Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Another awe-inspiring moment in space exploration! China’s Shenzhou-18 crew has safely returned, touching down just hours ago. Join Xinhua’s on-site correspondent for an unforgettable night as the astronaut trio comes home and a new chapter in space exploration begins.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam
The Hong Kong Legal Week is an annual flagship event of the Department of Justice. Since its inception in 2019, the Hong Kong Legal Week has served as a dynamic forum where legal professionals, scholars, judges and experts come together to discuss critical legal issues that resonate not only within Hong Kong but (also) throughout the wider Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The theme of this year is “Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China & Beyond”. It emphasises Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway between China, the Asia Pacific and the world. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China. Our strong legal foundation, coupled with our close ties with and support from the Mainland, positions us as a critical hub for legal and economic collaboration across the region and beyond.
Private law summit
We begin this week with today’s Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024. Building on the success of the inaugural summit in 2022, the Department of Justice once again partners with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) to organise this summit under the theme “Springboard to Opportunities: Utilising International Private Law & Technology to Facilitate Access to Credit, Investment, & Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region”.
The Asia-Pacific region is home to enormous economic potential and encompasses a diverse array of legal systems. While this diversity enriches our legal and cultural landscape, it also introduces complexities and uncertainties for businesses navigating cross-border transactions. To unlock the region’s full economic potential and ensure long-term sustainable growth, harmonisation and modernisation of private law across the region is essential.
Recognising this need, today’s summit gathers leading legal minds from across the Asia Pacific, together with experts from UNIDROIT, to explore how the unification and co-ordination of various areas of private law can support economic growth and facilitate smoother cross-border interactions throughout the region. We will be hearing from them on how international private law and emerging technologies can unlock new opportunities for sustainable economic growth across the region, and how Hong Kong may contribute in this regard.
Collaboration with UNIDROIT
In the past few years, the Department of Justice has closely collaborated with UNIDROIT to promote the development, implementation, and deeper understanding of private international law and international commercial law across the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition to these collaborative efforts, we are grateful for UNIDROIT’s strong support to the Department of Justice’s secondment programme, offering Hong Kong’s legal professionals from both the public and private sectors the valuable opportunity to work at the UNIDROIT Secretariat in Rome. This experience not only deepens their expertise in international legal issues, but also bolsters Hong Kong’s capacity in foreign-related legal matters.
I am very pleased to note that one of our former secondees will be moderating a panel later this morning, which testifies to the success of the secondment programme.
Capacity building
The secondment programme is one of the Department of Justice’s many policy initiatives providing professional development opportunities to our legal talents. To further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of Justice places great importance on nurturing legal talents with a global perspective and proficiency in foreign-related legal affairs. We are committed to establishing Hong Kong as a leading centre for capacity building in international law.
As outlined in our Chief Executive’s 2023 and 2024 Policy Address, the Department of Justice is setting up the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. The academy will regularly organise practical training courses, seminars, international exchange programmes and more to promote exchanges among talent in regions along the Belt & Road. It will also provide training for talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs for the country, and nurture legal talent conversant with international law, common law, civil law and the country’s legal system.
A dedicated office and an expert committee have already been set up to facilitate the establishment of the academy. We are grateful to have Prof Tirado (International Institute for the Unification of Private Law Secretary-General) as a member of the expert committee, and I am pleased to see many of our committee members participating in today’s summit.
To officially mark this new initiative, I am excited to announce that the launch ceremony for the academy will take place on the final day of the Hong Kong Legal Week. I warmly invite all of you to join us for this significant occasion.
Other events
I also warmly welcome you to participate in an array of other events this week. Tomorrow, we will have the Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity & Development co-organised with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. At the legal forum, we are very pleased to have the General Counsel of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank deliver a keynote address on promoting good governance and high-quality development under international law. Legal experts will also share their insights on Hong Kong’s role in China’s institutional opening up, and rule of law as a risk management mechanism to safeguard sustainable development.
On Wednesday, we will host events under the theme “Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong”. The day will explore three topical issues – the role of mediation in promoting a culture of mutual respect, harmony and inclusiveness, use of artificial intelligence in alternative dispute resolution, as well as the resolution of sports disputes. There will also be the 2024 Hong Kong Mediation Lecture in the evening, exploring the unique challenges and opportunities involved in the use of mediation in deals relating to natural resources.
Thursday’s programme will focus on strengthening the rule of law in the Greater Bay Area. We will hear from experts on the proof of Hong Kong law and foreign law in the Mainland, the arrangement on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters between the Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as legal services and juridical relations to facilitate and protect trade and social interactions between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The day will also feature a mock mediation session led by mediators from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and a discussion on the Greater Bay Area mediation platform.
On Friday, apart from the launching ceremony of the academy in the afternoon that I have just mentioned, we will explore how the rule of law in Hong Kong, together with different components of Hong Kong’s legal and judicial system, are essential to provide the best business environment from the perspectives of our legal services profession and our enterprises, and how our legal professionals can play an important role along the Belt & Road.
Alongside this week’s discussions, we are also featuring a special exhibition on the achievements in the construction of the rule of law of the People’s Republic of China in the modern era, co-organised by the Ministry of Justice of China and the Department of Justice, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China. The exhibition highlights key milestones in China’s legal evolution, both domestically and in foreign-related areas, over the past 75 years.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen, as we look ahead to the discussions that will follow, I hope today’s summit will inspire all of us to explore new ideas and opportunities. Let’s make the most of this moment to engage in meaningful exchanges and drive forward the future of international law.
On this note, I wish today’s summit every success and extend my sincere appreciation to all of you for joining us, whether online or in person.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam gave these remarks at the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024, part of Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, on November 4.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Land Registry logged 5,857 sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in October, up 52.4% compared with September and up 99.4% year-on-year.
The total consideration for such agreements in September rose 50.6% from September, to $41.7 billion, representing a 43.6% year-on-year growth.
Of the agreements, 4,697 were for residential units, amounting to a 64.9% increase from September and a 121.2% surge from a year ago.
The total consideration for residential units was $37.3 billion, up 78.9% compared with September and up 52.2% year-on-year.
There were 394,484 land register searches last month.
Source: Sydney Airport
Tuesday 4 November 2024
In an Australian first, Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport have joined forces to launch a public awareness campaign to fight human trafficking.
The country’s two largest international airports have partnered with anti-human trafficking organisation, A21, to run the “Can You See Me?” campaign, with guidance and input from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
This initiative will educate people on how to recognise and report the signs of human trafficking.
From today, digital screens and billboards at both airports will display images and messages, stating that slavery still exists and urging people: “If you suspect it, report it.” QR codes also link to videos and information on how to identify and stop these crimes. Digital screens in key areas will display these messages, including check-in counters, gates and baggage carousels.
Combined, Sydney and Melbourne airports cater for 68% of Australia’s total international passenger traffic. While the “Can You See Me?” campaign runs over the next month, close to 7 million passengers are expected to pass through both the domestic and international terminals at the two airports.
A21 has rolled out this program in high-profile spaces worldwide—from Times Square billboards, screens at Heathrow Airport, train stations in Thailand to inflatable screens in vulnerable Cambodian communities—reaching an impressive 3.4 billion people globally.
Modern slavery is a growing issue in Australia, with the AFP receiving 382 reports in 2023/2024 financial year, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year. Cases include trafficking, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, debt bondage, forced labour, deceptive recruitment and organ trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimates 41,000 people in Australia live under conditions of modern slavery.
Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO said: “Every person who steps through our airport deserves to travel safely, without fear of exploitation.”
“We deeply value the AFP’s dedication to catching and prosecuting traffickers and the A21 ‘Can You See Me?’ campaign will amplify their efforts by raising critical public awareness and support.
“Sydney Airport is proud to join forces with Melbourne Airport, united in our mission to tackle the scourge of modern slavery.”
Lorie Argus, Melbourne Airport CEO said: “This partnership goes beyond just airports—it’s about people’s lives.”
“By joining forces with Sydney Airport, the AFP, and A21, we’re taking a stand against modern slavery, a hidden crime that destroys people’s futures.
“Knowing that human trafficking is a real and daily threat, we feel a deep responsibility to protect our passengers.”
Acting Commander Human Exploitation Frank Rayner from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said: “The increase in reported cases of human trafficking and slavery in Australia highlights the urgent need for action.”
“Airports are key environments where traffickers seek to move victims across borders. It is important to remember that traffickers have many ways of controlling a person and a person can be exploited without physical restraint or abuse.
“Engaging travellers and frontline airport staff to recognise the signs and report suspected cases will help disrupt these crimes and protect vulnerable people.”
Nick Caine, A21 CEO, said: “Everyone has a role to play in the fight against human trafficking. Awareness is the first step, and we believe that through this campaign, more victims will be recognised and rescued.
“The ‘Can You See Me?’ campaign has already changed lives across the world, and we are grateful to Sydney and Melbourne airports for bringing this powerful message to Australia.”
Christian Elliott, Director of “Can You See Me?” said: “As the director of the Can You See Me? campaign, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of awareness.”
“This initiative goes beyond just sharing information—it equips every individual who passes through Sydney and Melbourne airports to become a part of the solution.
“Human trafficking hides in plain sight, but through this campaign, we are making the invisible visible, empowering travellers, staff, and the public to take action. With just one report, one moment of recognition, a life can be saved. Together, we can stop the traffickers and protect the most vulnerable among us.”
The Rotary Clubs of Botany Randwick and Marrickville have announced that all cash collected from 11 donation boxes across Sydney Airport over the next month will be donated to A21 to support survivors of human trafficking.
More details: Human trafficking and exploitation – AFP
If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 000 for help.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) protect people who are victims of modern slavery and can help keep you safe. If you suspect someone is at risk, you can:
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Enfield.
Police were called at about 14:05hrs on Monday, 28 October to reports of a collision involving a white Ford box van and a blue motorbike on Meridian Way close to the junction with Morson Road.
Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended. Despite the efforts of emergency services, sadly the rider, aged in his late 20s, died at the scene.
His next of kin has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Detectives from the Roads and Transport Policing Command are investigating. They would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision or captured it on dash cam.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8246 9820 or via 101 reference CAD 4097/28Oct.
Source: Asia Development Bank
Developing Asia’s outlook remains solid, driven by strong domestic demand and continued recovery in exports. But risks remain, including a possible rise in protectionism that could occur depending on the outcome of the United States presidential election, worsening geopolitical tensions, a fragile PRC property market, and adverse weather conditions. Asian Development Outlook September 2024 sheds light on these.
Developing Asia’s outlook remains solid, driven by strong domestic demand and continued recovery in exports. But risks remain, including a possible rise in protectionism that could occur depending on the outcome of the United States presidential election, worsening geopolitical tensions, a fragile PRC property market, and adverse weather conditions. Asian Development Outlook September 2024 sheds light on these.
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases today (November 4).
The value of total receipts of the restaurants sector in the third quarter of 2024, provisionally estimated at $26.7 billion, decreased by 1.3% over a year earlier. Over the same period, the provisional estimate of the value of total purchases by restaurants decreased by 0.1% to $8.8 billion.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 3.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared with a year earlier.
Analysed by type of restaurant and comparing the third quarter of 2024 with the third quarter of 2023, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 7.7% in value and 9.8% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants decreased by 0.6% in value and 1.5% in volume. Total receipts of fast food shops increased by 8.5% in value and 5.7% in volume. Total receipts of bars decreased by 6.3% in value and 10.1% in volume. As for miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 0.3% in value, but decreased by 2.8% in volume.
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of total restaurant receipts increased by 2.0% in value, but decreased by 3.3% in volume in the third quarter of 2024 compared with the preceding quarter.
Comparing the first three quarters of 2024 with the same period in 2023, total restaurant receipts decreased by 0.3% in value and 2.9% in volume.
To facilitate further understanding of the short-term business performance of the restaurants sector, statistics in respect of the restaurant receipts and purchases in individual months of the reference quarter are also compiled.
Analysed by month, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total receipts of the restaurants sector decreased by 4.2%, decreased by 2.3% and increased by 2.8% respectively in July, August and September 2024, compared with the corresponding months in 2023.
After discounting the effect of price changes, it was provisionally estimated that the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 6.4%, decreased by 4.3% and increased by 1.1% respectively in July, August and September 2024, compared with the corresponding months in 2023.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the value of total restaurant receipts recorded a narrowed year-on-year decline of 1.3% in the third quarter of 2024. The business performance of restaurants improved through the quarter, with their total receipts resuming a year-on-year increase of 2.8% in September. Compared with the preceding quarter, the value of total restaurant receipts increased by 2.0% in the third quarter after adjusting for seasonal factors.
Looking ahead, the changing consumption patterns of visitors and residents will continue to affect the business performance of restaurants. Nevertheless, an improved outlook for the Mainland economy following the recent introduction of a wide range of stimulus measures, and the commencement of the US interest rate cut, would render support to catering spending. The SAR Government’s various initiatives to boost market sentiment and increasing employment earnings would also benefit the sector.
Further information
Table 1 presents the revised figures of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant and total purchases by the restaurants sector for the second quarter of 2024 as well as the provisional figures for the third quarter of 2024.
Table 2 and Table 3 present the revised value and volume indices respectively of restaurant receipts by type of restaurant for the second quarter of 2024 and the provisional indices for the third quarter of 2024.
Table 4 presents the year-on-year rate of change in total restaurant receipts in value and volume terms based on the original quarterly series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.
The revised figures on restaurant receipts and purchases for the third quarter of 2024 (with breakdown by month) will be released through the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode540.html) and relevant publications of the Department from December 20, 2024.
The classification of restaurants follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Quarterly Survey of Restaurant Receipts and Purchases”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080002&scode=540).
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7401; e-mail: qsr@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published today (November 4) the results of Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)’ Credit Conditions for the third quarter of 2024. According to the survey, SMEs’ credit conditions improved slightly.
Regarding SMEs’ perception of banks’ credit approval stance relative to 6 months ago, excluding respondents who answered “no idea/don’t know”, 76 per cent perceived a “similar” or “easier” credit approval stance in the third quarter of 2024, up from 73 per cent in the previous quarter (Chart 1 in the Annex). 24 per cent perceived a “more difficult” credit approval stance, down from 27 per cent in the previous quarter. The perception of a more difficult credit approval stance may not necessarily reflect actual difficulties faced by SMEs in obtaining bank credit as the perception could be affected by a number of factors, such as media/news reports, business conditions and opinions of relatives and friends.
Among respondents with existing credit lines, only 1 per cent reported a “tighter” banks’ stance, further down from 2 per cent in the previous quarter (Chart 2 in the Annex). In this survey, a tighter stance on existing credit lines denotes a range of possible measures or arrangements, such as reducing unused and used credit lines, raising the interest rate, imposing additional collateral requirements, or shortening loan tenor. Therefore, respondents’ indication of banks’ stance on existing credit lines may not directly reflect banks’ supply of credit to SMEs.
The survey also gauged the results of new credit applications from SMEs. 3 per cent of the respondents reported that they had applied for new bank credit during the third quarter of 2024. Among the respondents who had already known their application outcomes, 79 per cent reported fully or partially successful applications, up from 70 per cent in the previous quarter (Chart 3 in the Annex).
Owing to small sample sizes of SMEs with existing credit lines (13 per cent of surveyed SMEs) and with new credit applications (3 per cent of surveyed SMEs) during the quarter, the results could be prone to large fluctuations, and hence should be interpreted with care.
About Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)’ Credit Conditions
In light of the importance of SMEs to the Hong Kong economy and concerns about potential funding difficulties facing SMEs over the past few years, the HKMA has appointed the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to carry out this survey, starting from the third quarter of 2016. This survey is conducted on a quarterly basis, covering about 2 500 SMEs from different economic sectors each time. The results of this survey can help monitor the development of SMEs’ access to bank credit from a demand-side perspective.
The results of this survey should be interpreted with caution. Similar to other opinion surveys, views collected in this survey may be affected by changes in sentiment due to idiosyncratic events that occurred over the survey period, which can make the results prone to fluctuations. Readers are advised to interpret the results together with other economic and financial information. In addition, views collected are limited to the expected direction of inter-quarter changes (e.g. “tighter”, “no change” or “easier”) without providing information about the magnitude of these changes.
Detailed tables and technical information of this survey are published on the website of the HKPC (smecc.hkpc.org).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, as representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, announced today (November 4) the relevant per annum interest rate for the fifth interest payment of the series of retail green bonds due 2025 (Issue Number: 03GR2505R; Stock Code: 4252) (the Retail Green Bonds) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme (previously known as the Government Green Bond Programme).
According to the Issue Circular dated April 26, 2022 for the Retail Green Bonds, the fifth interest payment of the Retail Green Bonds is scheduled to be made on November 18, 2024, and the relevant interest rate is scheduled to be determined and announced on November 4, 2024 as the higher of the prevailing Floating Rate and Fixed Rate.
On November 4, 2024, the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate are as follows:
Floating Rate: +1.83 per cent (Annex)
Fixed Rate: +2.50 per cent
Based on the Floating Rate and Fixed Rate set out above, the relevant interest rate for the fifth interest payment is determined and announced as 2.50 per cent per annum.
Source: Australian Ministers for Education
Every day, parents trust early educators with the most important people in their world, and every day Australia asks early educators to do one of the most important jobs imaginable.
Today the Albanese Government has passed legislation through the House of Representatives to make sure those educators are fairly paid.
Once it passes through Parliament, the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024 will deliver a 15 per cent wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workers.
This wage increase will be tied to a commitment from Child Care Centres to limit fee increases. We want to make sure workers can be fairly paid without the costs being passed on to families.
Since coming to Government, the number of ECEC workers has grown by more than 30,000, but we need more.
This $3.6 billion investment will help retain our existing early childhood educators, who are predominately women, and attract new employees.
By improving access to quality early childhood education and care we can also boost productivity and workforce participation in the short and long-term. Significantly, the wage increase also applies to workers in outside school hours care services – creating benefits for the parents of school aged children too.
This wage increase is an important next step in the Government’s reforms to the sector, building on the successful Cheaper Child Care changes.
The wage increase will be phased in over two years, and include a 10 per cent increase from December 2024, and a further 5 per cent increase from December 2025.
This means a typical ECEC educator who is paid at the award rate will receive a pay rise of at least $103 per week, increasing to at least $155 per week from December 2025.
For a typical early childhood teacher, they’ll receive an additional $166 a week from December this year, increasing to $249 from December of next year.
To be eligible to receive funding for the wage increase, ECEC services won’t be able to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent over the next 12 months from August 2024.
There will also be a limit on fee growth in the second year of the wage subsidy. The percentage limit on fee growth that will apply from August 2025 will be determined by a new ECEC cost index being developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Early learning providers can now apply for Commonwealth Government funding to deliver the pay rise.
This is a win for workers, a win for families and will help ease cost of living pressures.
Combined with the Government’s Cheaper Child Care initiative, this wage increase will help support the availability of early education and care for families and is a crucial step in charting the course to a truly universal early education system.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Jason Clare:
“The child care debate is over. It’s not babysitting. It’s early education and it’s critical to preparing children for school.
“They lift our kids up and now we are lifting their pay.
“This means wages up for workers and keeping prices down for families.
“A pay rise for every early childhood educator is good for our workforce, good for families and good our economy.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education, Dr Anne Aly:
“This is a wonderful outcome for a highly feminised workforce that has for far too long been neglected and taken for granted.
“We’re boosting the wages of early childhood education workers, while relieving cost of living pressures on Australian families.
“Properly valuing the early childhood education and care workforce is crucial to attracting and retaining workers and vital to achieving the quality universal early learning sector Australian families deserve.
“A quality early childhood education sector is necessary to support children’s learning and development as well as workforce participation in the broader economy.”
Source: City of Wolverhampton
Similar to last year, those eligible for a free Covid-19 and flu vaccination include all adults aged 65 years and over, people who live in a care home for older adults, people aged 6 months to 64 years with health conditions that make them more vulnerable, frontline health and social care staff including those working in care homes for older adults, and pregnant women.
Eligible people can get one or both vaccinations and are invited to book an appointment via the NHS website, on the NHS app or by calling 119.
Alternatively, they can get their vaccinations at one of a number of community pop up clinics offering both vaccines without an appointment which are taking place across the city over the coming weeks, including:
Anyone not eligible for a free flu vaccination is reminded that they can get it for a small charge at participating pharmacists.
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “It’s vital that everyone prepares for potential winter illnesses, especially those who are at higher risk.
“It can be easy to become complacent, however it’s important for those who are eligible to top up their protection, even if they have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or Covid-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.”
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Getting vaccinated will help you get winter strong so, I would encourage anyone who is eligible to take up the offer of a free flu or Covid-19 vaccination, or both.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)
Keynote Speaker – Mundy’s Mill HS 2006 Graduation
WHAT: Congressman David Scott (D-GA) will participate as the keynote speaker for the 2006 Graduation Ceremony of Mundy’s Mill High School. Constituents from the Clayton County community are encouraged to attend this special ceremony. WHEN: Saturday, May 27, 2006 – 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Twelve Oaks Stadium 1586 Lovejoy Road Jonesboro, GA 30236
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)
Congressman David Scott (GA-13) will attend Lockheed Martin’s ceremony to rollout the C-5M Super Galaxy. Media interested in attending the ceremony should contact Chandra Harris at 770-210-5073 or Peter Simmons of Lockheed at 770-494-6208 for more information.
WHERE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company 86 South Cobb Drive Marietta, Georgia 30063
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Department of Justice (DoJ) today strongly condemned an attempted knife attack on a magistrate, stressing that it will not tolerate any illegal or violent acts.
In a press release, the DoJ explained that the incident took place at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts this morning and emphasised that the attempted knife attack threatened the magistrate’s personal safety.
It also made it clear that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will not tolerate any illegal or violent acts, and Police will thoroughly investigate the case, strictly enforce the law and bring any offender to account.
Article 85 of the Basic Law clearly states that the courts of the Hong Kong SAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. Judges should handle cases in accordance with law and evidence. Intimidation, in particular violence of any form against judges who are performing judicial duties, will never be tolerated. Such illegal acts not only disregard the law but also undermine the rule of law.
Apart from saying that Police will follow up on the matter seriously, the DoJ appealed to the public to respect the rule of law and not to break the law.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The website has been created in partnership with children, young people and their families and includes:
The new website has been developed in response to the Local Area SEND Inspection in 2021, which found that many parents and carers were not aware of the Local Offer and some of those that were found it difficult to access information on the site.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “The Local Offer website brings together a wide range of information about the education, health and social care support available in Wolverhampton and the surrounding area for children and young people with SEND, and their families.
“User acceptance testing is still being carried out on the new site and further development will be undertaken in response to feedback received. We are keen to hear your views to help us continue updating the website to meet your needs, so please take a look and if you have any comments, let us know via the feedback function on the website.”
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation announced Monday that it plans to invite 40 faculty members and students from seven mainland universities to visit the island, following a successful visit of mainland college students in 2023.
The visit is scheduled to take place from Nov. 27 for nine days and eight nights, said Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the foundation, at a press conference, adding that the foundation will submit applications to relevant authorities and hopes for swift approval to facilitate the visit.
The mainland students and teachers will be from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhejiang University, Fujian Normal University and Beijing Sport University. The students will include Olympic champions, table tennis gold medalist Ma Long from Beijing Sport University, and shooting gold medalist Yang Qian from Tsinghua University, Hsiao said.
They will visit six universities in Taiwan, including Taiwan University, Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, Chengchi University, Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, and Chang Gung University, as well as the Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School, he said.
The itinerary will also include visits to scenic spots such as Sun Moon Lake so that mainland students will have an in-depth understanding of Taiwan’s history and natural beauty. Additionally, the foundation will arrange baseball experience activities, allowing mainland students to engage firsthand with Taiwan’s popular baseball culture.
This is the second such visit planned by the foundation. In 2023, faculty members and students from five mainland universities were warmly received across Taiwan, positively impacting cross-Strait relations.
In 2023 and 2024, Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, also led youth groups from Taiwan on visits to the mainland.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
The Chinese PLA support base in Djibouti carries out a three-day joint training of “Cooperation-2024.10. FAD” with the Djiboutian army from October 26th to 28th, 2024. The training, themed on “joint anti-terrorism military operation”, consisted of land phase and sea phase, and involved more than 300 soldiers, five boats, and 40 armored vehicles, artilleries, logistic vehicles. Both sides’ participants conducted such training subjects as fire strike, armed escort, and counter-piracy. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Sun Ye, Mi Peng, Han Liang, Meng Xinde, Wu Shihong, Zhou Weiyue, Zhu Ruifeng)
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Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
A ground-based air defense system attached to an air-defense detachment of a brigade under the Chinese PLA 81st Group Army launches a missile against “enemy” target during a live-fire training exercise aiming to enhance the troops’ rapid reconnaissance and precise strike capabilities on September 1st, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Feng Hao)
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Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
Soldiers assigned to a reconnaissance detachment of an army brigade under the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command cover each other in firing position while marching in the jungle during a reconnaissance and infiltration training exercise on August 29, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Xiao Zubin)
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Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
By Shao Bo
BEIJING, Nov. 4 — The Chinese PLA Support Base in Djibouti carried out a three-day joint training “Cooperation-2024.10. FAD” with the Djiboutian military from October 26th to 28th, 2024.
Themed on “joint anti-terrorism military operations”, the joint training consisted of land phase and sea phase and focused on such subjects as fire strike, armed escort, and counter-piracy.
The joint training involved more than 300 soldiers, five boats, and 40 armored vehicles, artilleries, logistic support vehicles.
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Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore
Singapore, 4 November 2024 – Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Koh Poh Koon, announced at the Singapore Hawkers’ Seminar and Awards 2024 today that the National Environment Agency (NEA) will be revising the rental renewal policy for successful tenderers from the November 2024 hawker stall tender exercise onwards.
2 To deter overly high tender bids, NEA will be staggering the downward adjustment of tendered stall rentals over a longer period. Instead of an immediate full downward adjustment to the assessed market rent (AMR) at the point of first tenancy renewal, the rental for such hawker stalls will be adjusted downwards by 50% of the difference between their tendered rent and AMR for the second tenancy term. This will take effect from the next stall tender exercise in November 2024. This new measure seeks to encourage more prudent bidding behaviour.
3 To help prospective bidders make more informed tender bid price decisions, NEA will also provide more information and online business cost estimation tools to help prospective bidders make better cost and revenue estimates. These will be made available progressively from 2025.
Current Stall Tender Scheme and rental model
4 Vacant cooked food and market stalls are put up for tender monthly under NEA’s Stall Tender Scheme [1]. This open tender system ensures stalls are allocated in a fair and transparent manner. When stallholders obtain vacant stalls via the monthly stall tender exercises, their stall rental for the first tenancy term of three years is their tendered bid price. At the end of the 3-year tenancy term, stall rental is adjusted towards AMR, as determined by an independent professional valuation. The valuation considers factors such as footfall, stall sizes and tendered stall rentals at the hawker centre.
5 Currently, stallholders whose tendered rent is higher than the AMR at the point of tenancy renewal will see a full downward adjustment of their stall rental to the prevailing AMR. Stallholders whose tendered rent is lower than the AMR at the point of tenancy renewal will similarly see an upward adjustment of stall rental toward the AMR. This upward adjustment of stall rental towards AMR is moderated by NEA and has not exceeded $300 per tenancy term in recent years.
6 Popular hawker centres with high footfall and low vacancy have started to attract higher tender bids in recent years. Some bidders may have tendered high bids to secure choice stalls at their preferred locations. However, this is not the norm.
7 The median stall rental for non-subsidised cooked food stalls has remained relatively constant for the last 10 years at about $1,250 per month. Occupancy rates for cooked food stalls have remained high, averaging at around 97%. Most of the vacant stalls that are put up for tender will be occupied within three to six months.
8 While NEA does not regulate cooked food prices, we remain committed to provide a conducive environment for stallholders to operate, so that they can price their food affordably for the public and sustain their own livelihoods. Together with the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, we will continue to track stall rentals closely and adjust policies as necessary.
[1] Please refer to the ANNEX for an illustrated example of the Stall Tender Scheme.
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For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.
ANNEX
Source: Sydney Airport
Australia’s largest airports join forces in the fight against human trafficking
Monday 4 November 2024
In an Australian first, Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport have joined forces to launch a public awareness campaign to fight human trafficking.
The country’s two largest international airports have partnered with anti-human trafficking organisation, A21, to run the “Can You See Me?” campaign, with guidance and input from the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
This initiative will educate people on how to recognise and report the signs of human trafficking.
From today, digital screens and billboards at both airports will display images and messages, stating that slavery still exists and urging people: “If you suspect it, report it.” QR codes also link to videos and information on how to identify and stop these crimes. Digital screens in key areas will display these messages, including check-in counters, gates and baggage carousels.
Combined, Sydney and Melbourne airports cater for 68% of Australia’s total international passenger traffic. While the “Can You See Me?” campaign runs over the next month, close to 7 million passengers are expected to pass through both the domestic and international terminals at the two airports.
A21 has rolled out this program in high-profile spaces worldwide—from Times Square billboards, screens at Heathrow Airport, train stations in Thailand to inflatable screens in vulnerable Cambodian communities—reaching an impressive 3.4 billion people globally.
Modern slavery is a growing issue in Australia, with the AFP receiving 382 reports in 2023/2024 financial year, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year. Cases include trafficking, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, debt bondage, forced labour, deceptive recruitment and organ trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimates 41,000 people in Australia live under conditions of modern slavery.
Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO said: “Every person who steps through our airport deserves to travel safely, without fear of exploitation.”
“We deeply value the AFP’s dedication to catching and prosecuting traffickers and the A21 ‘Can You See Me?’ campaign will amplify their efforts by raising critical public awareness and support.
“Sydney Airport is proud to join forces with Melbourne Airport, united in our mission to tackle the scourge of modern slavery.”
Lorie Argus, Melbourne Airport CEO said: “This partnership goes beyond just airports—it’s about people’s lives.”
“By joining forces with Sydney Airport, the AFP, and A21, we’re taking a stand against modern slavery, a hidden crime that destroys people’s futures.
“Knowing that human trafficking is a real and daily threat, we feel a deep responsibility to protect our passengers.”
Acting Commander Human Exploitation Frank Rayner from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said: “The increase in reported cases of human trafficking and slavery in Australia highlights the urgent need for action.”
“Airports are key environments where traffickers seek to move victims across borders. It is important to remember that traffickers have many ways of controlling a person and a person can be exploited without physical restraint or abuse.
“Engaging travellers and frontline airport staff to recognise the signs and report suspected cases will help disrupt these crimes and protect vulnerable people.”
Nick Caine, A21 CEO, said: “Everyone has a role to play in the fight against human trafficking. Awareness is the first step, and we believe that through this campaign, more victims will be recognised and rescued.
“The ‘Can You See Me?’ campaign has already changed lives across the world, and we are grateful to Sydney and Melbourne airports for bringing this powerful message to Australia.”
Christian Elliott, Director of “Can You See Me?” said: “As the director of the Can You See Me? campaign, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of awareness.”
“This initiative goes beyond just sharing information—it equips every individual who passes through Sydney and Melbourne airports to become a part of the solution.
“Human trafficking hides in plain sight, but through this campaign, we are making the invisible visible, empowering travellers, staff, and the public to take action. With just one report, one moment of recognition, a life can be saved. Together, we can stop the traffickers and protect the most vulnerable among us.”
The Rotary Clubs of Botany Randwick and Marrickville have announced that all cash collected from 11 donation boxes across Sydney Airport over the next month will be donated to A21 to support survivors of human trafficking.
More details: Human trafficking and exploitation – AFP
If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 000 for help.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) protect people who are victims of modern slavery and can help keep you safe. If you suspect someone is at risk, you can:
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Pension Insurance Corporation, Muse and Homes England form £54 million joint venture, named HABIKO, a development vehicle to bring forward 3,000 low-carbon, low-energy affordable homes for rent
A significant long-term public-private partnership, focused on affordable housing delivery, has been announced by Pension Insurance Corporation, a major investor in UK housing and infrastructure, nationwide place maker, Muse, and Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency.
The new public-private partnership, named Habiko, is a joint venture that plans to deliver 3,000 low-carbon, low-energy affordable homes for the rental market, unlocking institutional investment. Habiko will become self-funding over its 12-year lifespan and aims to diversify the supply chain for future efficient housing developments.
Habiko is targeting up to 100% affordable homes for rent for those whose needs are not met by the market, with rents set at 20% below the local market rent. During the 12-year lifespan of the partnership, PIC will have the ability to continue to forward fund the development of the affordable homes and will ultimately own the homes and places they have helped to create through its investment and long-term stewardship approach.
The homes will be built across England in areas of high demand for this type of housing. The developments aim to create social value for these communities, including boosting the local economy through job creation and new skills to drive green innovation. The homes will be in accessible locations, close to employment opportunities and be designed to help residents save money on their energy bills.
Tracy Blackwell, CEO of PIC, said:
Meeting the UK’s affordable housing needs is a challenge that is best met through effective collaboration between Government, developers, and private investors. Habiko is a great example of public-private partnership, which brings forward thousands of low-carbon, low-energy affordable homes.
PIC has invested around £4 billion in social and affordable housing to date, helping provide the secure, long-dated, inflation linked cashflows to back the pensions of its policyholders over coming decades, creating considerable social value.
Phil Mayall, Managing Director at Muse, said:
The Government has set out a bold and ambitious challenge to deliver a significant number of new affordable homes over the next five years. Working together with PIC and Homes England, we can bring together our collective resources and unique experience to deliver thousands of low carbon and low energy homes which, by working alongside our local partners, meet the needs of communities across the country.”
Peter Denton, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:
Attracting institutional investment into the housing sector is critical to build the new homes the country needs.
This partnership supports our partners’ objective to deliver low carbon, low energy, affordable homes, bringing together the technical expertise and capability of Muse with the financial capacity of one of the UK’s largest pension fund insurers, cementing PIC as a significant force in delivering affordable housing.
For more information about Habiko please visit www.habiko.uk
Homes England is the government’s housing and regeneration agency. We believe that affordable, quality homes in well-designed places are key to improving people’s lives. We make this happen by using our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to both – bring investment to communities and get more quality homes built.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england
The purpose of PIC is to pay the pensions of its current and future policyholders. At half year 2024 PIC had insured 348,600 pension scheme members and had assets of £47.7 billion, accumulated through the provision of tailored pension insurance buyouts and buy-ins to the trustees and sponsors of UK defined benefit pension schemes. PIC has made pension payments of more than £15 billion to its policyholders, with a customer satisfaction rating of 99%, and has invested more than £13 billion in the UK infrastructure and housing, including in urban regeneration projects, social housing, and renewable energy, creating considerable social value. Clients include FTSE 100 companies, multinationals and the public sector. PIC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN 454345). For further information please visit www.pensioncorporation.com
The nationwide placemaker, Muse, has 40 years of experience creating mixed-use communities across the UK.
Our track record of leading complex, mixed-use regeneration gives us the experience to deliver successful places, with the emphasis on sustainability, community and quality. We’re working with partners across the UK with more than 2000 new homes and over 600,000 sq ft of commercial space under construction over the past 12 months, with a gross development value of £877m.
We combine local insight with the resources and capabilities of a nationwide organisation. Our regional teams are based in Manchester, Leeds, London and Birmingham.
As part of Morgan Sindall Group, we have the financial strength of a leading UK construction and regeneration group with an annual revenue of £2.2bn
Our focus is on strong partnerships in the many places we work across the UK and our national strategic joint ventures, ECF – with Legal & General and Homes England – and Waterside Places with the Canal & River Trust.
We’re building a brighter future, together.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The Awards and Certificates in Musical Development are industry first, innovative qualifications which set a new standard for fully accessible, inclusive music assessments. They enable children and young people with learning difficulties to achieve a fully regulated qualification in any music making context.
Daryl Pardesi, Hub Development Lead for Inclusion and Partnerships at Wolverhampton Music Service, said: “This is a much needed new inclusion opportunity for pupils in SEND settings to gain accreditation, just as their peers have done for a long time in primary and secondary settings.
“These innovative qualifications celebrate every learner’s journey, recognising musical achievements across all abilities and backgrounds.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, added: “These are ground breaking, fully accessible, regulated music qualifications open to all learners – from those with profound learning difficulties to those on the autism spectrum.
“These qualifications enable everyone to have their musical achievements and progress formally recognised, and I am delighted that we are able to offer them through Wolverhampton Music Service.”
Although geared towards learners with SEND or additional support needs, the Awards and Certificates of Musical Development are designed to recognise how everyone engages with music and is open to all learners working with the Sounds of Intent Framework, with no age restrictions or other limitations.
Wolverhampton Music Service provides high quality tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with its flagship groups, Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.
Last year, it delivered around 500 hours of tuition to nearly 7,000 children in 82 schools across the city every week, and runs 15 free ensembles enjoyed by over 500 children and young people on a weekly basis.
To find out more visit Wolverhampton Music Service.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport
The fifth European Political Community (EPC) Summit will take place in Budapest on Thursday, 7 November. President Amherd will represent Switzerland at the meeting, which will be attended by representatives from around 45 European states, the institutions of the European Union (EU) and other organisations.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Nov. 4 — The eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit will be held in Kunming, Yunnan from Nov. 6 to 7. Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will chair the summit, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Monday.
Leaders of the five Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, and President of the Asian Development Bank will attend the summit upon invitation, Mao added.
Source: City of Leeds
An impressive, brick-by-brick recreation of John Smeaton’s famous Eddystone Lighthouse has gone on display in Leeds alongside the 230-year-old designs which inspired it.
Civil Engineer and railway enthusiast Mark Calvert designed the model and then printed each part on a 3D printer, after an illuminating study into the famed Leeds-born engineer’s original masterwork.
Now his model has taken pride of place in an exhibition at Leeds Industrial Museum next to a stunning first edition book, penned by Smeaton himself, detailing his pioneering plans for the towering full-sized structure.
Coloured in the iconic red and white stripes which have become synonymous with the British seaside, the metre-high model is made up of scores of interlocking bricks, which mimic the huge granite blocks and dovetail joints of the full-sized version.
Mark, a former chair of the Yorkshire branch of the Institution of Civil Engineers, became fascinated by the intricacy of Smeaton’s plans, which were themselves inspired by the strong, sweeping appearance of an oak tree.
He said: “Smeaton’s lighthouse designs have always been fascinating, but it isn’t until you look at them in detail that you fully marvel at the incredible thought process which much have gone into their actual construction.
“Each individual block had to correspond exactly to the ones around, allowing them to interlock and make the lighthouse so strong and resilient against vast forces of the sea that had swept away the lighthouses that stood before Smeaton’s attempt.
“It was such a challenge to recreate these designs and a really proud moment to see my model on display alongside the designs which came from the mind of Smeaton himself.”
Born in Whitkirk, Leeds in 1724, self-taught engineer Smeaton was tasked with building a lighthouse to guide ships through the notoriously perilous passage through the Eddystone Rocks off the coast of Devon in around 1756.
Inspired by the tapered trunk of an oak tree and the kerbstones of London’s pavements, the completed lighthouse stood 59 feet high, and was first lit on October 16, 1759.
On loan from Leeds Central Library, the book of his designs itself took 35 years to complete and was dedicated by the author to King George III.
Both the book and Mark’s model are on display as part of Engineery: Building Better Futures, an exhibition exploring the story of civil engineering and the huge impact it has had on the world.
The exhibition is a collaboration between Leeds Museums and Galleries and Smeaton 300, a programme designed by local arts organisation Foxglove to mark Smeaton’s 300th birthday. Mark worked alongside Foxglove, who consulted him as an expert engineer as part of the programme.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “It’s incredible to see Smeaton’s designs are still encouraging creativity and innovation in Leeds centuries after he was born.
“There can be no more fitting tribute to his life and legacy than for his work to be on display today in his home city alongside modern day creations made by those he has inspired.”
For more information on Smeaton 300, visit: The Project – Smeaton300
For more details about Engineery, which is on now at Leeds Industrial Museum, please visit: Engineery – Leeds Museums & Galleries
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
In response to the rapidly growing complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies embedded in everyday products and services, the UNECE Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) has issued a declaration aimed at fostering increased global regulatory coherence. This landmark initiative addresses the urgent need for a coherent, international approach to regulating AI embedded in products, such as consumer electronics, medical devices, and industrial systems and machinery.
The declaration builds upon the related Overarching Common Regulatory Arrangements (CRA), a framework designed to support the development of voluntary regulatory cooperation between governments, while safeguarding global trade and technological advancements. The CRA provides guidance on reducing technical barriers to trade, aligning regulatory approaches, and enhancing market surveillance.
“The fragmented regulatory landscape for AI, combined with global security concerns and geopolitical challenges, risks creating new barriers to trade. It is thus vital that digital risks are addressed with measures that are effective for the specific AI use cases,” said Heidi Lund, the Chair of UNECE WP.6. “This declaration underscores the importance of consensus-driven regulatory approaches to counter digital vulnerabilities and ensure that technological advancements benefit all economies.”
The key benefits of the declaration include:
Promoting Trustworthiness and Resilience: The CRA addresses the societal and technological risks associated with AI, ensuring that embedded AI systems are safe, secure, and resilient to cyber threats.
Supporting Sustainable Development: The CRA aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encouraging AI implementations that advance environmental, economic, and social objectives.
The declaration represents a proactive response to the rapidly evolving digital landscape. It provides a unique platform for global regulatory collaboration, offering a flexible, non-binding methodology that adapts to the maturity levels of participating agencies. This flexibility ensures that agencies can implement best practices tailored to their specific regulatory needs, without the burden of binding commitments. The end goal is to ensure that products entered onto the market are safe for consumers and that the AI elements do not negatively impact human autonomy, mental wellbeing or individual freedoms.
The UNECE W.P.6 Project Leader, Markus Krebsz, emphasized the broader impact of the CRA, noting that it “not only facilitates trade and regulatory coherence but also addresses key societal challenges like trustworthiness, privacy, cybersecurity and reducing the global digital divide. The framework encourages continuous compliance and the sharing of best practices to ensure the safe and responsible development of AI technologies.”
Next steps for governments and agencies: Call for engagement
As the declaration moves forward, UNECE will soon launch a call for engagement, inviting governments and national agencies to participate in new implementation projects, aimed at bringing the principles of the CRA to specific sectors, such as medical devices, electrical appliances and/or toys. Governments and national agencies globally are invited to join this initiative, which offers a strategic path to shaping the future of AI regulation while contributing to a more integrated and efficient global market for AI-embedded products and services.
For more information, please visit this page or see, or see the UNECE WP.6 website, or contact [email protected].
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Mainly due to a weaker northeast monsoon over southern China, October was much warmer than usual, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) said today.
The monthly mean temperature of 27.3 degrees Celsius, mean maximum temperature of 30.3 degrees Celsius, and mean minimum temperature of 25.4 degrees Celsius, were all the highest on record for October.
There were three very hot days in the month, one of the highest on record for October.
On October 19, with light winds and plenty of sunshine, the maximum temperature recorded in the afternoon was 33.7 degrees, making it the latest very hot day of a year on record.
The month was also much drier than usual with a total rainfall of 11.3mm, only about 9% of the norm. The accumulated rainfall this year up to October was 2,115.6mm, about 10% lower than the norm for the same period.
Five tropical cyclones occurred over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in October, the HKO added.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
This year’s Asia+ Festival has invited Kinan Azmeh, a core member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and an award-winning clarinettist and composer, to perform in Hong Kong for the first time in November. He will be joined by percussionist John Hadfield and five emerging local musicians in a pair of concerts that showcase a broad range of music. The events are presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Born in Syria and now based in the United States, Azmeh is widely acclaimed for his genre-crossing repertoire that blends Arabic music with Western classical and jazz influences. His work has been hailed by The New York Times as “intensely soulful”, describing him as a “virtuoso”. In 2017, Silk Road Ensemble’s “Sing Me Home”, which he contributed to, won the Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. Within the album is his composition “Wedding”, in which he also appeared as a clarinettist.
Azmeh has performed in many major venues around the world, such as the Bastille Opera House in Paris, Berliner Philharmonie in Berlin and the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In the upcoming Hong Kong concerts, he will perform four compositions of different styles, which will express emotions that are universally shared. “The Fence, the Rooftop and the Distant Sea” portrays the composer’s longing for his hometown, while “Ibn Arabi Postlude” exalts love and freedom, which he deems as sacred as religion. Another piece, “In the Element”, depicts Azmeh’s state of bliss as he becomes one with the natural environment he is familiar with. Lastly, “Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra” is his contemplation of the intriguing correlations between the composed and the improvised.
Besides sharing the stage with Hadfield are the five local musicians, namely violinists Nina Wong and Sammi Chan, violist Martin Kuo, cellist Kelvin Lee, and double bassist Evette Chiu. Part of this programme was performed to critical acclaim for Azmeh’s collaboration with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in London Southbank Centre last year.
“Concert by Kinan Azmeh” is one of the celebratory programmes of the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It will be staged at 8pm on November 22 and 23 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre. Each performance will be followed by a meet-the-artist session. Tickets priced at $260 and $400 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288; or use the mobile ticketing app “URBTIX”. Besides the concert, a composition and improvisation workshop, with tickets priced at $200, will be held on November 20 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Administration Building’s Podium Workshop. Azmeh will also coach Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts students in a clarinet masterclass on November 21 at the Academy’s Recital Hall. Members of the audience are welcome to view the class for free. For more details, please visit asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en/concert-by-kinan-azmeh.
The second Asia+ Festival is running from September to November, highlighting the arts and cultures of nearly 30 Asian and Belt and Road countries and regions. Apart from stage programmes, there are also thematic exhibitions, an outdoor carnival, film screenings, outreach activities and more, numbering over 100 in total. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit asiaplus.gov.hk/2024/en.