The Government announced today (April 29) the appointment of the membership of the Public Libraries Advisory Committee (PLAC) for the term from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2024.

     The PLAC advises the Government on the development of public libraries in Hong Kong, including the formulation of strategies and measures for the development of library facilities and services; the role, functions and management of the Hong Kong Central Library; and the encouragement of community support and partnership with different sectors in promoting reading, lifelong learning and literary arts.

     The membership list of the new term of the PLAC is as follows:

Chairman:                     Mr Sunny Lee Wai-kwong
Vice-chairperson:           Ms Shirley Marie Therese Loo
Members:                      Mr Charles Chan Kin-hung
                                    Ms Chan Yuk-yin
                                    Ms Cheung Sze-wing
                                    Mr Felix Chow Bok-hin
                                    Mr Chow Tsz-lit
                                    Mr Choy Sai-hung
                                    Ms Linda Choy Siu-min
                                    Professor Chui Yat-hung
                                    Ms Ho Ka-man
                                    Mr Brian Kwok Sze-hang
                                    Mr Lai Shiao-bun*
                                    Ms Tendy Lam Pui-tung
                                    Ms Lam Yan-tung
                                    Dr Rizwan Ullah*
                                    Mr Wan Chi-lun*
                                    Dr Shirley Wong Chiu-wing*
                                    Dr Jimmy Wong Kam-yiu*
                                    Representative of the Education Bureau
                                    Representative of the Government Records Service
                                    Representative of the Home Affairs Bureau
                                    Representative of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department

* Newly appointed members

     A spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau thanked the five outgoing members (Ms Diana Chan Lai-ha, Mr Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, Ms Ho Lan-sang, Mr Hung Kam-in and Ms Karen Ip Kam-lin) for their valued support and contributions to the work of the PLAC over the past years.

The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

     The Ombudsman, Ms Winnie Chiu, today (April 28) announced the completion of a direct investigation into the management and effectiveness of waste separation bins, and made six recommendations for improvement to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

     Since 1998, the Government has provided waste separation bins (commonly known as "three-colour recycling bins" and hereafter "recycling bins") for collection of waste paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles, thereby encouraging the public to participate in waste reduction and recycling. There were media reports that recycling bins were mixed with litter, and some recyclables collection service contractors (the Contractors), for various reasons, disposed of recyclables from recycling bins together with refuse, thus undermining public confidence in the authorities' effective management of the recycling bins.

     The investigation by the Office of The Ombudsman revealed that since October 1, 2020, the EPD had taken over the management of recycling bins in public places from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and implemented a number of improvement measures to achieve the goal of "bigger capacity, easy reporting". The EPD has also stepped up the monitoring of the Contractor through different means, including through the supervision teams formed by the Contractor as required by the EPD and the quality assurance teams set up by a third-party organisation (i.e. the Hong Kong Productivity Council), as well as EPD staff. Since the implementation of the above improvement measures by the EPD, there has been initial improvement in the management of recycling bins in public places.

     Meanwhile, the investigation by the Office revealed that the existing labels on recycling bins in public places were overly simple, thereby failing to effectively minimise improper use of the bins. During site visits for a random sample of recycling bins, the Office also found inconsistencies related to several locations indicated by the "Waste Less" mobile application of the EPD with the actual site situation. Fortunately, the EPD updated the information on the app in early February 2022.

     In the long run, the EPD anticipates a declining demand for roadside recycling bins in urban areas. The role of recycling bins will also gradually transform into providing waste recycling support mainly for remote rural areas and residential premises on scattered sites. Such bins may even be completely replaced by the community recycling network Green@Community.

     Ms Chiu said, "The provision of recycling bins has been implemented by the Government for years. While the quantity of recyclables collected from recycling bins in public places such as roadsides is limited, amounting to less than 0.1 per cent of the total amount of recyclables in Hong Kong annually, these bins are very conspicuous in the community. The effectiveness of these bins will directly affect public confidence in the authorities' measures on waste separation and recovery. The Office is pleased to learn that the EPD has implemented multiple improvement measures since it took over the management of recycling bins in public places in October 2020, with initial improvements to the management of the bins. We find the efforts of the EPD commendable. We expect it to continue monitoring the usage of recycling bins, stepping up publicity and education, and strengthening collaboration with other government departments, so as to revive public confidence in using recycling bins."

     The Office has made six recommendations to the EPD as follows:
 

• Review the labels on recycling bins in public places and consider providing more recycling information in textual and graphical forms to enable the public to learn about more quickly and conveniently the proper way of using recycling bins;

• Update the "Waste Less" mobile application in a timely manner to ensure accuracy of information about recycling bins in public places;

• Continue strengthening collaboration with other departments responsible for recycling bin management and actively encourage them to maintain more recycling data, thereby facilitating the monitoring and adjustment of the management strategies of recycling bins;

• Release data on the operation of recycling bins in public places regularly to enhance transparency of its services and facilitate an objective understanding of the current effectiveness of recycling bins by the public;

• Continue stepping up publicity and education, including sharing via different channels success cases about how members of the public use recycling bins, thereby encouraging more people to take part in waste reduction and recovery, and reviving public confidence in the effectiveness of recycling bins; and

• Work out a schedule to review the policy positioning of recycling bins in public places for deciding on the way forward, and explain its decision for the public to understand why recycling bins in the community may be gradually reduced in number or even completely replaced. If it is decided that recycling bins in public places be retained, continue assessing any impact arising from waste charging due to be implemented later, and adopt corresponding measures to ensure that recycling bins in public places will continue to achieve efficacy.

     The EPD has accepted all of the recommendations.

     The full investigation report has been uploaded to the website of the Office of The Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.hk for public viewing.

  

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (April 25) announced that the exhibition periods of thematic exhibitions held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) have been extended. Members of the public could grasp the chance to visit these exhibitions.

     â€‹The exhibition period of "#popcolours: The Aesthetics of Hues in Antiquities from the HKMoA Collection" at the HKMoA has been extended to September 7. With "colours" as the theme, the exhibition features more than 300 items of Chinese antiquities from the museum collection, including porcelains, lacquers, textiles, glass and jade, and takes visitors on a fascinating journey to explore the colourful world of ancient artefacts.

     The exhibition is held at the Chinese Antiquities Gallery on the third floor of the HKMoA and admission is free. For details, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en_US/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/popcolours-the-aesthetics-of-hues-in-antiquities-from-the-hkmoa-collection.html, or call 2721 0116 for enquiries.

     Another exhibition, "New Horizons: Ways of Seeing Hong Kong Art in the 80s and 90s" at the HKMoA has had its exhibition period extended to May 29. The exhibition examines the crucial turning points, new trends and sensibilities in contemporary art in Hong Kong during the 1980s and 1990s.

     The exhibition is held at The Lab on the fifth floor of the HKMoA and is free for admission. For details, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en_US/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/new-horizons-ways-of-seeing-hong-kong-art-in-the-80s-and-90s.html, or call 2721 0116 for enquiries.

     â€‹At the HKHM, the exhibition period of "X-Xperimenting Exhibition – Danny Yung 50 Year Creations" has been extended to August 1. Featuring cross-media works of art created by artist Danny Yung over the decades, the exhibition charts the diversified artistic journey of a forerunner of experimental art.

     â€‹The exhibition is jointly presented by the LCSD and Zuni Icosahedron (Zuni), and is jointly organised by the HKHM and Zuni. Designer Freeman Lau, Zuni's Co-Artistic Director cum Executive Director Mathias Woo, and Zuni's International Exchange Director, Wong Yue-wai, served as the guest curators of the exhibition. It is held at Thematic Galleries 1 and 2, courtyard and corridor on the first floor of the HKHM, and admission is free. For details, please visit the website at www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid270.html, or call 2180 8188.

     â€‹In addition, the exhibition for the "Still & Motion – Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2021" competition at the HKHM has had its exhibition period extended to May 9. The exhibition is jointly organised by the HKHM and the Hong Kong Designers Association. Featuring 116 entries to the competition from around the world as well as posters designed by four internationally renowned designers who were the competition panel judges, the exhibition presents the diverse culture and creativity of graphic designers around the world in still and motion.

     â€‹The exhibition is held at Thematic Galleries 3, 4 and 5 on the first floor of the HKHM and is free for admission. For details, please visit the website at hk.heritage.museum/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid271.html, or call 2180 8188.

     â€‹In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the museum for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the relevant requirement of the Vaccine Pass.

     The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 is 96.6 (up 0.4 against yesterday's index).