LCSD's "Cheers!" Series to present family entertainment programmes from December to March next year
The "Cheers!" Series, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department,will be held from December to March next year. Eight local and visiting performing groupsare invited to give audiences fabulous family entertainment programmes, covering dance, music, puppetry and music theatre performances, which are ideal for friends and families to celebrate fun-filled winter festivities together.
"Släpstick" from the Netherlands will make its Hong Kong debut with "Schërzo", a performance blending music and comedy elements. With virtuosic musicianship and hilarious physical language, the five musicians of the troupe will deliver an absurd and entertaining musical feast for all ages. Australia's Windmill Theatre Company will present the puppetry show "Grug and the Rainbow". Grug is a character from the much-loved picture books by the Australian writer Ted Prior. The grassy little friend will return to Hong Kong to meet his fans and toddlers and embark on a heart-warming adventure full of surprises.
The performances prepared by local performing groups are also exciting. Local a cappella group Boonfaysau will kick off the series with a new a cappella musical, "Peter and the Wolf", featuring a rearranged version of Prokofiev's classic symphonic tale for children by local composer Austin Leung, as well as original Cantonese songs with lyrics written by renowned lyricist and film director Norris Wong, to delight the audience. In the Musical Fairy Tales: "Goldipegs & The Three Cellos", Premiere Performances of Hong Kong will bring together local music ensembles and musicians to present three musical fairy tales, from Ferdinand the Bull who enjoys flowers, to the Frog Prince awaiting his royal kiss, and Goldipegs who enters the home of a family of cellos and discovers amazing music.
"The Snowman & The Bear" concert will return this winter, with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong performing live on stage alongside the screening of the two Christmas animated films accompanied by storytelling and singing, bringing audiences into a dreamlike winter world. In the "A Christmas Wish for Peace On Earth" concert, the Hong Kong Oratorio Society will collaborate with Hong Kong Strings and a number of musicians to present a variety of classical Christmas pieces, classic Christmas carols, and a new Christmas suite by local composer Alfred Wong.
Local puppet theatre troupe Make Friends With Puppetwill stage a children's puppet musical "Winter in Sweetyland 2024 - Snowy Dreams", which uses cute puppets and original music to tell a touching story of Cotton Candy, who decides to find winter for saving Sweetyland, sending audiences into a sweet and cosy world of candy. Featuring dancers from the professional tap dance company R&T (Rhythm & Tempo) and child performers, "Papa is My New Classmate" is a tap theatre show that combines tap dance and local folk songs to bring back memories and feelings for grown-ups while introducing children to the music of an earlier era.
For programme dates, venues and ticket prices of the "Cheers!" Series, please see the Annex. Tickets will be available from October 28 (Monday) onwardsat URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Various discount schemes, such as package discount and family package discount, will be offered. For programme enquiries and discount schemes, please call 2268 7323 or visitwww.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment/groups_1809.html.
LCSD's "Cheers!" Series to present family entertainment programmes from December to March next year Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
LCSD's "Cheers!" Series to present family entertainment programmes from December to March next year Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Employers and employees should make prior work arrangements in times of tropical cyclones and rainstorms
As the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 (T3) is now in force, the Labour Department (LD) today (October 26) reminded employers to make prior work arrangements for employees during and after tropical cyclone warnings, rainstorm warnings and "extreme conditions", including arrangements on reporting for duty, release from work, resumption of work and remote work (if applicable). These arrangements not only can ensure the safety of employees and smooth operation of establishments, but also are conducive to maintaining good labour-management relations.
"In drawing up and implementing the work arrangements and contingency measures for periods during and after tropical cyclone warnings and rainstorm warnings, employers should give prime consideration to employees' safety and the feasibility of employees travelling to and from their workplaces. Employers should also give consideration as much as possible to the different situations faced by individual employees, such as their place of residence and the road and traffic conditions in the vicinity, and adopt a sympathetic and flexible approach with due regard to their actual difficulties and needs," an LD spokesman said.
To avoid misunderstanding, disputes and confusion, employers should consult and engage employees when drawing up the arrangements and make appropriate updates or amendments based on the experience of each occasion and the needs of both employers and employees, as well as the actual situations. The work arrangements should cover the following matters:
* arrangements in respect of reporting for duty;
* arrangements in respect of early release from work;
* arrangements in respect of resumption of work (e.g. the number of hours within which employees should resume duty after the warning concerned is cancelled or when "extreme conditions" comes to an end, and when safety and traffic conditions allow);
* arrangements in respect of remote work such as work from home (if applicable) (e.g. duty and work arrangements during and after tropical cyclone warnings, rainstorm warnings or "extreme conditions");
* arrangements regarding working hours, wages and allowances (e.g. calculation of wages and allowances in respect of reporting for duty and absence); and
* special arrangements in respect of staff required to report for duty in times of adverse weather and "extreme conditions".
"Employers should conduct a timely and realistic assessment of whether there is any need for requiring staff to report for duty at workplaces when a tropical cyclone warning, rainstorm warning or 'extreme conditions' is in force. In making the assessment, employers should take into account the safety of employees, the business nature, operational needs and urgency of service, with due regard to the manpower requirements, staffing establishment and individual situations of employees, and keep the number of staff at workplaces to the minimum as far as possible," the spokesman added.
When a Pre-No. 8 Special Announcement is issued during working hours, employers should release employees from workplaces or from work in stages or arrange for them to work remotely as soon as practicable. To ensure the safety of employees and to enable them to arrive home before suspension of public transport services, employees who have mobility problems (for example, pregnant employees or those with a disability), employees who rely on transport services which are prone to being affected by adverse weather conditions (for example, ferry services) to get home, and those who work in or are living in remote areas (for example, outlying islands) should be given priority to leave. Other employees should be released from workplaces or from work in stages according to their travelling distance or the time required for returning home.
If an Amber, Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued during working hours, employees working indoors should continue to work as usual unless it is dangerous to do so. Supervisors of employees working outdoors or in exposed areas should suspend outdoor duties as soon as practicable. They should arrange for their employees to take shelter temporarily and resume duty only when weather conditions permit. If the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is still in force by the end of working hours, employees should stay in a safe place until the heavy rain has passed. A suitable area in the workplace should be made available by employers as temporary shelter for employees.
If it is necessary for employees to report for duty at workplaces under adverse weather or "extreme conditions", employers should discuss and agree with them in advance on the duty arrangements and contingency measures. If public transport services are suspended or limited when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 (T8) or higher, Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force, employers should provide safe transport services for employees travelling to and from workplaces, or grant them an extra travelling allowance.
The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and Minimum Wage Ordinance.
"As natural calamities cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume work on time due to adverse weather or 'extreme conditions', employers should neither deduct their wages, good attendance bonuses or allowances, nor reduce employees' entitlement to annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days under the Employment Ordinance, or ask for additional hours of work from employees to compensate for the loss of working hours when they are unable to report for duty," he said.
Employers should note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. If employees are required to work in times of tropical cyclone warnings, rainstorm warnings or "extreme conditions", employers should ensure that the risks at work are reduced as far as reasonably practicable. Moreover, under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, employers are liable to pay compensation for injuries or deaths incurred when employees are travelling by a direct route from their residence to their workplace, or from their workplace back to their residence after work, four hours before or after working hours on a day when T8 or higher, a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or "extreme conditions" is in force.
The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'", which provides the major principles, reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation on making work arrangements for the reference of employers and employees. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).
