Press Release - August 24, 2006

Hong Kong Week kicks off today (Thursday) in Calgary at GlobalFest Hong Kong Celebration as a fireworks team from Asia's leading business city is defending its champions title at the 10-day annual international fireworks competition at Elliston Park.

This is the second successive time that the City of Calgary picked a week in August as Hong Kong Week. Mayor Dave Bronconnier said in the proclamation presented to the Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada), Mr Bassanio So, that "Hong Kong Week offers an exotic and enlightening tour of Asian heritage and culture." He said the vibrant culture and thriving spirit of the east, and the impact of Hong Kong on Calgary's culture was far reaching.

Mr So, an officiating guest at this evening's Hong Kong fireworks display, said the proclamation of Hong Kong Week by Calgary signified the strong and close ties between the two places, and reinforced this west Canadian economic stronghold's business and cultural relations with Hong Kong. "Calgary is the fastest growing city in Canada," Mr So said. "We treasure our expanding trade links, and Hong Kong is also playing an important role as Calgary's gateway to the mainland China market."

Launched four years ago, GlobalFest is considered one of Calgary's pre-eminent multi-cultural festivals and Canada's premier fireworks competition. This year's fireworks displays are mainly sponsored by Trico Homes, a property developer. The 2006 competitors are South Africa, Germany, Canada and the returning 2005 champion Hong Kong. They are vying for the GlobalFest 2006 Trophy and the new Rogers People's Choice Award chosen by the visitors. The award-presentation ceremony and fireworks finale will be held this Saturday.

To tie in with the Hong Kong Week promotion, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) also presents a "Win a Discover Hong Kong Holiday for Two" contest in which the winner will be given two return economy class air tickets with hotel accommodation and sightseeing tours to Hong Kong.

In addition to the fireworks, the Hong Kong Week activities include a business luncheon hosted by Mr So this Friday to brief leading business, government and media representatives on the latest development of Hong Kong.

To mark the Hong Kong Week, a Chinatown Street Festival will be held on Saturday, offering an array of live entertainment, cultural activities and culinary delights. A display on "Hong Kong - Asia's world city" featuring the vitality of the city, and "The Heritage of Hong Kong" display are to be staged in the Chinatown. A five-part TV documentary "The Hong Kong Connection - Canada and the New China", co-produced by Rogers OMNI Television and the HKETO, will be shown at the Chinatown festival. The well-received documentary focuses on Canada's contributions to the economic development of both Hong Kong and China; Hong Kong's position as one of the world's leading economic and business centres, and its booming tourism and entertainment business.



For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416)924-5544 (Ext. 224) or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer at (416)924-5544 (Ext. 283),or email: [email protected]

Click here to download a Chinese version of this press release in PDF format.