Speech by PSCST at Denim Delight Party of "4th Hong Kong Denim Festival - Denim Artistry"
Following is the speech by the Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum, at the Denim Delight Party of the "4th Hong Kong Denim Festival - Denim Artistry" today (November 24):
Tony (Chairman of the Vocational Training Council, Mr Tony Tai), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you at the Denim Delight Party of the "4th Hong Kong Denim Festival - Denim Artistry", which celebrates the artistry of denim through a spectacular fashion show staged against Hong Kong's stunning skyline and unparalleled view of Victoria Harbour.
Under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Government, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) is delighted to have sponsored the Hong Kong Denim Festival since its inauguration in 2019.This eveningmarks the fourth edition of the Festival, which is also one of the programmes of the second edition of the CCIDA-sponsored Hong Kong Fashion Fest that is organised by a host of our partners.
Hong Kong Fashion Fest provides a platform for local and international fashion brands to showcase and connect, to ultimately develop Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia. I welcome all of you to experience the vibrant spirit of Hong Kong fashion, and to join us at a variety of exciting fashion events, including fashion shows, exhibitions, conferences and workshops, which will be held in various locations in Hong Konguntil December 7.
Denim is a symbol of versatility. Its application has evolved from making streetwear like jeans and jackets to creating high-end fashion, stylish accessories, home decor, and even artistic pieces. The Hong Kong Denim Festival will present a wide range of denim works, guiding audiences through the enduring artistry and craftsmanship of denim, and showcasing its vast possibilities.
Today's fashion show shines a spotlight on the emerging generation of designers who are driving Hong Kong's creative scene forward with bold ideas and fresh perspectives. We will see the creative designs of eight local young denim artisans alongside the work of a well-established Hong Kong fashion label. It demonstrates one of the Government's nurturing efforts for local design talents.
This year, the Denim Festival has gone beyond to real businesses by arranging in these two months for our emerging local designers to showcase their talents through in-store campaigns with the support of leading denim brands. Through such collaborations, our designers will be able to gain exposure, hands-on retail experience and first-hand feedback from buyers, which will definitely uplift their portfolios and empower them to grow their businesses.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Hong Kong Design Institute of the Vocational Training Council for organising this meaningful programme. We look forward to more opportunities in the fashion industry that inspire young talents to pursue entrepreneurship and provide them with exposure on the global stage.
We are determined to develop our fashion design industry and bring about more opportunities to our designers. On a related note, let me take this opportunity to call on everyone in Hong Kong's fashion community to support the 2025 Legislative Council General Electionon December 7. Cast your vote to elect representatives who can help shape a brighter future for Hong Kong.
I wish you all a wonderful and enjoyable evening. Thank you.
The "4th Hong Kong Denim Festival - Denim Artistry", Photo source: The official website of Hong Kong Fashion Fest
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
