Brussels ETO supports Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in Spain
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) supported the 57th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, which is taking place in Sitges, Spain, from October 3 to 13 (Sitges time). Five Hong Kong movies are featured in the Festival, namely "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In", "The Goldfinger", "Peg O' My Heart", "The Moon Thieves" and "Inexternal".
Brussels ETO hosted a reception on October 4 (Sitges time) with the participation of the Director of "Inexternal", Mr Yuen Kim-wai, and about 100 guests from the local film, cultrual and business sectors.
Speaking at the reception, Assistant Representative of Brussels ETO Mr Paul Leung, said that Hong Kong is the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges and an Asian front-runner in the global film history.
"To enhance the development of the film industry, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been supporting the film industry through the Film Development Fund in four strategic directions, namely, nurturing talent, enhancing local production, expanding markets and building audiences," added Mr Leung.
He highlighted the recently launched Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme, which subsidises film projects coproduced by filmmakers from European and Asian countries to produce films featuring Hong Kong, European and Asian cultures. The scheme aims to support Hong Kong films to expand to overseas markets.
Founded in 1968, the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia is the world's leading fantasy film festival. It screens films related to the fantastic genre, including action and adventure movies and black comedies, with a special emphasis on thrillers.
Brussels ETO supports Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in Spain Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Brussels ETO supports Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia in Spain Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Buildings Department responds to media enquiries on development project at Anderson Road
In response to media enquiries about the steel reinforcement installation works in the superstructure of a development project at Anderson Road, a spokesman for the Buildings Department (BD) today (October 4) gave the following response:
The BD received a report in late August alleging that the steel reinforcements of some structural elements in the superstructure works being carried out at the Anderson Road site had not been installed in accordance with the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance (Chapter 123) (BO). The BD attaches great importance to the incident and has deployed its staff to the site four times since early September to inspect site operations, quality of work, site safety and the like. During the inspection on September 26, the BD staff found that the number of steel reinforcements installed at six beams on 29/F of Tower 3 of the site was less than that required in the approved plans. Nevertheless, there was no obvious danger to the overall structure.
As neither the representative of the registered structural engineer (RSE) nor the representative of the registered contractor (RC) could provide a reasonable explanation immediately on that day, the BD staff met with the RSE on the following day (September 27) and requested him to submit a detailed investigation and remedial works report, including the need for additional sampling tests to determine whether similar situations existed on other floors of Tower 3 and in other towers.
To facilitate the investigation requested by the BD, works of the Anderson Road development project have been suspended since September 28. In addition to the investigation and remedial works report, the BD also requested for a proposal to strengthen site supervision, and the site works cannot be resumed until the BD is satisfied with the report and proposal.
The BD is continuing its investigation into the incident and will consider appropriate enforcement action upon receipt of the RSE's report on the incident.
The BD is also reviewing the superstructure works in seven other private developments being carried out by the same contractor, and will step up site inspections to check their site safety and quality of works.
Of the eight private development projects mentioned above, four were taken over from Aggressive Construction Engineering Limited (ACEL), which was removed from the register of general building contractors in November last year. The RC involved in the incident was another independent RC. Under the BD's registration system, an RC must have a suitable authorized signatory (AS) to supervise the works. The AS of the RC involved in this incident was not the AS of ACEL, whose name was removed during the processing of its application for registration renewal last year. The delisted AS could not act on behalf of an RC for the purposes of the BO unless he attended the interview again and passed the assessment of the Contractors Registration Committee.
The spokesman reiterated that the BD attaches great importance to the safety and quality of building works. Whichever contractor is involved, the construction works are subject to stringent control under the existing system. The BO stipulates that registered building professionals and RC must properly supervise the works, including ensuring the carrying out of building works in accordance with the approved plans. If registered building professionals, RC and their technically competent persons identify any non-conformities, they must follow the requirements set out in the Code of Practice for Site Supervision 2009 (2024 Edition) and initiate the relevant procedures and rectify. The BD will conduct audit inspections at the critical stages of the building works, witness on-site tests, and review relevant certification documents for quality control.
The Anderson Road development project comprises six multi-storey residential towers, three of which (Towers 1, 2 and 3) are 32 storeys in height, while the remaining three (Towers 5, 6 and 7) are 24 storeys in height. Superstructure works for all six towers were underway, with the concreting works completed at various levels ranging from 22 to 29 storeys. Nine single-storey houses will also be built in the development.
