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Hong Kong Week at Shanghai Expo today (October 22) ended on high note with a closing ceremony followed by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta's presentation of "A Soldier's Story" as the closing performance.
The five-day programme has showcased a wide variety of Hong Kong talent, innovation and cosmopolitan city life to enthusiastic crowds at Shanghai Expo from October 18 to 22.
During the five-day Hong Kong Week, close to 1,000 performers and staff members from 12 organisations presented more than 20 events, activities and performances, covering music, dance, Cantonese opera, film, fashion, design, art and innovative applications of smart card technology.
Officiating at the Closing Ceremony of Hong Kong Week Expo 2010 Shanghai China at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, thanked the Shanghai Government, Shanghai Expo's organising party, the organisations and individuals having supported and taken part in Hong Kong's participation in Shanghai Expo.
He pointed out that led by the HKSAR Government, the community had contributed to Hong Kong's participation in Shanghai Expo in one way or another. The public participation and cooperation made us proud.
Noting that Shanghai Expo would close in nine days, he wished it every success.
Mr Lam then led all guests in a toast to the success of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta's performance and to the rousing end of Hong Kong Week.
Also officiating at the ceremony were Deputy Director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, Mr Hu Jingju and President of The Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Mr Chen Shenglai.
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow; Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Joshua Law; Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mrs Marion Lai and Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Culture), Mr Chung Ling-hoi also attended the Closing Ceremony.
The crossover production played involved an unprecedented combination of top artistic talent from music, dance and drama.
They included Asia's renowned conductor Yip Wing-sie, choreographer Yuri Ng, narrator Chu Pak-him, celebrated dancers Huang Lei, Shirai Tsuyoshi, Jay Jen Loo and Abby Chan, and lighting designer Billy Chan.
Based on a Russian folk tale, Igor Stravinsky's "The Soldier's Tale" recalls the story about a soldier trading his fiddle to the devil for a book of fortune.
The Hong Kong Sinfonietta and partner artists have transformed the work into a story with a contemporary twist.
They also translated some dialogue into dance, which in turn incorporated the orchestra, dancers, narrator and conductor into more of the performance.
Prior to the show, Commissioner, HKSAR Expo Affairs Office, Mr Patrick Chan, presented souvenirs to Shanghai parties involved in the preparation for Hong Kong Week at the Baosteel Stage as a sincere token of appreciation for their help in staging Hong Kong Week.
Also today on the last day of Hong Kong Week, the "Hong Kong-Shanghai Mobile Film Exchange Forum" was held, bringing together directors, academics and industry leaders from Hong Kong and the Mainland to share experience on mobile film productions and exchange views on its trend.
Hong Kong's participation in Shanghai Expo continues, though, even after the end of Hong Kong Week.
Hong Kong's creativity will be on display tomorrow (October 23) with a star-studded "East Asia All Stars Concert Shanghai 2010". It will feature more than 30 well known artists and groups from Hong Kong, Mainland and overseas.
And the "Legacy and Creations ¡ª Art vs Art Exhibition" will continue until November 12 and will showcase contemporary Hong Kong art.
The Closing Ceremony performance at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center was broadcast live today on RTHK Radio 4 and Shanghai Radio FM947 tonight.
A 90-minute "Hong Kong Week Special" is scheduled to be broadcast at 7pm tomorrow on Asia Television Limited (ATV) Home Channel and will also be available on RTHK's website.
Ends/Friday, October 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:43
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