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Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan has proclaimed February 4, 2006, as the city's "Hong Kong Cultural and Heritage Day" in recognition of the contribution of Hong Kong in promoting its cultural ties with Vancouver and in enriching the Canadian multi-cultural mosaic.
The proclamation was made during a Hong Kong cultural delegation's visit to the Mayor's Office this afternoon (February 3, Vancouver time). It was declared in the presence of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representatives - Deputy Secretary (Culture) of the Home Affairs Bureau Ms Lolly Chiu and Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada Mr Bassanio So ﷿ and representatives of a 70-member Hong Kong Cantonese Opera and Wushu Delegation led by Ms Shelley Lee.
Mayor Sullivan praised Hong Kong's uniqueness as the melting pot between Eastern and Western cultures. "As a former British colony, the city adopted Western ways and values yet on the other hand, as a Chinese settlement, Chinese traditions and customs remained well preserved," he said.
Speaking in fluent Cantonese, the Vancouver Mayor said Hong Kong and Vancouver had long established close economic and cultural relationships, and Vancouver was home to more than 200,000 Hong Kong immigrants. "The impact of Hong Kong on Vancouver's culture is far reaching."
He described the "Hong Kong Cultural and Heritage Celebrations" being organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in Vancouver as an event to "showcase the width and depth of Hong Kong culture".
Mr Bassanio So said the proclamation marked a step forward in the relationship between Canada's Pacific gateway and Asia's world city ﷿ Hong Kong - following the visit of Hong Kong's Chief Executive Mr Donald Tsang to Vancouver late last year.
"We are thrilled to have February 4 proclaimed as the Hong Kong Cultural & Heritage Day," he said. "Hong Kong has 250,000 Canadian passport holders. Based on that close relationship, we'll see more cultural and business exchanges to come." He said Hong Kong would continue to strengthen its business relationship with Canada especially through its Pacific gateway, and at the same time develop its infrastructures and software to retain the city's attraction to overseas investments and visitors.
The five-day "Hong Kong Cultural and Heritage Celebrations" being held this week present a series of diversified and colourful programs to people in Vancouver, showcasing Hong Kong as a land of diversity and rich heritage, and a business city of vibrant culture.
The main components of the Hong Kong celebrations are the enchanting Cantonese opera and captivating Wushu performances to be staged at the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts over the weekend. The event is presented by the HKETO in association with the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and organised by the Canadian Cancer Society of British Columbia and Yukon (CCS).
At the same time, a photo exhibition entitled "The Heritage of Hong Kong" was opened at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver on Thursday (February 2, Vancouver time). It will last until February 17. The exhibition presents a glimpse of Hong Kong's heritage from the Neolithic Period, the Bronze Age, to the Qing Dynasty and the Hong Kong under British rule.
The HKETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board will jointly host a dinner for the Vancouver media this evening at the Renaissance Hotel Harbourside. The dinner will highlight the video "The Hong Kong Connection ﷿ Canada and the New China" produced by OMNI Television, and the participation of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) in Hong Kong's Chinese New Year parade.
Ends/Saturday, February 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:45
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