â€‹The Chief Executive has appointed Mr Peter Lau Man-pong as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre for a period of three years from April 8, 2024, to April 7, 2027. Mrs Christine Ip Yeung See-ming and Ms Stephanie Poon have been appointed as members of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Arts Centre for a period of three years from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2027.
      
     The appointments are published in the Government Gazette today (March 28).

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has invited Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award winner Eliane Elias to make her Hong Kong debut in May. In this much-anticipated jazz concert for music fans in the city, Elias will unleash her diverse musical talents by performing her greatest hits in her trademark performance style.
 
     The versatile Brazilian musician was unable to come to Hong Kong as scheduled in November last year, and her jazz concert has now been rescheduled for May 28 (Tuesday). Elias, together with her longtime collaborative jazz musicians Marc Johnson (double bass), Leandro Pellegrino (guitar) and Rafael Barata (drums), will combine jazz, Brazilian, classical and pop music styles in the upcoming concert including "Quietude" that features bossa nova jazz balladry. With her alluring voice, virtuosic piano skills and impromptu live interpretation, Elias will bring the audience a jazz music evening filled with a Latin flare.
 
     Elias is an internationally acclaimed pianist, singer and composer as well as an arranger. Her distinctive musical style is one of the most unique and immediately recognisable sounds in jazz and Brazilian music. She has released various albums to date, winning two Grammy Awards for "Best Latin Jazz Album", and two Latin Grammy Awards for "Best Jazz Album". Elias has toured more than 70 countries and regions. In 2018, she was presented with an Edison Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award in the Netherlands.

     â€‹"Jazz Concert by Eliane Elias" will be staged at 8pm on May 28 at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $200, $320, $420 and $520 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1665.html.

    

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) announced today (March 28) the rating results of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cylinder Distributor Safety Performance Recognition Scheme (the Scheme) for 2023.
      
     All the 145 distributors under the five registered gas supply companies supplying LPG cylinders in Hong Kong joined the Scheme. Among the participating distributors, 64 attained the highest level of safety performance, the gold rating, while 15 and 66 received silver and bronze ratings respectively.
      
     Under the Scheme, independent auditing companies commissioned by the registered gas supply companies rated the distributors based on their performance in LPG cylinder delivery arrangements, safety inspection of gas appliances, record keeping of customer receipts, employee training and maintaining gas safety operation records. The rating results were verified by the EMSD.
      
     Distributors will display the Scheme's logo and the rating certificate outside and inside their shops respectively for easy identification by the public.
      
     Organised by the EMSD and registered gas supply companies, the Scheme aims to enhance the safety performance of the LPG cylinder trade. For details of the Scheme and the ratings of LPG cylinder distributors, please visit the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/media/lpgcdsprs) and the EMSD mobile application "E&M Connect".

    

     â€‹Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, at the appointment ceremony of Xu Bing as Ambassador for Cultural Promotion today (March 28):
 
Master Xu, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to announce the Government's appointment of Master Xu Bing, a world-renowned Chinese artist, as Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, with the mission of bringing Hong Kong to a higher level among the international arts community. This is particularly significant for Art March, when international and local cultural and artistic events converge in Hong Kong's vibrant arts scene.
      
     The Government is committed to fostering the cultural development of Hong Kong and strengthening the city's role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange as set out in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. In 2022, we appointed Dr Tan Dun as Hong Kong's first Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, and he had made a notable contribution towards elevating Hong Kong's status as a global hub for cultural exchanges and demonstrating Hong Kong's cultural soft power.
      
     Master Tan has dedicated his efforts to showcasing young Hong Kong talent on significant international cultural stages, including performances in the prestigious Holland Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. Under his artistic vision, the brand-new Tan Dun WE-Festival was a resounding success, creating enjoyable experiences for local audiences and tourists alike.
      
     To extend this positive impact and momentum to other fields of arts, we have appointed Master Xu Bing as another Ambassador for Cultural Promotion this year. He will plan a series of large-scale art projects in Hong Kong to present its unique culture, thereby promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing the city's image in international arts scene. 
      
     Master Xu is widely recognised as one of the most innovative and influential contemporary artists for his unparalleled originality and creativity. He had served for several leading roles and was the former Vice President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, bringing with him a wealth of experience in arts education. Having lived and worked both in Mainland China and abroad, his international exposure is exceptional as an ideal professional, enhancing Hong Kong's position in cultural exchanges and fostering the growth of our local talent. His works of art not only embody the beauty of traditional Chinese culture, but also integrate it with new elements. His artistic style has enabled more people to appreciate Chinese culture and art, as well as the development of new technology, earning him international acclaim. 
      
     The Hong Kong Museum of Art also houses one of Xu's most well-known works, "Book from the Sky". This ground-breaking artwork contains both traditional and contemporary elements, just like Hong Kong, which is characterised by a blend of Chinese and Western cultures as well as ancient and modern features. 
      
     We look forward to seeing Master Xu create more works with local characteristics and showing Hong Kong's exceptional cultural charm to the world. We believe that Master Xu surely can use his extensive global network and experience to help local young art talent to participate in internships or art exchange programmes on the Mainland and abroad, widening their horizons in art and cultural development. 
      
     Master Xu's artistic concepts about contemporary art, outstanding artistry and pioneering spirit will be a guiding and inspirational force for local young talent. Together, they will join hands to tell good stories of Hong Kong.
      
     Last but not least, I would like to thank Master Xu for accepting the appointment, and wish him every success in future collaborations. Thank you.

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 27) detected a case that involved a local watch company having conducted cash transactions of precious products with a total value exceeding HK$120,000, while not being a Category B registrant under the Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Regulatory Regime.

     In an investigation conducted yesterday, Customs officers discovered a local watch company, who has already registered as a Category A registrant under the Regime, had carried out several cash transactions with a total value exceeding HK$120,000 in the course of business. The investigation is ongoing and a 33-year-old director of the company is assisting in the investigation.

     According to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615), the Regime has come into effect since April 1, 2023. Any person who is seeking to carry on a business of dealing in precious metals and stones in Hong Kong and engage in any transaction(s) (whether making or receiving a payment) with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in Hong Kong is required to register with the Commissioner of Customs and Excise.

     In particular, no person other than a Category B registrant may carry out a cash transaction with a total value at or above HK$120,000 in the course of business of dealing in precious metals and stones. Any dealer who is not a Category B registrant, who claims to be a Category B registrant, claims to be authorised to carry out, or carries out any cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     Hong Kong Customs reminds all dealers in precious metals and stones that the transitional period for registration under the Regime has ended. Any dealer who submits their applications for registration from January 1, 2024, onwards must successfully obtain relevant registration before they can carry out any cash or non-cash transaction(s) with a total value at or above HK$120,000.

     For the forms, procedures and guidelines to submit applications for registration, please visit the website for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones Registration System (www.drs.customs.gov.hk) or Hong Kong Customs' webpage (www.customs.gov.hk/en/service-enforcement-information/anti-money-laundering/supervision-of-dealers-in-precious-metals-and-ston/index.html).

     Members of the public may report any suspected transactions involving precious metals and stones with a total value at or above HK$120,000 conducted without the required registration to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).