The Space Museum is staging a special exhibition 2020 Astronomical Events to highlight six major astronomical events happening this year.

The events include grouping of the four planets with the moon in late March, the serial phenomena of Jupiter's moons on June 11 and 12, and the partial solar eclipse on June 21.

Information on the Perseid meteor shower in mid-August, the Geminid meteor shower in mid-December and the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on December 21 will also be featured.

The exhibit explains details and phenomena of these events, while serving as a practical guide to help visitors pick the best dates, times, locations and tools to observe them.

It will run until September 21 in two phases. The first three events will be presented during the first phase from January to June, while the second phase events will be shown from June to September.

Admission is free.

Call 2721 0226 for enquiries.

The East Kowloon Cultural Centre Public Artwork Commissioning Project is inviting artists, designers and architects to create an art landscape for the centre.

Presented by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department and organised by the Art Promotion Office, the project endeavors to capture and showcase the past, present and future of East Kowloon.

The commissioned artworks will represent five themes - memory, impression, moment, dream and imagination - aiming to display the district’s changing nature, and to manifest the local community’s cultural sustainability, aspirations and dreams.

Interested participants must submit their preliminary proposal with their curriculum vitae, documentation of their previous artwork and the artistic concept of the proposed artwork.

All proposals must be delivered to the centre’s Public Art Project Management Team at G/F, 50-54 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan before 7pm on May 4.

Participants shortlisted by the selection panel are required to submit detailed proposals before 7pm on June 30 for the next stage of the selection process.

Up to three proposals shall be chosen by the selection panel for commissioning and installing in the centre.

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department launched a one-stop online resources centre today for the public to view or participate in multi-faceted leisure and cultural activities from the comfort of their homes.

The online resources centre offers demonstrations of home exercises as well as videos of exercise demonstrations and Healthy Exercise for All Campaign interactive games.

The information portal carries knowledge on the plants and animals at the Zoological & Botanical Gardens, old and valuable trees at the department's major parks and colourful Hong Kong Flower Show archives.

The Museum of Art and the Heritage Museum are collaborating with the Google Arts & Culture Project to showcase exhibits in a digital format.

There are also virtual exhibitions that explore previous fascinating collections at the History Museum and the Science Museum.

While extensive content from intangible cultural heritage and modern arts integrating into life from Oi! is also included.

The Hong Kong Public Libraries offers vast e-resources allowing people to explore fun reading at home.

On the performing arts front, digital content covers concert archives from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

Last month a friend in the history department passed along a notice from the American Historical Association entitled “AHA Signs onto ASA Statement on Teaching Evaluations.” This ASA is the American Sociological Association, and their statement is a devastating takedown … Continue reading →

We are now in the peak of job season. Depending upon your branch, applications may have been due as early as October 1. Big deadlines are November 1, November 15, and December 1.  Still, you should basically be done applying now—see … Continue reading →

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” Dean Jackson It’s hard to understand what we haven’t experienced or lived. Particularly, it is hard to make decisions that affect others when we don’t … Continue reading →

Recently, I have been re-reading Michel Houellebecq’s 2015 novel Submission. It’s about a hedonistic literature professor who sleeps with his students, has the diet of a frat boy, and occasionally does “work” researching an obscure (at least, to me) 19th-century … Continue reading →

Required reading for any academic is Philip Roth’s “The Human Stain.” In the first few pages an older, tenured professor is “forced to retire.” Why? There were two students who never were present when he called roll. Even after roll … Continue reading →

Screw lemonade. If life gives you lemons, find someone who got vodka and make a martini. I have been teaching college classes online since March 21. Do I enjoy it? Not particularly. Is it a lot more work? God, yes. … Continue reading →

We as mathematicians seem practically hell-bent on removing the phrase “I’m just not a math person” from students’ vocabularies. Maybe that’s why they scream it so loudly and defiantly? Math has so many tactical advantages over sports and the arts. … Continue reading →

With the novel coronavirus expected to further impact Hong Kong’s already slowing economy, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is working hand in hand with local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to brave the...

Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Dr Peter Lam welcomes the new 2020-21 Budget, including the additional HK$150 million funding to the HKTDC to help Hong Kong businesses find new opportunities and to help the...

The confidence level of Hong Kong’s exporters has fallen to its lowest-ever level in the face of a triple challenge – the COVID-19 outbreak, softening global demand and lingering trade tension between the United States and Mainland...

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted business activity and supply chains across the globe, with numerous trade fairs and events around the world being postponed or cancelled, depriving many enterprises of business and marketing...

Start-up Express, a development programme launched by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in 2018, is returning for its third edition to help local start-ups build connections, explore markets, seek partners and enhance...

There is currently no information available.

petrapetruta posted a reply:

Corrado Carlini:

It's not a like/dislike thing.It's all about colors.Just take a look at the pool.
We want specific kind of photos.Otherwise this group won't be named Catchy Colors.

Jeniverse Photography posted a reply:

Yellow

petrapetruta posted a reply:

jacquesjacobs:


Hello there and welcome!We hope to see some catchy contribution from you too! :-)

PelicanPete posted a reply:

Red

Rémi de Valenciennes posted a reply:

Hello,
I'm Rémi from Lille (North of France). I think we need color nowadays !

paul_appleyard posted a reply:

Green

petrapetruta posted a reply:

Rémi de Valenciennes:


I absolutely agree with you!
And welcome! :-)

Cigaleto posted a reply:

Hello, je suis Agnès de France. J habite en Provence, le pays des cigales et de la lavande. Un région pleine de couleurs.

Alex Borbely posted a reply:

Alex Borbely from the north shore of Lake Ontario, Canada! I have been doing mostly nature photography for just over a decade. Self taught and focus mainly on freezing movement! Be well and safe!
Alex

The Les Arcs Co-Production village, running December 13-16 within the Les Arcs European Film Festival (Dec 13-20), will present 25 projects in development and a further 10 works-in-progress. Several of the projects chosen for this year’s event are Irish films and films with Irish producers’ backing.

Two short films have made it one step closer to an Oscar nomination after picking up a Light in Motion (LIM) award at the Foyle Film Festival’s closing ceremony in Brunswick Moviebowl.

Plans for a new multi-million euro film production hub in County Limerick have been set in motion. An agreement has been arranged between Limerick City and County Council and Ardmore Studios, which in the past has provided facilities for several popular film and television productions such as ‘Braveheart’, ‘Excalibur’, ‘The Tudors’ and ‘Camelot’, and more recently for ‘Frank’ and ‘Penny Dreadful’.

Carla Mooney lands role in spy thriller ‘Kickback’ opposite John Cusack, Stuart Townsend nabs multi-episode part in US TV show ‘Elementary’ and Jason Barry and Brian Robinson both to star in new feature ‘Murphy’ from Caspian Pictures.

Guest of Honour at Film Mayo launch on 1st December

More than 40,000 new niches at two columbaria in Tuen Mun and Fanling will open for applications from May 11, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department announced today.

Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun will provide 22,680 standard niches and 220 large niches, while Wo Hop Shek Columbarium in Fanling will provide 21,720 standard niches and 330 large niches for application.

The department said applicants should only file one application form to apply for either a large or standard niche for the same deceased person.

It said applicants have to fill in the particulars of at least three deceased people when applying for a large niche.

Since the type and number of niches available in the two columbaria are different, the chance of successful allocation varies, the department added.

The application deadline is June 10.

Click here for details.

The Lands Department will provide additional rental or fee concessions for tenants of short-term tenancies (STT) and waiver holders in accordance with the new round of support measures announced earlier this month.

The measures aim to strengthen support for enterprises in light of the challenges arising from the COVID-19 epidemic.

In accordance with the support measures launched in 2019 and those announced in the 2020-21 Budget, STTs and waivers for varying the terms of land grants for business and community uses under the department have been granted 50% rental or fee concession from October 2019 to September this year.

Under the new round of support measures, the 5,000 eligible STT tenants and waiver holders already enjoying the previous concession, such as catering facilities, shops, workshops, public fee-paying car parks, and welfare facilities, will see their rental or fee concession rate increase to 75% from April to September.

The 75% concession arrangement will be extended to businesses not covered previously, such as depots for public transport operators, public utilities, petrol filling stations, driving schools and advertising facilities, effective for the same period.

If these tenants and waiver holders are ordered to close or have chosen to close due to the Government’s orders or other restrictions for safeguarding public health under the relevant regulation, they may further apply to the department for full rental or fee concession for the duration of the closure.

The department will issue written notifications to eligible STT tenants and waiver holders on the above concession measures and their implementation details.           

Additionally, to help development projects with construction progress affected by the epidemic, the department will offer extensions of the Building Covenant period at nil premium for up to six months for leases with the covenant not yet discharged as at April 8.

The department will issue a practice note and upload it onto its website by the end of the month to announce the application arrangements for lessees.

The Transport Department today invited tenders for operating six major licensed ferry services for outlying islands for five years from April 1, 2021.

The six routes are between Central to Cheung Chau, Inter-islands between Peng Chau, Mui Wo, Chai Ma Wan and Cheung Chau, Central to Mui Wo, Central to Peng Chau, Central to Yung Shue Wan and Central to Sok Kwu Wan.

The department said that for the purposes of maintaining financial viability of the six major routes, alleviating the burden of fare increases on passengers, enhancing service quality and promoting a green city development, the Government would continue to provide special measures to the routes.

Such measures would include launching a new Vessel Subsidy Scheme to help selected ferry operators replace the fleets of the six major routes and introduce greener vessels in phases, straddling 10 years from 2021.

Having regard to factors such as passenger demand, overall fleet requirements, flexibility in vessel deployment, operational efficiency, and after consulting the Islands District Council, the six major routes are grouped into two packages for tendering.

The first package covers Central-Cheung Chau, Peng Chau-Mui Wo-Chi Ma Wan-Cheung Chau (Inter Islands) and Central-Mui Wo routes.

The other package covers Central-Peng Chau, Central-Yung Shue Wan and Central-Sok Kwu Wan routes.

Tenderers are required to propose a fare for each fare type of each relevant route and it must not exceed the existing fare level of the corresponding route by more than 5%. Tenders should also include in their submissions fare concession proposals that will be considered in the tender evaluation.

In support of the Government's development of a smart city, tenderers should propose measures including dissemination of real-time arrival/departure time of ferry routes, number of remaining seats via mobile phone apps and opening up such data for the public’s use under data.gov.hk.

The tenders must be sealed in envelopes and placed in the Transport Department Tender Box adjacent to the reception counter of the department on the 10th floor of South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei before noon on June 30.

The cover of the tender submission should be marked with tender reference TD 382/2019 and include the subject of the tender. It should also be addressed to the Commissioner for Transport.

Tender documents will be available for collection at the Transport Department’s Ferry & Paratransit Division on the 14th Floor, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei from April 27 during office hours.

The parking fees of 12 government public car parks will be frozen at their existing levels for one year from June 1, the Transport Department announced today.

In reviewing the parking fees, the department said it considered the inflation rate, private car park charges and usage of the government car parks.

Having considered the impact on the economy brought by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the impact on usage of the car parks, the department decided to maintain the parking fees at existing levels.

The 12 car parks are Kennedy Town Car Park, Rumsey Street Car Park, Star Ferry Car Park, City Hall Car Park, Tin Hau Car Park, Shau Kei Wan Car Park, Aberdeen Car Park, Yau Ma Tei Car Park, Sheung Fung Street Car Park, Wong Tai Sin Public Transport Terminus Car Park, Kwai Fong Car Park and Tsuen Wan Car Park.

Click here for details.

The Buildings Department approved 13 building plans in February - four on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, nine were for apartment and apartment-commercial developments, one was for commercial development, one was for factory and industrial developments, and two were for community services developments.

Consent was given for works to start on two building projects, which will provide 77,942 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

The department also issued 14 occupation permits - four on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.

Buildings certified for occupation have 149,306 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2,912 units, and 67,594 sq m for non-domestic use.

The declared cost of new buildings completed in the month was $3.7 billion.

The Transport Department today announced that its driving test (road test) service will resume on May 4 to align with the resumption of public services in phases.

The department said candidates scheduled to take a road test on or after May 4 should take the test according to the test date, time and the driving test centre specified in their appointment letter.

Candidates affected by the suspension of driving test centres will be notified by post of the rescheduled test.

Driving test (written test Part A) and taxi written test services will resume on May 26.

Candidates affected by the suspension of written test services will be rescheduled to take the tests from May 26 and thereafter and notified by post of the rescheduling.

All candidates participating in the driving, road and written tests, must wear surgical masks inside the test centres and throughout the test.

They must also clean their hands with alcohol sanitisers and undergo body temperature screening.

If a candidate does not wear a surgical mask, refuses body temperature screening or has a body temperature higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, the candidate will not be allowed to enter the venue and the test will be rescheduled.

To improve air circulation inside the vehicle compartment, driving examiners may open vehicle windows during the test.

The department urged candidates not to attend a driving test if they are unwell.

For applicants who are absent from a driving test on medical grounds, they may submit their postponement applications with the original sick leave or medical certificate to the Driving Test Appointment Office within one month from the test date for rescheduling.

Candidates applying for a postponement, temporary cancellation of driving test appointment or change of driving test region may submit signed application letters, copies of identification document and driving test appointment letter via the drop-in box at the Kowloon Licensing Office or post them to the Driving Test Appointment Office on 2/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road.

Application of driving test appointment services for fresh candidates and repeaters will continue to be suspended until further notice. Call 2771 7723 for enquiries.

Vehicle Examination Centres will resume full services on May 4. The department will continue to process applications for licensing and related services submitted by applicants with scheduled appointments via the drop-in boxes, by post or online except for the direct issue of a full Hong Kong driving licence.

Applications may be submitted via the drop-in boxes at the offices concerned between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday except public holidays.

Those who have made online appointments for renewal of a full driving licence, vehicle licence, and transfer of vehicle ownership or international driving permit can visit the Licensing Office concerned at the scheduled time.

To maintain social distancing to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, the offices concerned will continue to suspend walk-in counter services.

Meanwhile, the Highways Department's public services will return to normal from May 4.

The department will implement social distancing and precautionary measures, including the introduction of flexible working and lunch hours, meeting adjustments and stepping up the cleansing of its offices.

Members of the public may call the 24-hour hotline 2926 4111 or 1823 for making suggestions, enquiries or complaints. The department can also be contacted by email or fax.