Press Release - April 26, 2006
"Hong Kong Culture & Heritage Day" proclaimed in Toronto - A tribute to Hong Kong spirit and its evolution

It was a moment of great honour for Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre this (Wednesday) afternoon when the Toronto Mayor David Miller proclaimed April 26, 2006 as the "Hong Kong Culture & Heritage Day" in the City of Toronto to pay tribute to Hong Kong’s spirit and its evolution as a key global economic and cultural player, and to recognize the close economic and cultural ties between Hong Kong and Toronto.

The proclamation was made by Mayor Miller when he joined the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Mr Bassanio So, the two co-chairs of the “Tribute to Hong Kong” Gala, Ms Rita Tsang of Tour East Holidays and Mr Ross Cronin of Cathay Pacific Airways; Dr Joseph Wong, chair of the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation; Flora Chong, event chair of the "Love in a Fallen City" performances in Toronto, in welcoming the HKRep’s three leading performers Tony Leung (known for his role in Jean-Jacques Annaud’s "The Lover"), Louisa So, Alice Lau, and director Fredric Mao at the Toronto City Hall.

Following his announcement, Mayor Miller presented a proclamation plaque to the group as a memento of the occasion.

Today's proclamation is the third one in a row in less than a year’s time following the most recent one in Vancouver this January and the "Hong Kong Day" in Calgary last August.

The "Hong Kong Culture & Heritage Day" was also endorsed by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. In a greeting sent by the Prime Minister, he recognizes the "immense contributions of the Hong Kong community in the Greater Toronto Area", and "Hong Kong’s dynamic culture and heritage".

The occasion is celebrated with a series of cultural events to be held from today until April 30. They include: the "Tribute to Hong Kong" gala, a heritage exhibit on Hong Kong at the Hilton Suites in Markham; presentation of a pair of shoes by Tony Leung to the Bata Shoe Museum’s "Walk of Fame" collection, a panel discussion on "Eileen Chang – From Novel to Stage" at the University of Toronto as the opening ceremony of the Asian Heritage Month in Toronto; and the four stage performances of the "Love in a Fallen City" at Ryerson University Theatre.

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For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416)924-5544 or email: [email protected], or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, [email protected]

Photo shows Toronto Mayor David Miller (middle) proclaiming April 26, 2006 as the "Hong Kong Culture and Heritage Day" this (Wednesday) afternoon at the Toronto City Hall to pay tribute to Hong Kong’s spirit and its evolution. Also present at the proclamation were (from left to right) Rita Tsang, Ross Cronin, HKETO Director Bassanio So, Toronto City Councillor Raymond Cho, Dr Joseph Wong, HKRep's Tony Leung, Fredric Mao, Louisa So and Alice Lau.

HKETO Director Mr Bassanio So (left) was presented a proclamation plaque by Toronto Mayor David Miller (middle) this (Wednesday) afternoon - the third one in a row in less than a year’s time following the most recent one in Vancouver this January and the “Hong Kong Day” in Calgary last August.

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