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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the Opening Ceremony of the Dragon Boat Festival in Antwerp today (September 10, Antwerp time):
Ambassador De Visser, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to join you all here today in Antwerp. I am delighted that one of Hong Kong's most popular traditions, dragon boat racing, is coming to life in this magnificent city.
I hope you enjoy all the thrills and spills of Antwerp's first Dragon Boat Festival.
First of all, let me congratulate the Rotary Club of Antwerp West, the Mayor's Office and the Port of Antwerp for making this event possible.
Sharing a slice of Hong Kong culture with the people of Antwerp will bring our two cities closer together, and strengthen the bonds of friendship between us.
Dragon boat racing is much more than just a sport. It has its roots in ancient Chinese folklore dating back more than 2 000 years. In Hong Kong, dragon boats have become a symbol of our city's strength, energy and vibrancy, and an important part of our cultural fabric.
Hong Kong hosted its first international dragon boat races some 36 years ago. Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength. Our annual dragon boat festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. It attracts teams and spectators from all corners of the globe, including Belgium.
This also shows that visiting Hong Kong is about more than great restaurants and an eye-popping shopping experience. It is also about enjoying our unique East-meets-West culture.
As well as being the premier gateway to the Mainland of China for international trade and finance, Hong Kong is also one of the world's leading tourist destinations.
Last year, we welcomed a record 36 million visitors. That is more than five times the population of Hong Kong. More than 1.7 million arrivals came from Europe, making this region one of our most important source markets.
The Hong Kong SAR Government invests heavily in world-class tourism infrastructure.
A new cruise terminal is under construction on the shores of our spectacular Victoria Harbour. When the first phase is completed in 2013, it will be able to accommodate the world's largest cruise liners.
Looking further ahead, our West Kowloon Cultural District will rise from the ground on a spectacular 40-hectare site fronting our harbour. This iconic Cultural District will be home to no less than 15 arts facilities, including concert halls, theatres, a contemporary arts museum and a major performance venue. Our overriding goal is for Hong Kong to become a tourism, cultural and events hub in Asia.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Antwerp Dragon Boat Festival provides a taste of Hong Kong right here in the heart of Europe. I hope this festival will inspire you to visit our city and discover all that we have to offer in Hong Kong, Asia's world city. You can even join us for more dragon boat racing next summer when we host the Club Crew World Championships!
I wish the Antwerp Dragon Boat Festival every success and a splashing good time to all participants and spectators.
Thank you and good luck to all the teams!
Ends/Saturday, September 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 22:00
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