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.

        

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the launching ceremony of exhibition "Voyage with Van Gogh" today (March 28):

Ms Ong (Chairman of the First Initiative Foundation, Ms Michelle Ong), Ms Cheung (Managing Director of the First Initiative Foundation, Ms Amanda Cheung), ladies and gentlemen,

     Good evening! I am honoured to be here at the launching ceremony of "Voyage with Van Gogh", presented by the First Initiative Foundation (FIF) in collaboration with the Van Gogh Heritage Foundation. This extraordinary exhibition is one of the highlights of "Art@Harbour 2024", an outdoor art project presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which we opened last Sunday at Tamar Park with two captivating exhibitions "teamLab: Continuous" and "Science in Art". 

     Here, on the Kowloon side, we have joined hands with three esteemed local partners, namely the K11 Group, Sino Group, and FIF, to present a collection of artworks that adorn the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, complementing the art installations on the opposite shore and brightening up both sides of the Victoria Harbour. 

     Among these remarkable projects, "Voyage with Van Gogh" takes us on a multi-sensory journey, capturing the essence of Van Gogh's iconic paintings. This immersive experience will be beautifully enhanced by local original music and the enchanting night harbour view to demonstrate Hong Kong's strength in integrating both Chinese and Western cultures seamlessly.

     "Voyage with Van Gogh" is supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, which aims to encourage the development of large-scale international arts and cultural events in Hong Kong, and solidify our position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

     I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to FIF for its enthusiastic participation and invaluable contribution. Together, we have illuminated Hong Kong with dynamism and vitality. I wish this exhibition a resounding success, and hope all of you will enjoy the other events of Art March as well. Thank you very much.

     Police today (March 28) laid a holding charge against a 71-year-old woman with one count of murder.

     The woman was arrested yesterday (March 27) in suspected connection with a murder happened in Kowloon City on the same day, in which a 84-year-old man died.

     The case will be mentioned at Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts on March 30 morning.

     The Government today (March 28) announced the updated arrangements for assisting elderly people in need to make COVID-19 vaccination bookings. Starting from April 2, assistance will be provided for elderly people in need to make online bookings for COVID-19 vaccinations at District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs) and Neighbourhood Elderly Centres (NECs) under the Social Welfare Department (SWD), District Health Centres (DHCs) and DHC Expresses under the Health Bureau (HHB), as well as Elderly Health Centres (EHCs) under the Department of Health (DH).

     Since the launch of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the Government has set up an online booking system which is available around the clock (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk). Members of the public may choose the desired vaccines and make a reservation via the system for COVID-19 vaccination at Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations, Children Community Vaccination Centres, designated General Outpatient Clinics under the Hospital Authority, or designated Student Health Service Centres, Maternal and Child Health Centres and EHCs under the DH.

     Starting from April 2, elderly people living in the community aged 60 or above may seek assistance for making online bookings of COVID-19 vaccination at the SWD's DECCs and NECs (www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/elderly/cat_commsupp/elderly_centres/) or the HHB's DHCs and DHC Expresses (www.dhc.gov.hk/en/index.html). Apart from providing COVID-19 vaccination service for members and non-members aged 65 or above, designated EHCs (www.elderly.gov.hk/english/contactus/elderly_health_centres.html) of the DH will also provide assistance for elderly people in need to make online bookings for COVID-19 vaccines which are not provided at that EHC. The assistance at post offices for elderly people making online bookings will be maintained until end of March.

     Apart from making online bookings for COVID-19 vaccination, members of the public may also call the Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations to enquire about relevant vaccination services. The full list of the stations can be accessed at www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/list_pcvs_covid_eng.pdf.

     â€‹For latest information about COVID-19 vaccination, please visit the website of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html).

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) announced today (March 28) that the Data Collaboration Lab at the Science Park is now officially open to eligible innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises in Science Park for applications to use HA clinical data for research and development purposes. The HA and the HKSTP will fully support the I&T companies in Science Park to enhance clinical research in Hong Kong for the benefit of patients.

     The HA and the HKSTP signed a collaboration agreement in September last year to commence a pilot programme. This initiative has led to the first and, at present, only platform in Hong Kong that facilitates access to the HA's clinical data for purposes beyond academic research and development. The Science Park's two pioneering biotechnology enterprises have engaged in a trial of the HA's medical data. The feedback from these two companies has been overwhelmingly positive, with a high level of satisfaction reported concerning the content of data, the robustness of the technology platform, and the overall user experience. They have also acknowledged the considerable value of the data for research purposes.

     The HA and the HKSTP will officially provide access to the data platform for all eligible research institutions in Science Park, mainly biotech and healthcare companies. They can access the HA's data platform, which contains anonymised data of around 200 000 patients from the HA database, via a remote connection at designated locations. The data includes patients' demographic characteristics, attendance records at hospitals or clinics, clinical diagnoses, procedures, medication and examination results, etc.

     The HA's Senior Systems Manager, Mr Dennis Lee, said, "The further opening of the HA data platform is an important step in promoting the development of clinical research. It allows research institutions to fully explore the potential of the clinical data in Hong Kong, and investigate the possibilities of life science research in the future. The HA will fully collaborate with the Government's policy in promoting scientific research, rendering vigorous support to scientific research development and driving the potential use of healthcare data by more scientific research institutions, in order to enhance healthcare quality and benefits for patients."

     The HKSTP's Head of Institute for Translational Research, Dr Grace Lau, said, "Data plays a pivotal role in advancing innovation and technological development. We are immensely pleased to collaborate with the Hospital Authority to establish the HKSTP HA Data Collaboration Lab. This initiative is highly beneficial for innovative technology enterprises seeking to advance their research and development efforts, and it also promotes the translation of scientific research into tangible public benefits. We will continue to maintain close ties with the Government, industry, academia, and research institutions, providing the necessary support to foster the growth of the entire innovation and technology ecosystem."

     The HA and the HKSTP have attached great importance to the safety of patient data and privacy, and there is a robust mechanism to protect the data. All personal identifiers have been completely removed. Science Park will ensure that institutions comply with the requirements of the HA when using the data, and that the data will only be used with authorisation. The data is contained in the HA, and cannot be downloaded, saved or printed by users.

     The HKSTP has also established a Clinical Research Ethics Committee and a Data Governance Committee to ensure that when I&T enterprises utilise data, they comply with all matters related to data protection and privacy, as well as clinical research ethics. The HKSTP has embedded a series of stringent security measures to protect data security and privacy. The network is isolated from the Internet to prevent unauthorised access. In addition, there are onsite personnel, surveillance systems, and a dedicated room for exclusive access.

     The HA and the HKSTP will continue to support the Government's policy to support and promote scientific research, and to support the research institutions so as to enhance the quality of scientific research in Hong Kong.