The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Bills Committee on Safeguarding National Security Bill will hold two meetings tomorrow (March 14) in Conference Room 1 of the LegCo Complex:
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the large-scale outdoor art project "Art@Harbour 2024" on both sides of Victoria Harbour between March 25 to June 2. There are a total of five projects under the second edition of "Art@Harbour" including two projects jointly organised by the Art Promotion Office and the Science Promotion Unit under the LCSD, namely "teamLab: Continuous", which will feature art installations by the international art collective teamLab, and "Science in Art" by local art group LAAB Architects and local artist Dylan Kwok, to be held in Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section). The other three projects in Tsim Sha Tsui are independently orchestrated and financed by project partners K11 Group, Sino Group and the First Initiative Foundation (FIF). The project by the FIF is also supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Featuring the integration of art, science, and technology, the "Art@Harbour 2024" 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.
"teamLab: Continuous" (Exhibition period: from March 25 to June 2) at Tamar Park and Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section)
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The LCSD teamed up with teamLab to curate the "teamLab: Continuous" exhibition. The exhibition will present two magnificent large-scale art installations: "Resonating Life which Continues to Stand", which showcases hundreds of colourful luminous ovoids with continuously changing colours and sound triggered by visitors' interactions, and "Resonating Trees" which makes the light of dozens of trees in the park spread, changing its colour and resonating sound tones in response to the ovoids. The exhibits will span the lawns of Tamar Park and extend to Victoria Harbour, triggering a mesmerising display of kaleidoscopic colours and soothing soundscapes through people's participation. The luminous spectacle will serve as both a collaborative artwork by people and nature, and convey the beauty of continuity that exists within the urban landscape, heightening the sense of awareness of the existence of other people in the same space and environment, and harmonising with the bustling night vistas of Victoria Harbour.
"Science in Art" (Exhibition period: from March 25 to June 2) at the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section)
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The LCSD commissioned local art group LAAB Architects and local artist Dylan Kwok to create two interactive art installations, the "Harbour Cup" and "Schrödinger's Bed", which are both related to the nature and properties of light, thus echoing the vibrancy and zest of the harbourfront.
Alicja Kwade's sculpture "l'ordre des mondes (Totem)" (Exhibition period: from March 23 to November) at K11 MUSEA Promenade
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K11 Group will present Alicja Kwade's sculpture "l'ordre des mondes (Totem)" in collaboration with Pace Gallery at the K11 MUSEA promenade. This artwork, reflecting the artist's deep interest in time, space and science, will feature marble spheres symbolising 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. K11 Group and Pace Gallery jointly funded and supported this year's "Art@Harbour" project, adding an artistic atmosphere to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and demonstrating the vitality of Victoria Harbour.
"Chromaflux" (Exhibition period: from March 24 to May 5) at the Sino LuminArt Façade of Tsim Sha Tsui Centre and Empire Centre
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Sino Group is collaborating with HKWALLS, a local art organisation, to present an extraordinary digital art exhibition titled "Chromaflux", featuring 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 will push 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 colors, 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 mesmerizing digital creations.
Voyage with Van Gogh (Exhibition period: from March 28 to May 31) at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza
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The FIF, in collaboration with the Van Gogh Heritage Foundation and with the funding support of the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, will present "Voyage with Van Gogh" – a public art initiative featuring an outdoor multisensory LED art installation at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. Inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings and the iconic Hong Kong Victoria Harbour, Spanish new digital art studio VISURA Studio and artist Vritis will create a digital artwork, "Cycles", in front of the historic Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, which will take viewers on a voyage of artistic exploration. Adding to the experience, the FIF will present the original musical composition "Rain or Shine". Composed by Leon Ko, produced by Chiu Tsang-hei, and performed by Chinese prodigy pianist Niu Niu and violinist Wang Liang, this harmonious collaboration will enhance the visual masterpiece, creating an unforgettable sensory experience for all, converting the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower into a canvas of light and creativity.
Admission arrangements
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Members of the public are welcome to visit the above-mentioned free exhibitions. Except for visiting certain designated areas (the lawn area of Tamar Park) of the "teamLab: Continuous" at specific time slots, advance bookings are not required for other exhibitions.
The "teamLab: Continuous" exhibition (the lawn area in Tamar Park) will be lit-up from 6.30pm to 11pm. Members of the public who wish to enter the lawn area for a better visiting experience by interacting with the exhibits are required to pre-book their visits through the Klook system. Reservations are not required for other areas.
The online booking system will begin accepting bookings for the first week (i.e. from March 25 to March 31) starting at noon on March 18 (next Monday). Bookings for subsequent weeks will be open every Monday at noon. Each person can only reserve one session per day, and each reservation can accommodate up to two individuals. Visitors who have successfully made a booking should arrive at the venue within their chosen time slot and present the QR code on the confirmation email to on-site staff for admission. At 1pm daily, the booking system will also release available quota for that day.
The entrance to the exhibition is located at Tamar Park, near the East Wing of the Central Government Offices. Members of the public are advised to use the footbridge outside the Admiralty Centre to access the venue and follow the visiting route recommended by on-site staff.
In the event of inclement weather such as the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3, with the likelihood of hoisting Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above, black rainstorm signal or "Extreme Conditions", the "teamLab: Continuous" exhibition may be temporarily closed, depending on the situation. Relevant booking will be cancelled automatically. Visitors who have booked sessions affected by the closure will be required to make a new booking for their visit. Information about temporary closure and venue arrangement will be released through Government press releases, "Art@Harbour 2024" website, Klook booking website, and Facebook and Instagram of "apohere" and QK Post.
For the content and dates of the exhibition, as well as the latest news and information of "Art@Harbour 2024", please visit the website at www.museums.gov.hk/tc/web/portal/artatharbour.html.
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) invited more than 300 teachers and students from 10 secondary schools to attend a "Creation and Rehabilitation" drama and music performance by persons in custody (PICs) under the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project (RPP) at Stanley Prison today (March 13). The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow, officiated at the opening ceremony of the performance.
In the performance, PICs staged for the students a drama featuring the story of a teenager who was tempted by peers to take drugs and became addicted to them. In order to earn money, he joined an online fraud syndicate and disguised himself as different characters to commit fraud online. At the end of the story, his family members also fell into the trap of the scam he had designed, which made him regretful. The CSD hopes that through the drama, students can enhance their ability to distinguish right from wrong and become law-abiding and drug-free citizens.
A PIC, who shared his experiences with students participating in the event, said he was glad that the event provided him with a platform to share his personal experience with youngsters. Being a drug addict, he was sentenced to imprisonment for the offence of trafficking in dangerous drugs. He advised students to be law-abiding and stay away from drugs in order to avoid facing legal consequences for committing crimes. He also urged young people to cherish their time with their parents, otherwise they may regret it.
Jointly organised by the CSD and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong Lay Prison Evangelical Organisation, the "Creation and Rehabilitation" Programme has been implemented at Stanley Prison since 2011. The Programme integrates arts therapy into rehabilitation services and assists PICs in self-exploration and self-understanding through a series of creative workshops. In addition, the Programme provides opportunities for young people to visit correctional institutions and meet PICs in person so as to understand the heavy price of committing crimes and the importance of abiding by the law. At the same time, through the creation and performance by PICs, students can deepen their understanding of diversified rehabilitation programmes of the CSD, thereby recognising the importance of rehabilitation and the significance of social harmony.
The CSD launched the RPP in September 2008 to disseminate to young people the messages of safeguarding our country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation. Since the implementation of the programme, more than 490 000 young people and people from various sectors have participated in various activities.
​Hong Kong Customs on March 11 and yesterday (March 12) conducted an anti-narcotics operation in Yuen Long and seized a total of about 28 kilograms of suspected dangerous drugs with a total estimated market value of about $8.3 million. A man was arrested.
On the evening of March 11, Customs in Yuen Long intercepted a man who was getting off a taxi and found two suitcases inside the boot of the vehicle. About 19.2kg of suspected cannabis buds were concealed inside the suitcases. The 36-year-old man was subsequently arrested.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs yesterday escorted the arrested man to a residence in Yuen Long for a search. Inside the premises, Customs officers seized about 3kg of suspected cannabis resin, about 2.3kg of suspected methamphetamine, about 480 grams of suspected ketamine, about 3kg of assorted drugs and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs reminds members of the public that cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are classified as dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Importation of products (including food or drinks) containing cannabis, THC or CBD into Hong Kong is prohibited unless the relevant provisions in the Ordinance are complied with. In order to avoid breaching the law inadvertently, special attention should be paid to the packaging labels of those products.
Under the Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities 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/).
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 13) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 990 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 281.33 million poultry eggs from Japan last year.
​"The CFS has contacted the Japanese authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.