The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 28) that lifesaving services will be provided at 22 gazetted beaches from April 1. Please refer to the Annex for details of the beaches concerned. &… read more
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 28) that swimming pool complexes will open gradually for public use from April 1, or upon completion of annual maintenance, for the new swimming season. The department calls on swimmers to mind their safety and keep public swimming pools clean and hygienic while swimming.
All public swimming pools, except Mui Wo Swimming Pool, will be open between April and October from 6.30am to 10pm for three sessions daily with two one-hour breaks. To tie in with the ferry schedule, the daily opening hours of Mui Wo Swimming Pool start from 8.30am to 6pm, with one one-hour break. In addition, Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool in Kowloon City District has been temporarily closed for maintenance.
For the 17 pool complexes with both heated and non-heated swimming facilities, heated facilities will continue operation between April 1 and 15 while non-heated facilities will come into service from April 16.
The 17 swimming pool complexes include:
Hong Kong Island:
| District | Swimming Pool Complex |
| ——– | ———————– |
| Central and Western | Kennedy Town Swimming Pool |
| Wan Chai | Morrison Hill Swimming Pool |
| District | Swimming Pool Complex |
| ——– | ———————– |
| Kowloon City | Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool |
| Wong Tai Sin | Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool |
| Morse Park Swimming Pool | |
| Kwun Tong | Kwun Tong Swimming Pool |
| Sham Shui Po | Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool |
| Yau Tsim Mong | Kowloon Park Swimming Pool |
| District | Swimming Complex |
| ——– | —————— |
| Islands | Tung Chung Swimming Pool |
| North | Fanling Swimming Pool |
| Sha Tin | Hin Tin Swimming Pool |
| Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool | |
| Tsuen Wan | Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool |
| Tuen Mun | Tuen Mun Swimming Pool |
| Tuen Mun North West Swimming Pool | |
| Yuen Long | Yuen Long Swimming Pool |
| Sai Kung | Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool |
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (March 28) urged the public not to consume a kind of bottled black vinegar product imported from Japan, as the product might contain red fermented rice with suspected problems. The CFS is following up on the case.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: (Not available in English)
Brand: (Not available in English)
Place of origin: Japan
Volume: 500 ml
Importer: Golden Fellow Hong Kong Limited
A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS, upon learning that food and beverages which were made with suspected problematic red fermented rice are recently being recalled in Japan, immediately contacted importers and retailers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that a retail outlet in Causeway Bay had sold the affected bottled black vinegar product. The above-mentioned importer has stopped sales and removed from shelves the affected product, and has initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions. Members of the public may call its hotline at 5132 8989 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.”
​The CFS has alerted the trade and will continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action. The CFS has also enhanced relevant surveillance and will closely monitor the latest developments in the Japanese authority’s recalls of relevant food products. The investigation is ongoing. Members of the public should consult medical professionals if they intend to consume food products containing red fermented rice for improving health conditions. read more
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, today (March 28) visited Luohu District and Pingshan District in Shenzhen to learn about Shenzhen’s experience in the development of local districts, in particular the development mode and experience in attracting industries, for reference of the Northern Metropolis development.
Ms Linn attended experience sharing sessions by the Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, and the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Governments of Luohu District and Pingshan District on the development of Sungang and Qingshuihe sub-districts in Luohu District, as well as Pingshan District and Baguang sub-district of Dapeng New District. The discussion topics included the planning and development process, and selection of developer, etc. She also visited some of the districts.
The development direction of Sungang sub-district in Luohu District focuses on modern commercial business while the neighbouring Qingshuihe sub-district, planned as a “Headquarters Economic Cluster of Digital Economy”, is a base for the artificial intelligence industry. The Life and Health Technology Park and Biomedical Accelerator area in the Pingshan District are the platforms for strategic industries such as biomedicine and medical equipment. As for Baguang sub-district of Dapeng New District, it focuses on emerging industries such as marine industry, and life and health, etc.
Ms Linn said that being innovative in policy making is necessary for delivering the vision of the Northern Metropolis. For the previous mode of development, the Government would carry out site formation works, followed by sale of individual sites by public tender. Roads and community facilities were also constructed by the Government in general. The Government will proactively explore the mode of “development of local districts”, to select sizable land parcels with commercial returns and community facilities in some New Development Areas in the Northern Metropolis, for the developer being the successful bidder of the project to develop and construct the project collectively. This mode of development can alleviate the financial burden of the Government in the initial stage, facilitate a more coordinated design for the development of local districts, and expedite the provision of public facilities by leveraging market forces.
The Director of the Northern Metropolis Co-ordination Office of the Development Bureau, Mr Vic Yau, also joined the visit.
The delegation returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.
The large-scale outdoor art project “Art@Harbour 2024”, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) on both sides of Victoria Harbour, aims to bring the public and tourists a new inspirational and sensory experience at the Victoria harbourfront through outdoor art installations and digital art façades by integrating art, science and technology. There are a total of five projects under the second edition of “Art@Harbour”. One of the projects staged is “Voyage with Van Gogh” by the First Initiative Foundation (FIF) in collaboration with the Van Gogh Heritage Foundation in the Netherlands, which was launched today (March 28) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. The project is supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.
Addressing the launching ceremony, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the LCSD has joined hands with three esteemed local partners, namely K11 Group, Sino Group, and the FIF, to present a collection of artworks that adorn the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, complementing the art installations at Tamar Park on the opposite shore and brightening up both sides of the harbour. The “Voyage with Van Gogh” will take audiences on a multisensory journey, capturing the essence of Van Gogh’s iconic paintings and the creative spirit of Spanish artist Vritis. This immersive experience was beautifully enhanced by local original music and the enchanting night view of Victoria Harbour to demonstrate Hong Kong’s strength in integrating both Chinese and Western cultures seamlessly.
Other officiating guests included the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; member of the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Committee Ms Yolanda Ng; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; the Chairman of the FIF, Ms Michelle Ong; the Managing Director of the FIF, Ms Amanda Cheung; the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Van Gogh Heritage Foundation, Mr Edzo Doeve, and the Spanish Digital Artist of VISURA Studio, Vritis.
“Voyage with Van Gogh” will be staged at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza from now until May 31, showcasing a digital artwork, “Cycles”, created by Spanish new digital art studio VISURA Studio and artist Vritis, and paired with the original musical composition “Rain or Shine” composed by Leon Ko, produced by Chiu Tsang-hei and performed by Niu Niu and Wang Liang.
After the ceremony, Mr Yeung took an art cruise and visited the digital art exhibition titled “Chromaflux” presented by Sino Group in collaboration with HKWALLS, a local art organisation. The work features digital moving images by five groups of local and international artists from Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Hong Kong at the Sino LuminArt Façade of Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre. The exhibition pushes the boundaries of creativity, blending the worlds of art, technology, and cultural diversity. This one-of-a-kind exhibition will showcase a fusion of vibrant colours, dynamic visuals, and innovative digital techniques, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle that will leave visitors spellbound, and will transform the Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade into a canvas for street artists to display their mesmerising digital creations. The exhibition will run from now until May 5.
Mr Yeung also went to the K11 MUSEA promenade earlier today to visit the sculpture “l’ordre des mondes (Totem)” brought by K11 Group in collaboration with Pace Gallery. Artist Alicja Kwade introduced her artwork, saying that it reflected her deep interest in time, space and science, and that the marble spheres symbolise planets intricately placed within a towering chair structure, juxtaposing the immense celestial bodies found in reality and exploring the relationship between human existence and the vast universe. The sculpture will be on display from now until November.
