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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Building Open Day concluded successfully today (December 4). The event attracted a record breaking of 5,830 visitors. The President of LegCo, Hon Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, hoped that through this event, members of the public would better understand the work and functions of LegCo.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Open Day, Mr Tsang said that if everything goes smoothly, LegCo would move to the new LegCo Complex at Tamar in summer next year and today's Open Day was probably the last time to be organised in the existing LegCo Building, making it extraordinarily meaningful. Mr Tsang pointed out that this year some unique exhibits which have special meanings and significance to the Legislature were displayed for public viewing, including the President's Chair of LegCo under the British rule and the wooden plaque bearing the names of LegCo Presidents before the handover. He expected that visitors would learn more about the history and the evolution of Hong Kong's Legislature through these exhibits.
Mr Tsang was joined by Hon Miriam Lau Kin-yee, Chairman of the House Committee, and Hon Fred Li Wah-ming, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee, in officiating at the opening ceremony of the Open Day. A total of 24 Members took part in today's event. Mr Tsang, Ms Lau and Hon Audrey Eu Yuet-mee assisted in conducting guided tours to introduce to visitors the facilities of the venues and explained how legislators perform their work in these venues. Some Members were stationed in the Chamber, the Ante-Chamber and Conference Rooms to receive visitors. Other Members met the public and took photos with them in the photo corner outside the LegCo Building.
During the event, a total of 70 guided tours comprising 5,830 visitors were conducted. Visitors were briefed on the functions of various facilities inside the LegCo Building, including the Chamber, the Ante-Chamber, Conference Rooms A and B, the President's Office and the Secretary General's Office, the Press Conference Room, the Dining Hall and Members' Rooms.
Besides, a "LegCo Quiz" game was introduced to give visitors a challenge on their knowledge of the Council. Most of the visitors could answer all the five questions of the game correctly and received a gift.
Two new initiatives, namely "LegCo Building Puzzle Challenge" and "Colouring the LegCo Building", were also introduced this year to make the event more enjoyable and interesting. Visitors could play around the puzzle or coloured a picture to enhance their understanding of the LegCo Building's facilities and architectural value. Moreover, visitors were able to send out LegCo's Christmas e-cards to their friends and relatives via the computer games booths to share a moment of joy.
In the meantime, five marching bands were invited by the LegCo Secretariat to perform outside the Building in different time-slots. The five bands were "Hong Kong Vigor Marching Band", "Pok Oi Hospital Tang Pui King Memorial College Marching Band", "Ho Ngai College (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) Marching Band", "STFA Ho Yat Tung Primary School Marching Band" and "CUHK FAA Thomas Cheung Secondary School Marching Band".
The LegCo Building Open Day has been held for thirteen years. The purpose of the event is to enable members of the public to understand the work and functions of the LegCo and to visit the nearly century-old Building.
Ends/Saturday, December 4, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:41
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