The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) presented the screening of "Father and Son" (1981) (4K Digitally Restored Version) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre tonight (June 23), marking the opening of the "Integrating Traditional Morality with Modern Reality: Sil-Metropole Retrospective" screening programme, which is one of the programmes of the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF).

     Speaking before the screening, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu, said that the Sil-Metropole Organisation and its predecessors, Great Wall, Feng Huang and Sun Luen, had produced over 500 films, which portrayed people's livelihoods as well as social conditions in different eras. Audiences could also have a glimpse of the ways in which traditional Chinese culture evolved with the times, he said.
 
     Mr Liu also expressed gratitude to Sil-Metropole for making the generous donation of its entire film library to the HKFA, which was a significant contribution to the overall preservation of Hong Kong's film culture.
 
     Sixteen classic films by Sil-Metropole have been selected for this screening programme. The opening film, "Father and Son", realistically and delicately depicts the relationship of a father and son in a grassroots family, continuing the humanistic realism of Cantonese cinema. The film won the Best Film and Best Director awards at the first Hong Kong Film Awards, and was selected for the 31st Berlin International Film Festival. The closing film, "Butterfly Beauty" (1959) (Original Theatrical Version), will be screened at the HKFA Cinema on September 22. It features a cast of great Cantonese opera artists including Hung Sin Nui and Ma Si-tsang in four opera excerpts. One of the excerpts is the sole visual record of Cantonese opera virtuoso Pak Suet-sin's father Pak Kui-wing, from the HKFA collection. Many of the other 14 selected films depict various aspects of everyday life and social conditions. There are also films infused with elements of traditional art forms and various local customs. For details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/silver/pe-event-2024-silver.html) or call 2739 2139.
 
     All screenings, except "Father and Son", will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by Cantonese opera scholars Professor Yuen Siu-fai, Professor Chan Sau-yan, and Leonard Wong; filmmakers Teddy Robin and Chu Kar-ning; and film researchers Dr Kenny Ng, Sam Ho, Eric Tsang, Matthew Cheng, Joyce Yang and Thomas Shin.
 
     Tickets priced at $45 are available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Those who purchase tickets for six different screenings are eligible to enrol in one of the guided tours on September 28 and 29 to visit the Clear Water Bay Film Studio in Hang Hau, Sai Kung, with limited space available on a first-come, first-served basis. For the enrolment method and details, please visit the above HKFA website.
 
     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong, contributing to the steadfast and successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" arrangement. For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.
 
     The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

        

     â€‹The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced that partial failure of the server of the food waste smart recycling platform was found at 12.30pm today (June 23), causing connection issues that temporarily disrupted the operation of some food waste smart recycling bins (FWSRBs) in public rental housing (PRH) estates and private housing premises.

     The EPD immediately instructed the contractor to switch the smart recycling platform to a backup server, and the service was resumed normal at 2.22pm.

     The EPD also contacted the relevant management offices of PRH estates and private housing premises to place traditional food waste collection bins next to the FWSRBs during the server failure such that residents can continue recycling food waste.

     An EPD spokesman said, "In response to this incident, the EPD has requested the contractors to submit an incident report within seven days and ensure that similar problems do not recur. We thank for the support of residents in participating in food waste recycling and apologise to all affected users."

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will depart for Shanghai tomorrow afternoon (June 24). He will attend a forum about the development of cultural and creative industries on June 25. He will also meet with leaders of the Shanghai Municipal Government, and Hong Kong people and representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Shanghai, to discuss issues of mutual concern and strengthen exchanges and co-operation in various aspects.
 
     Mr Chan will return to Hong Kong on June 26. During his absence, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will be the Acting Chief Secretary for Administration.

     The Home Affairs Department will continue to open 19 community halls/community centres as temporary heat shelters today (June 23).
 
     The temporary heat shelters will remain open for people to take refuge from the heat when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. From 10.30pm to 8am the next day, the temporary heat shelters will also provide bedding and a sleeping place for people in need. The shelters are manned by duty attendants.
 
     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.
 
     The heat shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building, 39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
Hang Hau Community Hall
G/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex, 38 Pui Shing Road, Hang Hau, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai
 
     In addition to the above heat shelters, a number of community halls/community centres can also be used for taking refuge from the heat during their operating hours. For their address details, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 23) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza B infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza.

     The case involves a 5-year-old boy with good past health. He developed a fever, cough with sputum, runny nose and sore throat since June 17. He was brought to a private doctor for medical attention on June 21 and was referred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment yesterday (June 22) and was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit on the same day. His respiratory specimen was positive for influenza B virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza B infection complicated with sepsis and severe pneumonia. He is now in critical condition.

     Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had not received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for this season and had no travel history during the incubation period. Three of his home contacts are currently symptomatic. The CHP's investigations are ongoing.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. SIV is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, as well as reducing influenza-related hospitalisation and death. SIV is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive SIV early. The seasonal influenza vaccines for this season will expire starting from July this year and the 2024/25 SIV programme is expected to start in September.

     â€‹"Members of the public who have not received the SIV can still get vaccinated before the expiry of the influenza vaccine of this influenza season (i.e. July/August). Nevertheless, please remember that even if you get vaccinated now, you should still take the latest SIV in the new SIV programme (from October this year), so as to be protected during the influenza season in the next year. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP's website."

     A person who gets influenza and COVID-19 at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. It is important to receive both SIV and COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, in particular for children and elderly persons residing in the community or residential care homes. The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
 

• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when visiting public places. The public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹The public may visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly COVID-19 & Flu Express for more information.