Tag Archives: China

　　The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) will stage the exhibition “Multiverse – Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2024” starting tomorrow (December 7). The exhibition will feature 155 award-winning and selected poster design works from designers around the world, as well as works by the international judges, traversing the infinite boundaries of creative imagery with the audience.
 
　　The Hong Kong International Poster Triennial is now in its eighth edition since its debut in 2001. The theme of this Triennial is “Multiverse”, exploring how the function of posters as a medium for conveying messages can be extended in an era where digital, technological, and multimedia techniques are widely used. The Triennial invited designers worldwide to unleash their creativity to pioneer new fields that are diverse and interdisciplinary. The Triennial is divided into four categories, namely “Thematic: Multiverse”, “Promotion of Cultural Programmes”, “Commercial and Advertising” and “Animated Poster”. From a worldwide call held last year, a total of 3 189 entries from 55 countries and regions were received. Prominent international designers and an expert team formed judging panels and selected 155 entries to be featured in the exhibition.
 
　　The opening and awards presentation ceremony of the exhibition was held today (December 6). Addressing the ceremony, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan, said that the cultural industries in Hong Kong have been given a boost of confidence by the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which leads to unfailing support to Hong Kong’s development into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. To capitalise on this opportunity, the Triennial will, as always, serve as a platform for promoting professional exchange in poster design and strengthening Hong Kong’s connection with the international design circle. This year, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is delighted to see many designers integrate the rich heritage of cultural narratives into their works or incorporate such themes as Chinese solar terms and historical elements into contemporary representations as a vivid demonstration of their unique and diversified cultural identities and the art trends. This diversity not only enriches the exhibition, but also promotes the integrated development of arts and culture.
 
　　Other officiating guests included Executive Committee member of the Hong Kong Designers Association Miss Kristie Ip; the Chairman of the Art Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Desmond Hui; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam.
 
　　The exhibits include 18 distinctive award-winning entries and 137 selected entries, as well as individual creative works contributed and donated by the international judges. The winner of the Gold Award in the “Thematic: Multiverse” category is “MULTIVERSE” by Chen Yuese from Mainland China. The perfect combination of the Chinese character “Wu” and Taijitu on the poster reflects the breadth and depth of Chinese culture. The Gold Award in the “Promotion of Cultural Programmes” category is awarded to WePlayDesign from Switzerland. Its poster, “Festival Filmar 2020”, was designed for a film festival. The visual identity was inspired by Mayan languages. The selected glyphs represent hands, symbolising actions integral to filmmaking such as framing, shooting, and composition. The winner of the Gold Award in the “Commercial and Advertising” category is “The Beautiful and the Useful” by Sandy Eddie Tommy Associates from Hong Kong. The poster showcases the texture and beauty of paper products, using three basic geometric forms, i.e. square, triangle and circle to illustrate a cardboard inner tray, a wooden spatula and a shallow dish. The Gold Award in the “Animated Poster” category is awarded to “Cyberpunk Experience” by Götz Gramlich from Germany, with an animated design featuring water droplets on the screen to explore the interpenetration and mutual influence of natural and technical realities, and the contradiction occurred.
 
　　To tie in with the exhibition, the HKHM will hold a talk and panel discussion from 3pm to 5pm on December 7 at the 1/F Museum Theatre. Furthermore, visitors can enjoy the award-winning entries of the “11th China International Poster Biennale” held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, in 2023, on the digital screen outside the Thematic Gallery during the exhibition period.
 
　　The exhibition is presented by the LCSD and the Hong Kong Designers Association, organised by the HKHM. For details of the exhibition and special programmes, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/hkipt2024.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.

              

     Hong Kong Customs today (December 6) reminded members of the public to stay alert to a stress-relieving toy with a syringe that could pose an injury risk to children. To avoid an accident, parents should immediately stop their children from playing with the unsafe toy. Traders should also remove the stress-relieving toy with a syringe from their shelves.
      
     Customs today received complaints from members of the public revealing that a local retailer supplied the unsafe stress-relieving toy with a syringe. Customs attaches utmost importance to the situation and immediately conducted patrols on toy retail shops in various districts. No suspected stress-relieving toys with syringes were found. Customs will continue to closely monitor the market situation and step up patrols. If found, the department will take resolute enforcement action.
      
     As the enforcement agency of the Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance (Cap. 424), Hong Kong Customs will continue to conduct surveillance in the market and on online shopping platforms. After conducting risk assessments, Customs will test-purchase different types of toys and children’s products and send them to the Government Laboratory for safety tests.
      
     Under the Ordinance, it is an offence to supply, manufacture or import unsafe toys or children’s products. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.
      
     Members of the public may report information relating to suspected unsafe toys or children’s products via Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). read more

     Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Independence Day of Finland Reception today (December 6):

Consul General (Mr Timo Kantola), Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), ladies and gentlemen,

     Hyvää iltaa. In case some of you do not have the faintest idea what I was trying to say in Finnish, here is the English translation – good evening. Hello everyone, I am delighted to join you at this reception to celebrate Finnish Independence Day.

     Congratulations to our friends from Finland on your country’s many achievements during your 107 years of independence. Today, Finland is one of the happiest, healthiest, safest, greenest and best-educated places on Earth.

     Despite our geographical and cultural differences, I am pleased to say that Finland and Hong Kong enjoy strong collaboration, notably in areas that put both places at the top end of the United Nations Human Development Index.

     One such area is education. With a well-developed web of 54 international schools and five universities that ranked in the world’s top 100, Hong Kong prides itself on being a premier education hub in Asia. Finnish education is so creative and successful that this time last year, the Education University of Hong Kong established a Global Research Institute for Finnish Education. Through this initiative, we can better understand Finland’s pioneering education system and integrate research findings into educational development. Closer links with Finnish institutions will also enable us to advance education and tackle challenges from a global perspective. I look forward to seeing the research outcome by the Global Research Institute for Finnish Education, which may provide useful insight into building a happier learning environment for our students in Hong Kong.

     To attract more talent to Hong Kong to support our economic and other developments, we have a Top Talent Pass Scheme under which graduates of 200 universities worldwide can be admitted to settle here. The University of Helsinki is on the list of eligible universities and we have indeed approved applications made by its graduates. We certainly would love to see more Finnish talent joining the scheme to enrich our pool of talent and our internationalism.  

     Speaking of talent, I share the Consul General’s enthusiasm over the appointment of Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski as the next Music Director of the acclaimed Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil). Although he will only take up the new role in the 2026/27 season, Maestro Peltokoski has already won the hearts of local audiences with his performances here on several previous occasions. Under his baton, we can look forward to the further success of the HK Phil as a flagship brand of our city.

     I take delight in telling the Consul General and the guests in this room that the number of visitors from Finland to Hong Kong is returning to pre-pandemic levels. In the first 10 months of this year, we received around 9 500 visitors from Finland, compared to 8 300 for the whole of last year. I am optimistic that this number will continue to go up, after the Central Authority’s recent introduction of 15-day visa-free travel to the Mainland for residents of Finland and other Nordic countries.

     In fact, we are eagerly anticipating the visit later this month of Finland’s best-known resident! Yes, Santa Claus is preparing to leave his Lapland home for his annual round-the-world-trip to deliver Christmas gifts to the young and the young-at-heart!
 
     On this note, I wish our Finnish friends a memorable Independence Day and a very enjoyable festive season. Thank you. 

  

     â€‹The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held a passing-out parade at the Hong Kong Correctional Services Academy today (December 6). The retiring Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services (Rehabilitation and Management), Dr Leung Kin-ip, reviewed the parade, marking the graduation of 105 Assistant Officers II.
      
     At the parade, the CSD Guard of Honour and passing-out correctional officers assembled to form different heart-shaped patterns, which symbolise the CSD’s devotion to the country and home, and its endeavours to guard the last element of Hong Kong’s criminal justice system through “heart-to-heart” collaboration with different stakeholders in the community.
      
     Speaking at the parade, Dr Leung said that he has witnessed numerous changes and significant progress made by the CSD. The Department is committed to maintaining discipline in correctional institutions to ensure the proper execution of custodial duties. It has also devoted considerable efforts to rolling out new initiatives and launching diverse rehabilitation programmes to assist persons in custody (PICs) to turn over a new leaf. Furthermore, the Department has long promoted community education to disseminate national security, national education, crime prevention, anti-drug and supporting offender rehabilitation messages, contributing to nurturing pillars of society.
      
     Dr Leung mentioned that the Ethics College, established last year, is one of the innovative and people-oriented rehabilitation initiatives by the CSD since its establishment a century ago. Adult PICs can take a one-year full-time programme to obtain a Diploma of Applied Education, giving them the opportunity to study without needing to work while serving their sentences. This year, the CSD has expanded the Ethics College to Pik Uk Prison, taking a step further to provide PICs who wish to continue their studies with a two-year full-time Associate Degree programme, as well as enabling PICs to equip themselves and develop law-abiding awareness and good characters, so that they can contribute to Hong Kong after their release.
      
     He added that the Approved Hand-in Articles e-Ordering Service has also been rolled out progressively in correctional institutions since September to facilitate visitation. The Service not only enhances the operational efficiency of the Department, but also provides convenience to the public.
      
     Dr Leung said that the CSD has held diverse and up-to-date community education activities in recent years to instil correct values into young people, so that they can become responsible and law-abiding citizens. The Department launched a new programme Captain Gor Union this month to recruit primary and secondary school students as non-uniformed members with an aim to engage young people and help them develop a positive outlook and strive for self-improvement, as well as to instil in young people the messages of “safeguarding our country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation”.
      
     He noted that the Department hosted the 42nd Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators in November, which provided a platform for correctional institutions in Asia-Pacific countries or regions to share experiences and strengthen collaboration. By hosting the international large-scale conference, the Department not only told good stories of the CSD, but also good stories of Hong Kong.
      
     Dr Leung encouraged the passing-out correctional officers to stand steadfast at their posts and make their best endeavours to safeguard Hong Kong fearlessly with professionalism.
      
     Concluding his speech, Dr Leung expressed his gratitude to the Department, his colleagues and rehabilitation partners for their past support and assistance, stating his immense pride and satisfaction in his nearly 30 years of service in corrections.
      
     During the parade, Dr Leung presented the Golden Whistle to four Assistant Officers II, namely Ms Tsang Hiu-yu, Mr Ho Kin-on, Mr Sin Sing-hoi and Mr Yau Chun-long, for their outstanding performance in recruit training.

          

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, leading a Hong Kong delegation of foreign-related legal talent comprising representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association as well as local, international and registered foreign law firms, including various non-Chinese lawyers and GBA lawyers, departed for Shenzhen today (December 6) to continue his visit to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

     Upon arrival in Shenzhen this morning, they called on Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government Ms Wu Jing. They had a meeting with representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, the Justice Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Shenzhen Lawyers Association and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality to gain a better understanding of the latest developments of Shenzhen on various fronts, including innovative technology, and to explore strengthening co-operation on legal services between the two places.

     At noon, Mr Lam and the delegation visited the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-Up Exhibition Hall at the Shenzhen Museum to learn more about the city’s development and the history and achievements of Guangdong’s reform and opening up.

     Mr Lam and his delegation then visited the Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone People’s Court (Qianhai Court) and held discussions with judges from the China International Commercial Court of the Supreme People’s Court, the High People’s Court of Guangdong Province and the Qianhai Court, as well as representatives from the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, the Mediation Centre of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shenzhen Municipal Committee, the Benchmark Chambers International & Benchmark International Mediation Center, and Shenzhen lawyers specialising in foreign-related matters. The meeting enabled the delegation to gain a better understanding of the latest developments of the China International Commercial Court and the construction of a multifaceted dispute resolution mechanism. Through discussions on topical issues relating to foreign-related commercial disputes and sharing practical experiences in tackling related issues, participants explored specific directions for the Hong Kong legal sector to make more contributions.

     Mr Lam and his delegation will visit BYD Company Limited’s headquarters in Shenzhen tomorrow morning (December 7) and exchange views with the company’s representatives to learn about the latest developments of the company’s global business and its demand for cross-border legal services. They will conclude their visit and return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon.