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Following is the full text of the speech by the Director of Fire Services, Mr Kwok Jing-keung, at the opening ceremony of the 9th World Firefighters Games 2006 today (February 18) :
The Chief Executive the Honourable Donald Tsang, fellow firefighters, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome to Hong Kong. I am delighted that we have been given this exclusive privilege of hosting this fun-filled and meaningful event - the 2006 World Firefighters Games. It brings together professional and voluntary firefighters as well as fire brigade employees from all over the world to our beautiful city, Hong Kong.
This is the 9th World Firefighters Games. Since its inception in New Zealand in 1990, the Games has been held once every two years by different host cities, offering opportunities for firefighters with diverse cultures to get together to strengthen ties through participation in a variety of sporting events. During your stay in Hong Kong, please take time to discover the excitement of Hong Kong, visit our tourist attractions, try our Chinese foods and enjoy the glamour of our Victoria Harbour. I promise you that we have a lot to offer here. You are also welcome to call in at any of our fire stations/ambulance depots to share your experiences or stories with our staff on duty there.
To those who have generously sponsored the event or made other significant contributions towards the Games, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your generosity. To our fellow firefighters, may I also extend to you a big thank you for your participation. Without your support, this Games would not have been a reality!
For a stretch of eight days starting today, over 3,300 participants from more than 35 countries and places will take part in 59 games or sporting competitions, to be held at designated venues in different parts of Hong Kong. I hope you'll all enjoy every part of the Games and wish you the best of luck and achievements. To those who have travelled from afar, I also wish you a wonderful stay and a fruitful discovery of Hong Kong.
Today, we are very honoured to have invited the Honourable Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to officiate at the opening of the 2006 World Firefighters Games.
Now, may I invite Mr Tsang to deliver his address.
Ends/Saturday, February 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:55
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