The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Ministry of Finance will issue Renminbi Sovereign Bonds through the Central Moneymarkets Unit of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Please find attached the tender notice and the tender information memorandum of the Renminbi Sovereign Bonds to be issued by the Ministry of Finance. Please also find attached the tender-related information provided by the Issuing and Lodging Agent through the HKMA.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (October 18) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, Mui Wo Swimming Pool in Islands District has been temporarily closed until further notice to ensure the safety of swimmers.

     The nomination period for the 2023 District Council Ordinary Election starts today (October 17) and runs until October 30. A total of 88 nomination forms were received by the Returning Officers for the 18 District Committees constituencies (DCCs) and 44 District Council geographical constituencies (DCGCs) today.

     The number of nomination forms received for each District Council today 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/nomination.html).

      

     This year marks the 145th anniversary of Po Leung Kuk. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) will launch an exhibition entitled "Po Leung Kuk 145th Anniversary: Building Charity with Benevolence" from tomorrow (October 18). Showcasing some 280 pieces of historical documents, artefacts and old photos from the collections of Po Leung Kuk and museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), together with multimedia interactive programmes and videos, this exhibition introduces the relations between the Po Leung Kuk's history and the development of Hong Kong society vividly and interestingly.
           
     Addressing the opening ceremony today (October 17), the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, said that being one of the oldest local charities run by Chinese in Hong Kong, Po Leung Kuk has benefitted the local community for a long time. The LCSD joined hands with Po Leung Kuk to present this exhibition to retrace with the public the footsteps made by Po Leung Kuk with Hong Kong society for over a century, especially the huge contributions made towards protecting the widowed and the orphaned.
      
     Other officiating guests today included the Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, Mrs Winnie Chan; the First Vice-Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, Mrs Helena Pong; the Third Vice-Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, Miss Jenny Tam; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam.
      
     The words "Po Leung" refer to "baochi anliang" (protection of young and the innocent women), reflecting one of Po Leung Kuk's most important social functions from the late 19th century – rescuing and protecting destitute women and children. The services of Po Leung Kuk today have reached far beyond the protection of women and children. Along with social and economic development, Po Leung Kuk's services have been expanded to include vocational training within Po Leung Kuk, founding primary and secondary schools outside Po Leung Kuk, recreation activities, elderly care, and medical services since the 1980s. It carries the collective memory of generations of the city's inhabitants.
      
     This exhibition begins with the Po Leung Kuk's residential services – the oldest services offered. Exhibits on aspects of clothing, food, living and travel are on display, illustrating the rejuvenating journey of destitute women and children, from entering and staying in Po Leung Kuk to leaving for adoption, marriage and more. Highlight exhibits include "The Petition", which is the earliest and most valuable record kept by Po Leung Kuk, detailing the origins of the organisation; an adoption record issued in 1930; a baby walker of the 1950s to 1960s; a photo showing Po Leung Kuk's last marriage ceremony of its marriage arrangement service in 1971; a Po Leung Kuk Flag Day metal donation box from the 1960s and a brochure of "Gala Spectacular – An Evening To Remember" published in 1985.
      
     A total of 11 multimedia interactive programmes, videos, an augmented reality tour and games have also been specifically designed for the exhibition, including "Timeline of Po Leung Kuk", "PoLeungTour.com", "Po Leung School Song Collections" and "Po Leung Mama". Visitors can learn more about the services and development of Po Leung Kuk in an interactive way.
      
     The exhibition is jointly presented by the LCSD and Po Leung Kuk, and jointly organised by the HKHM and the Po Leung Kuk Museum. It will run from October 18 to February 19, 2024, at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin) with free admission. For details of the exhibition, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/po_leung_kuk_145.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.

                    

     The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, officiated at the Green Burial Campaign Launch Ceremony today (October 17) to unveil a series of promotional activities with the theme of "Green Burial – Love Living On" to encourage the public to adopt this choice that makes the environment sustainable and endures love.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tse said that efforts are being made by the Government to promote green burial as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable means of handling human ashes. Over the past decade, the prevalence of green burial has significantly increased. The number of green burial cases increased almost three-fold from about 3 400 in 2013 to about 9 400 in 2022. The Government will continue to provide and improve services and strengthen promotions so as to gradually make green burial a mainstream arrangement of handling ashes, thus achieving the policy objectives of being more environmentally friendly and promoting sustainable development.

     Currently, there are 13 Gardens of Remembrance (GoRs) under the management of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Another GoR will be located in the Shek Mun Columbarium in Sha Tin which is expected to be completed and commissioned by 2025. Moreover, the Government encourages non-governmental and religious organisations to build GoRs at suitable sites. With co-ordination from the Government, more green burial facilities at cemeteries managed by these organisations are in the pipeline.

     At the same time, the FEHD will set up new commemorative facilities for green burial in Tsang Tsui GoR in Tuen Mun in this year, including a commemorative wooden artwork in an image of a Chinese boat by using recycled wood for families who previously adopted a green burial to show respect to the deceased. A memorial post box with local colours on the artwork also enables families to express their feelings or share thoughts of their lost loved ones.

     In line with the Government's strategy in promoting the adoption of e-services, the FEHD will set up a one-stop burial portal to facilitate online applications for green burial services. The FEHD will also enhance the design of its websites and provide more convenient access to related information like "A One-stop Guide to After-Death Arrangements" and videos.

     To further promote green burial, a series of publicity programme will be launched, including the recruitment of secondary and tertiary students as ambassadors, arranging more guided tours at GoRs, setting up promotion booths at FEHD facilities and shopping malls, arranging talks at elderly homes, as well as the promotion of life education to encourage early planning of the last mile of life with a positive attitude. 

     Mr Tse encouraged the public to make early planning of end of life, including signing up in the Green Burial Central Register to register one's wish for green burial and making it known to one's families. The registration is simple and easy. The FEHD will follow up appropriately if a deceased person with his or her wish registered is identified on the register upon cremation booking by the family members.

     Apart from Mr Tse, other officiating guests at the Launch Ceremony included the Chairman of Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council, Ms Joephy Chan; the Deputy Chairperson of the Private Columbaria Licensing Board, Mr Ip Kwok-him; the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene, Professor Kenneth Leung; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Miss Vivian Lau; the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Ms Irene Young; the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Edward Tse; and the Deputy Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Ivy Law.