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To establish Hong Kong as a cultural hub in Asia, a harbourfront site in West Kowloon will soon be turned into a world-class integrated arts, cultural and entertainment area. The massive cultural district with a variety of venues and leisure facilities is expected to be completed by 2015.
"When completed, it will feature 15 performing arts venues, including theatres, a concert hall and a center for Cantonese opera and other traditional Chinese opera performances. There will also be piazza areas for outdoor performances, a new concept museum, a large exhibition center, galleries and restaurants," said the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr. Donald Tsang at the "Hong Kong ¡ª A City Where East Meets West" Gala Reception in Los Angeles today (January 26, local time).
The Reception, organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco was attended by some 250 guests including business leaders, senior officials, consuls general and local dignitaries.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa extended a warm welcome to the Chief Executive, pointing out that Mr. Tsang's visit had enhanced the many close ties and co-operation between Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
"Similar to Los Angeles, Hong Kong is a melting pot of cultures. People from all corners of the globe have settled in our city. We celebrate cultural diversity, embrace our personal freedoms and encourage community spirit," he said.
Although Hong Kong is a small city, it has received tens of millions of visitors each year. Last year, more than 29 million people made the trip to Hong Kong.
"We are also attracting more MICE visitors, that is business people who come for meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions,¡± he said.
To give tourism and MICE sectors an extra boost, the hotel accommodation tax and duties on wine and beer had been waived in Hong Kong in 2008. In scrapping wine duties, Hong Kong became the first free wine port among major economies.
The Chief Executive also noted that Hong Kong, together with Macao, became the first city in China to be included in the prestigious Michelin Guide series. It includes more than 200 restaurants and hotels in Hong Kong with 22 of them receiving one or more of the coveted Michelin stars.
"As well as being a city in China, Hong Kong is within five hours flying time of half of the world's population. We have a great location for bringing together business people from across the globe and across our nation to share knowledge and expertise and do what they do best ¡ª business."
Addressing the guests on the first day of the Chinese New Year, Mr. Tsang said, "Hong Kong enters the Year of the Ox full of confidence for the future. We are fully confident of weathering the global financial crisis; we are confident about our long-term future as a global business and financial centre in China and we are confident that ¡ª by sticking firmly to our game-plan- we can look forward to a bright future."
The two cultural performances featured at the "Hong Kong ¡ª A City Where East Meets West" Gala Reception were given by the Laurel Ensemble, a highly acclaimed chamber group from California who will perform at the 2009 Musicarama Festival in Hong Kong; and Master Wai Shui-kwan, one of the world's most skilled "face-changing" artists from Hong Kong. Guests present at the Reception had a taste of Hong Kong's unique vibrant culture.
Ends/Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:55
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