Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok today (October 21):
      
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
      
     Hello everyone. Sah wah dee khrap. Welcome to the opening ceremony of Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok. We are excited to bring to Bangkok the first ever overseas edition of our flagship Hong Kong Week events, to showcase Hong Kong's unique culture of artistry and creativity.
      
     Under the unique "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong is where the China advantage and the global advantage converge in a single city.
      
     As a pluralistic metropolis blending Chinese and Western cultures, Hong Kong is a strong believer of the promotion of mutual understanding among peoples of different places through cultural exchange.
      
     We are eager to share the artistic achievements of our Asia's world city with audiences from every part of the world. We also endeavour to bring quality artworks encompassing rich Chinese culture to more overseas cities, giving play to our unique strengths as a conduit between the Mainland of China and the rest of the world.
      
     With a long and vibrant history, Thailand is fast becoming a cultural centre of the region. From mesmerising folklore and legends, to the vivid development of modern and contemporary art, Thailand's cultural scenes continue to fascinate the world.
      
     This year, we are glad to hold our first overseas Hong Kong Week in Bangkok to further enhance the exchanges and collaboration in arts and culture, and creative industries between our two cities.
      
     The Hong Kong Week features diverse programmes, from music, dance and film, to fashion and intangible cultural heritage events. The eventful programme provides lots of opportunities for artists in Hong Kong and Bangkok to collaborate and exchange ideas.
      
     With the passion of our artists, I am confident that this three-week festival will be filled with colours and sparks. Confident, as well, that it will bolster cultural appreciation and ties between our peoples.
      
     Looking ahead, I hope more of our friends from Thailand would come to Hong Kong, to see for yourselves the unparalleled and plentiful opportunities, and feel the energy of our dynamic city. We welcome all of you in Hong Kong, for travel, for work, for studies, or even for investment.
      
     I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all our dedicated partners, in particular the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand, and Mahidol University, for giving your tremendous support to this Hong Kong Week.
      
     I wish Hong Kong Week 2023@Bangkok a great success, and everyone an enjoyable afternoon at the reception and the opening concert. Thank you.
      

     â€‹The Buildings Department (BD) launched Building Safety Week 2023 today (October 21), with a view to further promoting building safety messages to the public through a series of activities, and to connect with the public and the building industry to create a safe and sustainable living environment for the community.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Building Safety Week 2023 at Citywalk today, the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Ms Doris Ho, said that safeguarding building safety is an important task for people's livelihood. The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach, through enforcement, support and promotion, to help the public build and upkeep their ideal homes.
      
     Ms Ho said that the Government has been motivating owners to carry out regular maintenance and repair for their buildings. Partnering with the Urban Renewal Authority, the Government has launched a number of building rehabilitation programmes to provide financial and professional technical support to the owners in need. She called on the public to conduct regular "health checks" for the buildings. Proper management and timely maintenance not only help extend the life of the buildings, but also make the buildings healthier and more long-lasting, providing a safe and happy living environment for residents.

     Delivering a welcome speech at the opening ceremony, the Director of Buildings, Ms Clarice Yu, said that the spalling of concrete or rendering from the external walls of buildings in recent months, as well as the demolition of part of the structural walls of a unit, have shown that many owners are facing the ageing of their buildings and have insufficient knowledge of building safety, which results in building neglect. In this regard, apart from organising various activities actively to enhance public awareness of building safety, the BD has also co-operated with building professional institutes and industry members to disseminate building safety messages to the community. This June, the BD, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, the Structural Division of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, launched a series of educational and publicity activities on the proper carrying out of alteration works.

     Ms Yu said that to foster a building safety culture and remind owners of their responsibilities to maintain their properties and refrain from carrying out unauthorised building works, the BD will continue to co-operate with various stakeholders to produce a variety of educational materials and step up publicity to promote building safety.

     Building Safety Week is a major event of the BD's annual education and publicity efforts. During the week, the Building Safety Carnival, which runs from today to October 27 at Citywalk, aims to help members of the public acquire proper building safety knowledge through playing games in a relaxed manner.

     The BD will organise the Buildings Department Inno Tech Open Day on October 25 and 26 at the BD Headquarters, West Kowloon Government Offices. The BD will demonstrate several innovative technologies, introduce the operation of the BD's Mobile Command Unit and the use of drones to inspect the external walls of buildings and the like. A number of talks on building safety, including the mandatory building and window inspection schemes, interior alteration and addition works and Modular Integrated Construction will also be held at the Open Day. Members of the public can visit the BD's website (www.careyourbuilding.bd.gov.hk/en/events_publicity/31.html) for more details about Open Day activities and registration matters.

     In addition, the BD will hold the Building Safety Symposium on October 27 at the Hong Kong Palace Museum as the closing event of Building Safety Week 2023.

     For the latest updates on Building Safety Week 2023, please visit the webpage of the BD (www.bd.gov.hk/en/whats-new/events-and-publicity/index.html).

     A total of 40 nomination forms for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election were received by the Returning Officers for the 18 District Committees constituencies (DCCs) and 44 District Council geographical constituencies (DCGCs) today (October 21).
 
     This brings to 322 the total number of nomination forms received since the start of the nomination period on October 17. The nomination period will continue until October 30.
 
     The number of nomination forms received for each District Council is as follows:
 

     The Registration and Electoral Office reminds nominees that due to limited space in the Returning Officer's office, each nominee shall be accompanied by only one companion during submission of the nomination form. Please refer to the "Points to Note for Submission of Nomination Forms" on the election website (www.eac.hk/pdf/distco/2023dce/Points_to_Note_for_Submission_of_Nomination_Forms(Eng).pdf).
 
     Particulars of the nominees received today will be available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/dc2023/eng/nomination2.html).

  

     To promote the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election (DCOE) and enable members of the public to understand the importance of improving the district governance system and reforming the District Councils (DCs) are related to the good governance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), good community life, and a better living and working environment for all citizens, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) will set up a promotional booth themed "Night Vibes District Council Election"at the "Waterfront Carnival" in Wan Chai starting from today (October 21) for three consecutive nights, with a view to reaching out to members of the public face-to-face about the benefits brought by the improved district governance system and the reformed DCs in a lively way, and encouraging general public as well as individuals who are dedicated to district services, patriotic and have an affection for Hong Kong to actively participate in this election.

     The "Night Vibes District Council Election" booth will feature interactive game and briefing, with promotional pamphlets and souvenirs distributed, so as to allow citizens to learn more about the District Council Election and matters related to the improved district governance system. A "check-in" spot will also be set up for participants to take photos. Apart from the "Night Vibes District Council Election" booth, a series of activities will also be held at the "Waterfront Carnival", including music and dance performances, film screenings, special workshops, art exhibitions, as well as stalls selling different products, snacks and drinks.

     A spokesman for the CMAB said, "176 District Committees constituency members and 88 District Council geographical constituency members will be returned in the 2023 DCOE. The reformed DCs will comprise capable people from different sectors and professions who are patriotic and have an affection for Hong Kong, assisting the Government to collect views and formulate policies that better meet the needs of citizens and thus enhancing the efficacy of district governance of the HKSAR. The new DCs will be more prominent in terms of its broad representation, political inclusiveness, balanced participation, fair competition, which are advanced and superior.

     The spokesman also said, "This election is the first large-scale territory-wide election being held after the reform of the DCs and improving the district governance system of the HKSAR, and is of particular significance. The Government will proactively go into the community to make the public understand that improving the district governance system is related to the well-being of the citizens and is essential to good governance of the HKSAR, and a better living and working environment for all citizens, so that they will support the new system and cast their votes on the polling day."

     In addition, the CMAB will launch a series of "District Council Election into the Community" publicity activities starting from late October. Parent-child workshops, exhibitions and interactive games will be set up in places with heavy pedestrian flow such as shopping malls in various districts. Mobile resource centres and game booths will also be arranged to tour different districts to promote the new DCs and encourage the public to actively participate in the District Council Election.

Attention TV/ radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (October 21）that Mui Wo Swimming Pool in Islands District, closed earlier due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, has been reopened.