The second Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will open tomorrow (April 6). With "Arts and Action" as its theme, this year's festival takes audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong's pop culture, showing the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within it.
 
     Today (April 5), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, attended the festival programme parade at the central lawn of Victoria Park. In his welcoming remarks, Mr Yeung said that over 530 000 people had attended the Pop Culture Festival activities presented by the LCSD last year. On top of promoting culture and arts, the festival had also attracted crowds and driven other organisations to present related activities, bringing new impetus into the city's economy. He added that representatives of tourism, food and beverage and retail industries were invited to this programme parade so that they would know the programmes to be offered in this year's festival and devise suitable planning in offering concessions to encourage consumption, which would in turn promote the economy. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is hoping that by shaping tourism with culture and promoting culture with tourism, Hong Kong's pop culture could be appreciated by more people both at home and abroad, and a stronger sense of pride toward Hong Kong's culture could be built among local people. Good stories of Hong Kong could also be shared with more tourists and people overseas, and the city's pop culture could continue to thrive.
 
     More than 20 programmes have been lined up for the second edition, covering a diverse range of formats including stage performances, thematic exhibitions, film screenings, library activities and outreach programmes (See Annex). Its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong's pop culture in a comprehensive manner.
 
     This year marks the centenary of the birth of literary legend Jin Yong, as well as the 20th anniversary of the passing of famed lyricist James Wong. The late composer Joseph Koo was a creative genius who had worked closely with them over the years. In this connection, this year's festival introduces many programmes themed around the three masters. These include "A Path to Glory – Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum; "Classic Martial Arts Drama Costumes and Props Exhibition" under the "Arts or Action, Why Not Both?" series; "Martial Arts．Heroes" concert featuring Joseph Koo's TV drama theme tunes adapted from Jin Yong's martial arts novels; "Music Document Highlights of Joseph Koo & James Wong" and "Exhibition on Dr Louis Cha Collection and Subject Talk on Jin Yong's Works" at the Hong Kong Public Libraries; "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum; and "ART!ON POP Concert" where famous producer Carl Wong and esteemed singers will reinterpret Joseph Koo's and James Wong's repertoire.
 
     To enable members of the public to explore the diversity of Hong Kong's pop culture, the LCSD will hold "ImagineLand", the festival's opening programme, tomorrow at the central lawn of Victoria Park. This two-day large-scale outdoor carnival features a creative mix of music, film, fashion and arts tech. Highlights include the "Gen S Concert" featuring local, mainland and overseas singer-songwriters of different generations; "Memory Lane" which re-enacts classical film scenes; "Funarts Corner" which consists of interactive art booths on various themes including music, arts tech and handicrafts; as well as "Movie Under the Stars" where carnival goers can watch celebrated films on the grass.
 
     Other notable festival offerings include "Of Fists and Swords – Kaleidoscope of Hong Kong Martial Arts Films", "Coming to a Theatre Near You – Gems of Hong Kong Film Trailers", "Fame in a Flash – A Tour of AVON Recording Studios" and "From Arts to Action Music Concert". "Of Fists and Swords" allows audiences to revisit iconic local period wuxia and kung fu films, whereas "Coming to a Theatre Near You" features more than 100 precious film trailers to track the key trends and changes in Hong Kong cinema. "Fame in a Flash", on the other hand, offers audiences a rare chance to delve deep into AVON Studios, widely known as the hall of fame for Hong Kong's pop music. Participants can trace the footsteps of countless legendary singers and catch a glimpse of the little-known secrets in the music circles. Albert Au will join hands with different young singers to reinterpret the beloved classic songs in "From Arts to Action Music Concert".
 
     The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 features a wide array of programmes, offering a blend of dynamism and relaxation, East and West, old and new. The opening programme "ImagineLand" is sponsored by Create Hong Kong. For more details, please visit the festival website at www.pcf.gov.hk/en or call 2601 8703.
 
     "A Path to Glory – Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" and "Of Fists and Swords – Kaleidoscope of Hong Kong Martial Arts Films" are also under the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. 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 details, please visit the website www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

              

     Police are investigating a fatal traffic accident discovered in Sheung Shui this morning (April 5) in which a woman died.

     At 8.13am, Police received a report that a woman was lying unconsciously in a drainage channel.

     Police officers sped to the scene. Sustaining head injuries, the 69-year-old woman was certified dead at scene.

     Initial investigation revealed that the woman was riding a bicycle at around 10.30pm last night (April 4) along Castle Peak Road – Kwu Tung southbound. When passing by Tsung Pak Long Tsuen, the bicycle was suspectedly hit by a private vehicle from behind and the woman fell into a drainage channel. After the impact, the private vehicle left the scene.

     Investigation by the Special Investigation Team Two of Traffic, New Territories North is underway.

     Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 3800.

     Fourteen landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance) pleaded guilty and were fined a total of $26,900 today (April 5) at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts. Since the Ordinance has come into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has successfully prosecuted 218 cases involving a total of 183 SDU landlords, with fines ranging from $400 to $18,600, amounting to a total of $401,700.
 
     The offences of these landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; (2) failing to produce copies of the bills and provide an account in writing when requiring the tenant to pay for the reimbursement of the apportioned water and/or electricity charges; (3) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance; and (4) failing to provide the tenant with a rent receipt. One of the landlords committed 12 offences under (1) to (4) above and was fined $10,900.
 
     The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlords.
 
     A spokesman for the RVD appealed to SDU landlords to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, and also reminded SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD's request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance.
 
     To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/tc/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to facilitate SDU tenants' reporting to the RVD.
 
     The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. Since the first batch of regulated tenancies has already approached their second-term tenancies, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work in order to assist SDU landlords and tenants to understand the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy. In addition, the RVD has started issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the concerned landlords and tenants of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to remind them about their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD's website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions, etc. SDU landlords and tenants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
 
     For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD's webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information.

     The Transport Department (TD) said today (April 5) that a vehicle owner was ordered by the Magistrate earlier to pay over $170,000 for all outstanding amounts (including tolls, an initial surcharge of $175 and a further surcharge of $350), penalties and costs of proceedings after failing to settle 146 toll payments. The Magistrate has also given a direction to the TD to refuse the application for license renewal and transfer of ownership of the vehicle involved.
      
     A spokesman for the TD said, "Vehicle owners are legally required to pay tolls on time after using government tolled tunnels. Offenders will be ordered to pay all outstanding amounts, penalties and costs of proceedings. The TD will continue to take actions to recover outstanding tolls and will progressively refer cases to the Magistrate for handling."
      
     The spokesman continued, "The HKeToll was implemented in all government tolled tunnels and the Tsing Sha Control Area (i.e. Eagle's Nest Tunnel, Sha Tin Heights Tunnel and Tai Wai Tunnel) since May 2023, and most vehicle owners paid tolls on time. There are, however, a small number of vehicle owners who have not paid tolls or raised any dispute on tolls after repeated reminders from the toll service provider, including sending text messages or emails to their registered electronic contact means, and sending letters to their registered addresses. The TD reminds vehicle owners that unless an automatic payment means has been set up and payment is successful, payment must be completed within 14 working days after using a government tolled tunnel."
      
     At present, the number of vehicle tags issued exceeds 810 000, accounting for more than 99 per cent of the licensed vehicles in Hong Kong. About 92 per cent of the vehicles have opened HKeToll accounts, and about 76 per cent of the vehicles have set up automatic payment means. The TD once again appeals to vehicle owners to install a vehicle tag, open an HKeToll account and set up an automatic payment means as soon as possible, so as to fully enjoy the convenience of the HKeToll.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a female psychiatric ward, the spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital made the following update today (April 5):
 
     Two more patients (aged 55 and 72) in the ward have presented with respiratory symptoms. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients, and their test results were positive for Influenza A. The patients concerned are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.
 
     Admission and visiting arrangements to the ward concerned have been suspended. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the conditions of the patients in the ward concerned.
 
     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.