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Xu Bing named cultural ambassador

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung has appointed Chinese contemporary artist Xu Bing as Ambassador for Cultural Promotion for about five years starting today.    As Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, Mr Xu will initiate a series of large-scale art projects in Hong Kong and nurture young talent to promote cultural development.   The Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau said the appointment aims to extend the Ambassador for Cultural Promotion scheme to other fields of arts, after Chinese composer, musician and conductor Tan Dun became Hong Kong’s first Ambassador for Cultural Promotion last year.   Speaking at the appointment ceremony today, Mr Yeung said Mr Xu is widely recognised as one of the most innovative and influential Chinese contemporary artists.   The culture chief added that the Museum of Art collected one of Mr Xu's most well-known works A Book from the Sky, which contains both traditional and contemporary elements, just like Hong Kong

Car phase-out aid deadline extended

    The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today announced that the deadline for applying for the ex-gratia payment for phasing out Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles (DCVs) will be extended to December 31, 2023.   To improve roadside air quality and better safeguard public health, the EPD launched an ex-gratia payment scheme in 2020 to progressively phase out about 40,000 Euro IV DCVs including goods vehicles, non-franchised buses and light buses by the end of 2027.   Eligible vehicle owners should, during the implementation of the scheme, scrap their Euro IV DCVs through vehicle scrapping companies registered under the scheme. They should then de-register their DCVs with the Transport Department before the deadline. Once the deregistration process is completed, they can apply for the ex-gratia payment within three months.   The EPD explained that it introduced the special arrangement in view of the current economic situation, the operational difficulties faced by transport trades and the fact that some owners of Euro IV DCVs first registered in 2007 might not be able to complete the procedures for applying for the ex-gratia payment by the original deadline on December 31 this year.   Nonetheless, the approval for the ex-gratia payment is still subject to the applicant meeting all other prevailing eligibility criteria, completing all necessary procedures and submitting the application no later than December 31, 2023, the EPD stressed.   Moreover, after December 31, the Government will stop issuing and renewing vehicle licences for owners of Euro IV DCVs first registered in 2007 in accordance with the Air Pollution Control (Air Pollutant Emission)(Controlled Vehicles) Regulation. From 2023, owners of such vehicles who need to apply for a vehicle licence renewal shall seek the EPD’s exemption for extending the deadline.   Call 2651 1100 or email the EPD for details.
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