Kong’s stock market and enabled Hong Kong to continue serving as an internationally important platform for initial public offerings, and has also played a crucial role in strengthening HKEX’s international connections.”

     “Ms Bonnie Chan has extensive working experience in HKEX. Over the past few years under her leadership, the Listing Division and other operating departments have introduced the new listing regime for Specialist Technology Companies, enhanced the listing mechanism for overseas issuers, etc. I am confident that under the guidance of its Board of Directors and with Ms Chan’s devoted efforts, HKEX will continue to achieve greater success in the future,” Mr Paul Chan added. read more