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　　The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise the second volume of “A Cultural Journey through World Music” lecture demonstration from August to September, featuring music of Mongolian morin khuur, Argentinian tango, Scottish bagpipe and Arabic music. The four lectures will be hosted and curated by Eugene Leung, a local Central Asian musical instrument dutar performer with a fine grasp of ethnomusicology. The programme has invited various local musicians as speakers. Through an introduction of histories and cultures, demonstrations of musical instruments and personal-experience sharing, participants will be guided to appreciate the musical characteristics from different regions and across cultural boundaries.

　　Details of each lecture are as follows:

Lecture 1: Mongolian Morin Khuur Music
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Date: August 7 (Wednesday)
Speaker: Khaw Fook Wai (morin khuur)
Demonstrators: Spencer Chao, Leo Wong (morin khuur)
     The morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), the most emblematic instrument of the Mongolians, has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. The speaker will introduce the deep association of morin khuur with the traditional Mongolian pastoral nomadic way of life, its traditional techniques and repertoire, as well as its contemporary performance styles.

Lecture 2: Argentinian Tango Music
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Date: August 21 (Wednesday)
Speaker: Justin Siu (double bass)
Demonstrators: Bobo Chiu (bandoneon), Stephanie Fung (piano)
     Tango is an art form born in the slums of Argentina. Its traditional music rhythms form an association with dance. Composer Astor Piazzolla has brought forward the nuevo tango, which stands as a pure music form. The speaker will introduce the traditional form of tango and its subsequent evolution, with demonstrations featuring the quintessential tango music instrument, the bandoneon, along with the piano and double bass.

Lecture 3: Scottish Bagpipe Music
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Date: August 28 (Wednesday)
Speaker: Chris Lee (Scottish bagpipes)
Demonstrator: Yuko Saito (fiddle and bodhrán)
     Scottish bagpipes are commonly seen in ceremonial events. However, it is rare to see its more musical side. The speaker will introduce the history of bagpipes in Scotland, its types and musical styles. The structure of the instrument and its unique performing techniques will also be featured, with demonstrations to showcase the bagpipe’s musicality.

Lecture 4: Arabic Music
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Date: September 4 (Wednesday)
Speaker: Eugene Leung (oud)
Demonstrators: Dickson Cheung (Middle Eastern percussion) and Jessie Law (qanun)
     The Arab world covers vast territories, and its musical culture and system have developed in various ways in different regions through multi-ethnic and multi-faith interactions. The speaker will introduce basic concepts in Arabic music, and look in particular at the music of Egypt and Syria in the 20th century, to understand the historical context that brought about the “Golden Age of Arabic Music”.

     Eugene Leung studied music at Cambridge University and completed a Master of Music in Ethnomusicology from Goldsmiths College, University of London. He has been an active figure on the Hong Kong music scene, promoting Central Asian and Middle Eastern music, and has taken part in exhibitions and performances as curator and music director.

     All lectures will be conducted in Cantonese, and will be held at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Tickets priced at $80 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1753.html. read more

     The Transport Department (TD) announced today (June 25) that the application numbers of the 1 500 personalised vehicle registration mark (PVRM) applications selected by lot for the 51st exercise have been published on its website (www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/pvrm_application/index.html) and posted on the notice boards of the TD’s licensing offices.
      
     “The applicants have already been sent an acknowledgement of receipt bearing an application number. They may check the list to see whether their applications have been selected. Applicants will also be notified of the ballot results by post in batches,” a department spokesman said.
      
     The department will later check the proposed PVRMs selected against the basic combination requirements. If, among the selected applications, more than one applicant proposes the same PVRM, only the one on which the lot falls first out of those applications will be further processed.
      
     If the selected PVRMs meet the basic requirements, the department will send notices by registered mail to the applicants in batches, requiring them to pay a deposit of $5,000 within the period specified in the notice. If an applicant fails to pay the deposit within that period, his or her application will be cancelled automatically and will not be further processed.
      
     Upon receipt of the deposit, the Commissioner for Transport will determine, with the assistance of a vetting committee, whether an application should be approved or rejected. PVRMs approved in the 51st exercise will be put up for auction in batches. Auction details will be published in newspapers and on the TD website in due course.
      
     For enquiries, applicants can call the TD Hotline at 2804 2600. read more

     The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, will depart for Beijing this afternoon (June 25) to attend the Board of Directors’ Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to learn about the latest developments on AIIB’s issues including climate-policy based financing, business planning and internal operations.  

     The two-day meeting of the Board of Directors of the AIIB will commence tomorrow (June 26). During the meeting, Mr Hui will meet with senior executives of the AIIB.

     In Mr Hui’s absence, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan, will act as the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. read more

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 toda… read more

     The Labour Department (LD) will hold the Leap into a New Page Job Fair at Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai on June 27 and 28, providing a large number of vacancies from various industries for job seekers.

     About 60 organisations will participate in the two-day job fair, offering over 3 300 quality job vacancies from various industries, including property management and real estate, catering, retail, business services, transport and hotel industries. Around 30 organisations will set up booths and conduct recruitment on the spot each day. A wide variety of positions will be offered including Duty Manager(ess), Front Desk Team Leader, Beauty Consultant, Sales Consultant, Cabling Technician, Chef (Dessert), Patient Care Assistant, Production Operator, Security Guard, Enrolled Nurse/Registered Nurse (Part-time), Temporary Book Fair Stock keeper, etc. Job seekers can visit the LD’s Interactive Employment Service website (www.jobs.gov.hk) for more details of the vacancies.

     Around 80 per cent of the vacancies offered at the job fair are full-time jobs. Most vacancies offer monthly salaries ranging from $11,000 to $24,000. About 96 per cent of the vacancies require a Secondary Seven education level or below. Around 66 per cent are open to job seekers without relevant work experience.

     Job seekers can submit job applications during the event and may be selected for on-the-spot interviews. They can also make enquiries on the employment services provided by the LD at its counter inside the venue.

     The job fair will be held from 11am to 5.30pm at 1/F, Southorn Stadium, 111 Johnston Road, Wan Chai (near Wan Chai MTR Station Exit A3). Admission is free, with final admission time at 5pm each day. read more