Temporary closure of several swimming pools (2)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 20) that due to urgent clearance work after the typhoon, Lei Cheng Uk Swimming Pool and Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool in Sham Shui Po District have been temporarily closed until further notice.

Pao Yue Kong Swimming Pool reopened

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 21) that Pao Yue Kong Swimming Pool in Southern District, closed earlier on due to urgent clearance work after the typhoon, has been reopened.

Typhoon Wipha roundup

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

As Typhoon Wipha is moving away from Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 7.40pm today (July 20). It replaced the No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal at 4.10pm today.
 
As at 7pm today, the Home Affairs Department has opened 34 temporary shelters in various districts and 277 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
 
As at 8pm today, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received 286 reports and 425 reports of fallen trees respectively, while the Drainage Services Department has received seven confirmed flooding cases. In addition, no report of landslide has been received so far.
 
According to the Hospital Authority, as at 7.40pm today, 33 people (18 men and 15 women) have been injured during the typhoon period and received medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Department of public hospitals.

Film Archive to present screening programme “Cantonese Opera Films: The Legend of Guan Gong” (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a programme entitled “Cantonese Opera Films: The Legend of Guan Gong” from August 30 to September 7. Five Cantonese opera films in the 1950s and 1960s starring virtuosos will be screened at the Cinema of HKFA to revisit the incomparable skills and talents of the masters. This screening programme is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025.
 
     Guan Yu, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period, was well known for his loyalty and righteousness. His legend has been frequently adapted in Chinese opera and theatre, to the extent that Peking and Cantonese opera traditions, among others, have Guan Gong (Lord Guan) as a genre of performance. The highlight of any notable interpretation of Lord Guan in the genre is how the performer brings out the stature and impressiveness of the character. The performer also needs to display mastery of both stage movements and vocal techniques, while complementing the majesty of luogu (gong-and-drum) music and showcasing the aesthetics of unadorned simplicity and elegance.
 
     Kwan Tak-hing, who was lauded as “Living Lord Guan” for his virtuoso skills, plays the role of Guan Yu in “Kwan-Ti, God of War” (1956) (2K Digitised Version) and “General Kwan Escorts His Sisters-in-Law on a Thousand Mile Journey” (1957) (2K Digitised Version). The former focuses on the tales between Guan and the legendary beauty Diao Chan, played by Tang Bik-wan, while the latter tells the story of the dangers and hardships that Guan encountered while escorting Liu Bei’s two wives on their journey. The films recorded Kwan’s impressive Cantonese opera performances in the role of Lord Guan, especially through his postures, movements and walking styles. The screening of “General Kwan Escorts His Sisters-in-Law on a Thousand Mile Journey” features a newly digitised version of the film from the HKFA’s collection, which should not be missed.
 
     The “General Kwan Guards the Huarong Path Lau Bei Crosses the River to Meet His Bride” (1957) tells the story of Sun Quan pretending to offer his sister’s hand in marriage to Liu Bei, played by Cheung Wood-yau, in an ultimately failed attempt to take back Jingzhou from Liu. Leng Wah Hang, a highly acclaimed wusheng actress of Cantonese opera, gives a definitive performance as Lord Guan in the film, especially in the scenes where she wields the Green Dragon Crescent Blade masterfully in a perfect display of techniques. The film will be screened with “Drowning Seven Armies” from “An Ideal Couple” (1960) (2K Digitised Version), starring another Cantonese opera virtuoso Sun Chu, who was also lauded as “Living Lord Guan”, in the role of Guan Yu. Following the Peking opera tradition, Sun Chu portrayed Lord Guan with a red face. The image of Lord Guan with a red face was so well received that it has since become the hallmark of the role in Cantonese opera.
 
     “Lui Bo” (1961) (2K Digitised Version) depicts the life of general Lü Bu, played by actress Yu So-chow, as described in the classical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”. In the film, the character of Guan Yu is played by the acclaimed Peking opera actor Yu Zhanyuan, father of Yu So-chow. The father-daughter duo appears onscreen together as enemies in a fight scene, which is a spectacular display of their skills and stage presence.
 
     Some of the screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks, hosted by Professor Yuen Siu-fai and Yuen Tsz-ying.
 
     Tickets priced at $60 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from July 25 (Friday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 20 per cent discount is available for every purchase of regular-priced tickets for two or more screenings of this programme. For programme details, please visit (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ccf-guan-gong/pe-event-2025-ccf-guan-gong.html) or call 2739 2139.
 
     The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

              

Two swimming pools in Sham Shui Po reopened

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 21) that Lei Cheng Uk Swimming Pool and Sham Shui Po Park Swimming Pool in Sham Shui Po District, closed earlier on due to urgent clearance work after the typhoon, have been reopened.

Kwai Shing Swimming Pool and Tuen Mun Swimming Pool to be reopened

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 21) that Kwai Shing Swimming Pool in Kwai Tsing District and Tuen Mun Swimming Pool in Tuen Mun District, which were closed earlier on due to urgent clearance work after the typhoon, will be reopened at 10am today.

Study tour on national water infrastructure, culture and technology celebrating 60th anniversary of Dongjiang’s water supply to Hong Kong departs today for Hubei (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

In celebration and commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang’s water supply to Hong Kong, a study tour on national water infrastructure, culture and technology jointly organised by the Water Supplies Department, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers departed this afternoon (July 21) for Xiangyang, Hubei Province, to begin its itinerary. The 120-person study tour comprising secondary students, tertiary engineering undergraduates, young engineers, and representatives from the engineering profession and related government departments will visit key national water infrastructure projects and historical, cultural and technological landmarks in Zhengzhou, Anyang and Beijing.
 
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau; and the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Roger Wong, saw off the study tour this afternoon. Ms Linn encouraged participants to take advantage of this valuable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the country’s history, culture and modernisation process through site visits, and be inspired to make contributions to the development of the country and Hong Kong. She also expected that participants can gain deeper insights into the history of national water infrastructure projects, including how the country has rendered immense support in safeguarding a stable water supply to Hong Kong through Dongjiang’s water supply.
 
Secondary student members on the tour will visit the ancient city of Anyang and its Yinxu Museum tomorrow (July 22), while tour members from the professional sector, consisting of tertiary engineering undergraudates, young engineers, representatives from the engineering profession and related government departments, will visit the “Crossing the Yellow River Project” under the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Henan Museum in Zhengzhou. On July 23, the study tour will begin its itinerary in Beijing to visit Tuancheng Lake Regulating Pond, the central dispatch centre of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientist, and Shougang Park. On July 25, the tour will conclude the achievements of the visits in a seminar with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Water Resources, and will return to Hong Kong on the same day.
 
Ms Linn, Mr Lau and Mr Wong will join part of the tour’s itinerary in Beijing.

     

SJ to lead government officials to attend joint conference on Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

     The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in his capacity as the chair of the sub-group on Belt and Road development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, will lead Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials, including the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Maggie Wong; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, to attend the eighth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative to be held on Thursday morning (July 24), with departures for Beijing tomorrow (July 22) and on July 23 respectively.
 
     During his stay in Beijing, Mr Lam and the Law Officer (International Law) of the Department of Justice, Dr James Ding, will visit the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on the progress of the Department of Justice’s major policy initiatives, including the relevant works on the International Organization for Mediation and promoting Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. He will also visit the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

     Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on the afternoon of July 24. During Mr Lam’s absence, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will be the Acting Secretary for Justice. During Mr Yau’s absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. During Ms Linn’s absence, the Under Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam, will be the Acting Secretary for Development.

Inflation at 1.4% in June

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Overall consumer prices rose 1.4% year on year in June, less than the 1.9% increase in May, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, underlying inflation was 1%, the same as that in May.

Compared with a year before, price increases were recorded in May in the following categories: housing; transport; electricity, gas and water; alcoholic drinks and tobacco; meals out and takeaway food; miscellaneous goods; and miscellaneous services.

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged in clothing and footwear; durable goods; and basic food.

The Government said consumer price inflation stayed modest in June, and that price pressures on various major components were contained in general.

It expects that overall inflation should remain modest in the near term, with pressures from domestic costs and external prices staying broadly in check.

Consumer Price Indices for June 2025

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Consumer Price Indices for June 2025 
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending June 2025 was 0.0%, and that for the 3-month period ending May 2025 was -0.1%. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of change were both 0.1%.
 
Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.1%, 1.3% and 0.9% respectively in June 2025, as compared to 2.8%, 1.6% and 1.2% respectively in May 2025. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 1.5%, 0.9% and 0.7% respectively in June 2025, as compared to 1.3%, 0.8% and 0.8% respectively in May 2025.
 
On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period ending June 2025, the average monthly rates of change in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were all 0.0%. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending May 2025 were all -0.1%. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period ending June 2025 were 0.2%, 0.1% and 0.0% respectively, and the corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending May 2025 were 0.1%, 0.1% and 0.0% respectively.
 
Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in June 2025 for housing (2.8%), transport (1.9%), electricity, gas and water (1.6%), alcoholic drinks and tobacco (1.4%), meals out and takeaway food (1.4%), miscellaneous goods (1.3%), and miscellaneous services (1.0%).
 
On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded in June 2025 for clothing and footwear (-4.1%), durable goods (-2.5%), and basic food (-0.4%).
 
For the first half of 2025 as a whole, the Composite CPI rose by 1.7% over a year earlier. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.3%, 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 1.2%, 1.5%, 1.0% and 1.0% respectively.
 
In the second quarter of 2025, the Composite CPI rose by 1.8% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 2.4%, 1.6% and 1.3% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 1.1%, 1.4%, 1.0% and 0.9% respectively.
 
For the 12 months ending June 2025, the Composite CPI was on average 1.8% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.3%, 1.6% and 1.4% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures were 1.2%, 1.4%, 1.1% and 1.0% respectively.
 
Commentary
 
A Government spokesman said that consumer price inflation stayed modest in June.  The underlying Composite CPI increased by 1.0% over a year earlier, same as the preceding month. Price pressures on various major components were contained in general.
 
Looking ahead, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term, as pressures from domestic costs and external prices should stay broadly in check. The Government will monitor the situation closely.
 
Further information
 
The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for June 2025 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures are shown in Table 2. For discerning the latest trend in consumer prices, it is also useful to look at the changes in the seasonally adjusted CPIs. The time series on the average monthly rates of change during the latest 3 months for the seasonally adjusted CPIs are shown in Table 3. The rates of change in the original and the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI and the underlying inflation rate are presented graphically in Chart 1.
 
More detailed statistics are given in the “Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1060001&scode=270 
For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7374 or email:
cpi@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

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