The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, April 15, 2024 is 106 (same as last Saturday's index).
​The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Saturday, April 13, 2024 was 106 (up 0.1 against last Friday's index).
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 projects between January 1 and March 31, 2024.
Updated information related to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance is available on its website at www.epd.gov.hk/eia.
Completed statutory EIAs and non-statutory environmental studies for projects in the first quarter of 2024 include:
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A. Statutory EIAs:
1. Construction of Annex Block at Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters, Tsim Sha Tsui
(Hong Kong Observatory)
2. Northern Link
(MTR Corporation Limited)
3. Widening of Yuen Long Highway (section between Lam Tei and Tong Yan San Tsuen)
(Highways Department)
B. Non-statutory environmental studies for projects:
Nil
Newly commenced statutory EIAs and non-statutory environmental studies for projects include:
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A. Statutory EIAs:
1. Development of Lok Ma Chau Loop – Eastern Connection Road
(Civil Engineering and Development Department)
B. Non-statutory environmental studies for projects:
Nil
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)-funded films, "Time Still Turns the Pages", "Fly Me to the Moon", "A Guilty Conscience" and "Band Four" for winning Best Film Award, Best New Performer Award, Best Original Film Score Award and Best New Director Award at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards.
Dr Wong said, "I am very pleased that a total of six FDF-funded films received 34 nominations in 16 categories and out of which, four films have won a total of four awards at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards this year. This highlights the efforts of the FDF in supporting film productions, in terms of both quantity and quality, and in nurturing talent. We will continue to promote the development of Hong Kong cinema."
"Time Still Turns the Pages" is a funded film under the First Feature Film Initiative, produced by Derek Yee, and directed and written by Nick Cheuk. The film stars Lo Chun-yip, Ronald Cheng, Hanna Chan and Rosa Maria Velasco. The film received a total of 12 nominations, namely Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Performer, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Original Film Score and Best New Director. Nick Cheuk won the Best New Director Award.
"Fly Me to the Moon" is a funded film under the First Feature Film Initiative, produced by Stanley Kwan, and directed and written by Sasha Chuk. The film stars Chuk, Angela Yuen, Natalie Hsu, Yoyo Tse and Wu Kang-ren. The film received a total of four nominations, namely Best Supporting Actor, Best New Performer, Best Costume & Makeup Design and Best New Director. Yoyo Tse won the Best New Performer Award.
"A Guilty Conscience" is a funded film under the Film Production Financing Scheme (Relaxation Plan), produced by Bill Kong and Ivy Ho, and directed and written by Jack Ng. The film stars Dayo Wong, Tse Kwan-ho, Louise Wong, Fish Liew and Michael Wong. The film received a total of 10 nominations, namely Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress (two nominations), Best Film Editing and Best New Director. The film won the Best Film Award.
"Band Four" is a funded film under the Film Production Grant Scheme (now defunct), produced by Teddy Robin and Jacqueline Liu, and directed and written by Lai Yan-chi. The film stars Kay Tse, Teddy Robin, Anna hisbbuR and Rondi Chan. The film received four nominations, namely Best Actress, Best New Performer, Best Original Film Score and Best Original Film Song. Teddy Robin and Day Tai won the Best Original Film Score Award.
The First Feature Film Initiative identifies new talent through a competition on screenplay and production proposals. The competition consists of the Higher Education Institution Group and the Professional Group, with each group being awarded a maximum of three prizes. The director of each participating team shall not have previously shot any commercial film of 80 minutes or above. The FDF will provide funding for the winning teams to implement their film proposals and make their first commercial feature films. The winning teams are required to complete the whole film production and sales process, which involves planning, shooting and distribution, in order to acquire knowledge from creation to practical application in making a feature film.
The Film Production Financing Scheme aims to provide finance for small- to medium-budget film productions with the objectives of encouraging more commercial investment in film productions, creating a larger mass of film activities and employment opportunities. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought exceptional challenges to the Hong Kong film industry, the Government launched a Relaxation Plan under the Financing Scheme in July 2020 to increase the number of local film productions in the short term and render relief to film practitioners. Having regard to the overwhelming response from the industry, the application period originally scheduled for six months has been extended several times to January 14, 2025.
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).
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.
