The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to attend the 24th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in Guangzhou this Thursday (June 27). He will co-chair the plenary with the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Weizhong.
      
     The theme of the 24th Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference is "Taking forward the high-quality development of Hong Kong/Guangdong co-operation, and realising the new strategic positioning of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area", where the two sides will discuss enhancing co-operation in such areas as innovation and technology, finance, healthcare, cross-boundary transport and trade.
      
     Members of the HKSAR Government delegation will include the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan; the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.
      
     Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong in the evening on the same day.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Members of the public are invited to attend the Hospital Authority (HA) Board Meeting to be held on June 27 (Thursday) at 3.30pm. 

     The HA Board Meeting has been open to members of the public since 1998 to demonstrate the continuous effort of the Authority to enhance its transparency and public accountability. The HA Board holds meetings at regular intervals to discuss major health policy issues that have impacts on the public. Through these open meetings, the community is able to understand more about the role and functions of the HA Board as well as the operation and services of the HA and its hospitals.

     The HA Board will discuss the following agenda items in the coming meeting:
 

• Annual Report on the Operation of the Community Care Fund Medical Assistance Programmes; 
• Progress Report on Strategic Priorities; 
• Cluster Presentation Programme – New Territories West Cluster – Mind Space – A Museum of History, Mental Health and Virtual Reality; and
• Hospital Authority's Preparations for Inclement Weather.

     The meeting agenda and papers will be made available to the public at the meeting. Members of the public are reminded that they can attend the Board Meeting only as observers and will not be participating in the meeting discussions.

     Members of the public who are interested in attending the coming Board Meeting have to make an advance booking by contacting the Secretariat of the HA Board at 2300 6797 during office hours. To facilitate booking arrangements, members of the public are advised to provide their names and contact telephone numbers. In view of the limited seating available in the public gallery of the meeting venue, seating will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (June 25) announced an adjustment to the auto-LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations from July 1 to July 31, 2024, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contracts for dedicated LPG filling stations.
      
     A department spokesman said that the adjustment on July 1, 2024, would reflect the movement of the LPG international price in June 2024. The adjusted auto-LPG ceiling prices for dedicated LPG filling stations would range from $3.49 to $4.38 per litre, amounting to a decrease of $0.06 to $0.07 per litre.
      
     The spokesman said that the auto-LPG ceiling prices were adjusted according to a pricing formula specified in the contracts. The formula comprises two elements – the LPG international price and the LPG operating price. The LPG international price refers to the LPG international price of the preceding month. The LPG operating price is adjusted on February 1 and June 1 annually according to the average movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index and the Nominal Wage Index.
      
     The auto-LPG ceiling prices for respective dedicated LPG filling stations in July 2024 are as follows:
      

 
     The spokesman said that the details of the LPG international price and the auto-LPG ceiling price for each dedicated LPG filling station had been uploaded to the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk) and posted at dedicated LPG filling stations to enable the trades to monitor the price adjustment.
      
     Details of the pricing adjustment mechanism for dedicated LPG filling stations can also be viewed under the "What's New" section of the department website at www.emsd.gov.hk/en/what_s_new/current/index.html.

     â€‹As the Heat Stress at Work Warning is now in effect, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and employees to take appropriate measures during the effective period of the warning to prevent heat stroke when working in hot weather or hot environments.
      
     Employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor environments face high levels of heat stress and are at a relatively higher risk of heat stroke. Employers should assess the risk factors of heat stress for employees at work and, based on the identified risk factors, take necessary preventive and control measures, including rescheduling work periods, setting up shading covers, providing ventilation and heat dissipation equipment, and reminding employees to replenish water and rest in a timely manner.
      
     The Heat Stress at Work Warning is formulated by the LD based on the Hong Kong Heat Index. There are three levels of the warning: Amber, Red and Black, which help employers and employees better understand the level of heat stress while working outdoors or indoors without air-conditioning systems.
      
     A spokesman for the LD said that when the department issues the Heat Stress at Work Warning, employers must refer to the criteria and recommendations provided in the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work" to conduct risk assessments, according to the workloads and other relevant heat stress risk factors, for employees who work outdoors or in non-air-conditioned indoor workplaces. Appropriate rest breaks should be arranged every hour, as far as reasonably practicable, based on various levels of the Heat Stress at Work Warning, to reduce employees' risk of heat stroke.
      
     Employees must also follow instructions to rest on time. Whenever there are any symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as headache, dizziness, thirst, and nausea, they should rest in a cool and shady place, drink water, and inform employers/supervisors to take appropriate action immediately.
      
     The LD issued the "Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work", detailing the various risk factors that should be considered when conducting heat stress risk assessments and recommending corresponding control measures for identified risk factors for employers' and employees' reference. For the Heat Stress at Work Warning and related guidelines, please refer to the department's thematic webpage: www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/prevention_of_heat_stroke_at_work.htm.

　　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.