Secretary for Home Affairs Visits Toronto

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, paid a successful first official visit to Toronto in early May. Bringing friendship and goodwill from Hong Kong, Dr Ho met with Canadian government officials, launched Hong Kong Ballet’s North American premiere and addressed a special Gala Dinner hosted by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Dr Ho was leading the Hong Kong Ballet Delegation to promote closer cultural ties between Hong Kong and Canada, and promote Hong Kong as an international hub which provides a varied cultural environment. 

Accompanied by Mr Bassanio So, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Secretary Ho met with the Ontario Minister of Culture, the Hon Madeleine Meilleur. Dr Ho updated Ms Meilleur on the latest developments in Hong Kong and discussed how Hong Kong and Ontario could co-operate in advancing their common goals of promoting and encouraging the development of culture and the arts internationally.

Dr Ho met with Ontario’s Chief Commissioner of Human Rights, Mr Keith Norton, who briefed him about human right issues and the work of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Other important meetings included Mayor David Miller of the City of Toronto and the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association in Toronto.

During his visit to the Centre for Information and Community Services, Dr Ho was briefed on settlement services for new Chinese immigrants in Ontario. 

He also visited the Long-Term Care Centre of Mon Sheong Foundation in Richmond Hill, where he saw how the foundation provides care for elderly Chinese-Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area.

On May 7, Dr Ho officiated at the North American premiere of Hong Kong Ballet’s new work, “Legend of the Great Archer”. As Hong Kong’s Goodwill Ambassadors, the ballet performed to a full house at the St Lawrence Centre for the Arts. 

Organized by the HKETO, the ballet’s Canada tour aims to promote cultural ties between Hong Kong and Canada and to enhance confidence in Hong Kong after last year’s SARS challenge. 

The dynamic ballet performance was jointly presented by HKETO with the ROM in support of Renaissance ROM’s China Initiative.

Before the performance, Dr Ho hosted a reception for some 200 distinguished guests, including senior officials from the three levels of Canadian government, politicians, business and community leaders, representatives of leading cultural organizations, sponsors and supporters. 



Later, Dr Ho was guest of honour at the post-performance Gala Dinner, hosted by the ROM’s Hong Kong Ballet Organizing Committee. Speaking to the distinguished dinner guests, Dr Ho applauded the ROM vision to “invest in culture, to engage the various communities that make up the society, to celebrate diversity and, by so doing, improve the quality of life for everyone in the city.” 

He expressed his hope that “our presence here tonight can help build even stronger bridges between our two communities and cultures.”

Secretary Ho concluded his Toronto visit by officiating at the charity ‘Fun Run and Walk 2004’ organized by the Mon Sheong Foundation on May 9 at Milliken District Park in Scarborough to raise funds for the Foundation.

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