The Environmental Protection Department today (April 15) released a list of completed and newly commenced statutory environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and non-statutory environmental studies for major development proj… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Film Development Council: The Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), Dr Wilfred Wong, today (April 15) congratulated Film Development Fund (FDF… read more
The Instrumental Music Training Scheme (IMTS), organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, is now recruiting intermediate year-one and advanced year-one trainees for 2024-25. The deadline for applications is May 17.
The IMTS provides training in a wide variety of string, wind and Chinese musical instruments including violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, percussion, sheng, suona, dizi, liuqin, zhongruan, sanxian, yangqin, pipa, zheng and erhu. Courses on musicianship and music theory are also included.
One-hour group lessons, conducted in Cantonese, will be held once a week at the Music Office’s five music centres in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Mong Kok, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Annual tuition fees of $4,048 for intermediate level and $5,170 for advanced level are payable in four instalments.
Interested persons who have attained the required music qualifications can visit the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/training/instrumentalmusictrainingscheme.html) for more details and application submission. Course pamphlets and application forms are now available at all Music Office music centres. Qualified applicants will be invited for an audition. The audition dates for advanced year-one and intermediate year-one courses are June 15 and 16 respectively. Successful applicants will be notified in early August and the training will commence in early September.
For enquiries, please call the Music Office’s music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan). read more
Members of the public will have a chance to take a closer look at different species of edible flowers and herbs for springtime at an exhibition to be held from April 22 (Monday) at the Forsgate Conservatory in Hong Kong Park under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
With mild temperatures and increasing hours of daylight, springtime in Hong Kong is suitable for the growth of a collection of edible flowers and herbs. A rich variety of about 500 edible flowers and herbs for springtime will be showcased at the upcoming exhibition, including Lemmon’s Marigold, African Mallow, Nasturtium, Borage, Calendula and numerous herbs.
The flowers and leaves of Lemmon’s Marigold carry a rich fragrance. The tender new leaves can be used in cooking and brewing tea, making the plant a perfect fit for herb gardens.
The tiny baby pink flowers of African Mallow live for just a day, yet they continue to bloom.
With a fresh, sweet and mildly spicy taste of mustard, a crunchy and juicy texture, and a unique scent, the flowers, leaves, stems and roots of Nasturtium are all edible.
As for herbs, humid spring is especially suitable for planting mint. Common species include spearmint, peppermint and grapefruit mint.
In addition to the presentation of over 30 species of edible flowers and herbs, display boards will also be set up to introduce their characteristics, planting notes and propagation methods. Park visitors are invited to visit the exhibition, which will be open to the public free of charge from 9am to 5pm daily from April 22 to June 10 at the Forsgate Conservatory of Hong Kong Park, 19 Cotton Tree Drive, Central.
　　The 2024 voter registration campaign for the Rural Representative Election (RRE) was launched today (April 15), with a view to encouraging eligible persons to register as electors and registered electors to update their registration particulars.
　　The Home Affairs Department (HAD) appeals to all eligible persons who have not registered as electors to sign up by June 16 so that their registration particulars can be included in the provisional register to be published in August this year. Registered electors are not required to register again, but those who need to update their registered particulars should also submit their applications for change of registration particulars by June 16.
　　There are three types of Rural Representatives, namely Indigenous Inhabitant Representatives (IIRs), Resident Representatives (ReRs) and Kaifong Representatives (KFRs). An IIR, returned by indigenous inhabitants, their spouses or surviving spouses of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village, is to reflect views on the affairs of the village on behalf of its indigenous inhabitants, and to deal with affairs relating to the lawful traditional rights and interests and the traditional way of life of those indigenous inhabitants. An ReR, returned by residents (both indigenous and non-indigenous inhabitants) residing in an Existing Village, is to reflect views on the village affairs on behalf of its residents. A KFR, returned by residents residing in a Market Town (i.e. Cheung Chau and Peng Chau), is to reflect views on the affairs of the Market Town on behalf of its residents.
　　”As the eligibility requirements for registration as electors vary for these elections, applicants should ascertain whether they meet the relevant requirements before registration,” an HAD spokesman said.
　　”Indigenous inhabitants, their spouses or surviving spouses, aged 18 or above and holding recognised identity documents, are eligible to be registered as electors in the IIR Election of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village.
　　”For registration as an elector in the ReR Election and the KFR Election, one must be a Hong Kong permanent resident aged 18 or above and have been a resident of the Existing Village or Market Town for the three years immediately preceding the date of application for registration, and whose address in the Village or Market Town is his or her principal residential address. Principal residential address means the address of the dwelling place at which the person resides and which constitutes the person’s sole or main home. For verification of their eligibility for registration, proof of address is required both for applicants seeking new registration and registered electors seeking to change the principal residential address. For applicants who fail to submit valid documentary proof of address, their applications will not be processed.
　　”Indigenous inhabitants, their spouses or surviving spouses who have been residing in an Existing Village or a Market Town for the three years immediately preceding the date of application for registration and meet the eligibility requirements for electors in the relevant election may register as electors for both the IIR Election and the ReR Election or the KFR Election through the submission of two separate applications for voter registration.”
　　The spokesman stressed that registered electors of the ReR Election and the KFR Election are not eligible to remain so registered if they no longer reside in the Village/Market Town for which they are registered, or their residential addresses in the Village/Market Town concerned are no longer their principal residential addresses. The persons concerned will commit an offence if they vote at the relevant election.
　　Members of the public may visit the RRE Voter Registration Information Enquiry System through the RRE website (www.had.gov.hk/rre) to check their own registration particulars.
　　Application forms for new voter registration and change of registration particulars by an elector can be obtained from the HAD, Home Affairs Enquiry Centres and overseas offices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, or downloaded from the RRE website.
　　Duly completed and signed forms should be submitted in person or by post to the HAD or any Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, by fax (fax number: 2591 6392) or email (rre@had.gov.hk), or via the E-submission Platform at the RRE website on or before the deadline specified above (Hong Kong time).
　　The HAD will roll out the voter registration campaign through the RRE website, posters, newspaper advertisements and more to encourage eligible persons to register as electors and remind registered electors to update their registration particulars by the deadline.
　　For enquiries, please call the RRE hotline at 2152 1521. read more