Speech by CS at Singapore Festival in Hong Kong (with photos/video)
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at Singapore Festival in Hong Kong today (November 16):
Consul General (Consul General of Singapore in Hong Kong, Mr Ong Siew Gay), Deputy Commissioner Pan Yundong (Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), former Chief Executives Mrs Carrie Lam and Mr Donald Tsang, Lawrence (Chairman, Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, MrLawrence Chia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am delighted to join you all today for the opening of the third Singapore Festival.
We thank the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong for this weekend family fun fair, full of Singaporean food and drinks. There is live music, too, along with dance, games, cooking demos, and face-painting and balloon-twisters for kids of all ages. And it is all happening right here, in the Oasis at Hong Kong's historic Central Market.
Hong Kong and Singapore have long enjoyed good times, and close ties. Singapore has consistently been our largest trading partner in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region.
That is evident in the number of Singaporean companies operating in our city - more than 470 at last count.
Both economies share a rich cultural heritage, a history of trade and economic collaboration, and vibrant expat communities. We enjoy strong people-to-people ties, robust business interactions, and frequent cultural exchanges.
The Asia+ Festival 2024, which kicked off in late September and continues through the end of this month, showcases Asia's rich cultural diversity, highlighting the arts and cultures of nearly 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions. That certainly includes Singapore.
Singaporean composer Lee Jiayi, collaborated with local music and arts groups, stage 28 innovative multimedia performances of her composition "After the Rain" at the Western Salt Water Service Reservoirs – a highlight of this year's Asia+ Festival.
Equally well-received in Singapore were the performances by Hong Kong performing arts groups, including the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in February as well as the Spring-Time Experimental Theatre in October this year.
Last month, let me add, we hosted the inaugural Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo, which attracted more than 1600 arts leaders and practitioners from some 60 countries and regions, including artists from Singapore.
The Expo expanded their markets, while showcasing Hong Kong's fast-emerging role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
This happy weekend's Singapore Festival is another welcome illustration of arts and cultural exchange. And it is happening among the best of friends, Hong Kong and Singapore.
I know the people of Hong Kong will enjoy every minute of these two festive days and nights.
Ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to more creative connections between our two cultures and our two peoples. And I wish the Festival every success.
Thank you very much.
Speech by CS at Singapore Festival in Hong Kong (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CS at Singapore Festival in Hong Kong (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by CS at Singapore Festival in Hong Kong (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DH's enforcement operation "Pipepurge" against waterpipe smoking in no-smoking areas
The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health (DH) conducted an enforcement operation codenamed "Pipepurge" last night (November 15) against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no-smoking areas in Mongkok.
During the operation, officers from TACO (including plainclothes officers) issued a total of two fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to persons illegally smoking waterpipes at one bar. TACO's investigation is ongoing, and prosecution may also be taken against operators of the bar who are suspected of contravening the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) (the Ordinance) and the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) for aiding and abetting smoking offences. TACO will also notify the Liquor Licensing Board of the above-mentioned violation.
Under the Ordinance, conducting a smoking act in a statutory no-smoking area (such as indoor areas of bars or restaurants) is prohibited. Any person doing a smoking act in statutory no-smoking areas is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. Moreover, where smoking products (including waterpipes) are sold, in bars or otherwise, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of smoking products stipulated in the Ordinance apply. Offenders are liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000. Venue managers of statutory no-smoking areas are empowered by the Ordinance to request a smoking offender cease the act; if the offender is not co-operative, the manager may contact the Police for assistance.
Also, under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, any person who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission by another person of any offence shall be guilty of the like offence. A spokesman for the DH appeals to operators and venue mangers of bars/restaurants not to assist any person in breaching the statutory smoking prohibitions, or provide a waterpipe apparatus and tobacco to customers for use.
The DH spokesman stressed that TACO will follow up and investigate every complaint about illegal smoking, and will conduct inspections and take enforcement actions in the venue concerned. TACO will also conduct joint inspections and enforcement action (including plainclothes operations) with other law enforcement agencies from time to time with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. The DH will continue to closely monitor and take stringent enforcement actions to tackle illegal waterpipe smoking. In the past 12 months, TACO conducted 148 operations against illegal waterpipe smoking activities in no-smoking areas. A total of 176 FPNs were issued against smoking offenders, while 88 summonses were issued to staff members and operators of the bars/restaurants for other related offences.
The spokesman said that waterpipe is a smoking product, and its combustion of fuel (e.g. charcoal) releases carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that is a by-product from incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon, such as charcoals. Exposure to a low concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to a range of symptoms such as dizziness, headache, tiredness and nausea; whereas exposure to a high concentration of carbon monoxide can lead to impaired vision, disturbed co-ordination, unconsciousness, brain damage or even death. People should seek medical attention immediately if they suspect they are developing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Due to deeper inhalation and longer smoking sessions, waterpipe users usually inhale more toxins than they would when smoking cigarettes. A typical one-hour waterpipe smoking session exposes the user to 100 to 200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single conventional cigarette. Moreover, sharing a waterpipe apparatus increases the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Furthermore, areas in bars/restaurants where waterpipes are handled or kept have been found to be unhygienic during previous enforcement operations. The spokesman cautions against waterpipe smoking and the use of other smoking products. Smokers should quit smoking as early as possible for their own health and that of others. For more information on the hazards of waterpipe smoking, please visit www.livetobaccofree.hk/pdfs/waterpipe_leaflet_new.pdf.
DH's enforcement operation "Pipepurge" against waterpipe smoking in no-smoking areas Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
