The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is organising the screening programme "Dancing Between Words and Images – Hong Kong Film and Literature", featuring 17 Hong Kong films adapted from or inspired by literary works. In response to the overwhelming feedback on the screening programme, the HKFA will introduce additional screenings of "Red Rose White Rose" (1994) at 7pm on December 15 (Sunday) and "The Mad Phoenix" (1997) at 7pm on January 5, 2025 (Sunday), at its Cinema, so that more audience members can revisit these two classics. 
 
     Adapted from a short story by Eileen Chang and directed by Stanley Kwan and scripted by Edward Lam, "Red Rose White Rose" delicately depicts the struggles between love and married life under patriarchal norms.
 
     "The Mad Phoenix" is adapted from the critically acclaimed stage play of the same title by its playwright Raymond To. It tells the twists and turns of legendary Cantonese opera playwright Kong Yue-kau, and won To a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay.
 
     Tickets for the additional screenings priced at $55 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from November 22 (Friday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/literature/pe-event-2024-literature.html) or call 2739 2139.

    

     The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (November 21) that the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 2 276 places in 32 sub-degree programmes of seven post-secondary institutions for the cohort to be admitted in the 2025/26 academic year.
 
     These 32 designated sub-degree programmes fall under seven disciplines that have been identified as having keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, health care, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality. The programmes and number of subsidised places (see Annex) are determined by the EDB in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.  
 
     In the 2025/26 academic year, the annual subsidy amount for laboratory-based programmes will be increased from $39,890 in the 2024/25 academic year to $40,730, while that for non-laboratory-based programmes will be increased from $22,910 to $23,390 according to the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index.
 
     The adjusted subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.  
    
     The SSSDP aims to subsidise students to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing undergraduate and sub-degree programmes in selected disciplines with a view to nurturing talent for industries with keen human resource demand. The designated undergraduate programmes in the 2025/26 academic year, including the number of subsidised places and the subsidy amounts concerned, were announced on September 10.
 
     Students may apply directly to the relevant institutions for admission to the designated sub-degree programmes under the SSSDP. Details of the SSSDP are available on the EDB website (www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp).

     The Buildings Department approved seven building plans in September, with three on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and three in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, one was for apartment development, one was for commercial development, one was for factory and industrial development, and four were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which, when completed, will provide 21 290 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 132 units, and 27 975 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for six building projects.

     The department also issued 16 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 74 896 sq m involving 1 674 units, and 26 784 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in September totalled about $5.2 billion.

     In addition, nine demolition consents were issued.

     The department received 3 370 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in September and issued 656 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for September can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
 
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to FIBA 3×3 World Tour Hong Kong Final 2024, which will be held at the Soccer Pitch, Victoria Park from November 22 to 24.
      
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (November 21), "Invited by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Hong Kong will host the year-end event of the FIBA 3×3 professional season for the first time. We hope this major sports event will promote local sports development and bring athletes and spectators from around the globe to focus on Hong Kong, thereby attracting more international competitions to Hong Kong and further solidifying its status as the capital of sports events."
      
     The "M" Mark System aims to encourage and help local "national sports associations" and private or non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
      
     For details of "M" Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk.

     â€‹Hongkong Post announced today (November 21) that, as advised by the postal administration of Norway, mail delivery services previously impacted by a train accident have returned to normal.