Press Release - February 1, 2006

A 70-member Hong Kong delegation is in Vancouver this week to promote the cultural ties between Hong Kong and Canada in a five-day multi-facet promotion entitled �Hong Kong Cultural and Heritage Celebrations�.

The large-scale event is presented by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, in association with the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and organized by the Canadian Cancer Society of British Columbia and Yukon (CCS). The Hong Kong Tourism Board is a major supporter of the Hong Kong celebrations.

The delegation of Wushu (martial arts) athletes and Cantonese opera performers is led by Ms Shelley Lee, the former Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Ms Lee is a keen promoter of Hong Kong�s cultural activities, who led the Hong Kong Wushu Union�s performing team to Calgary about two years ago for a very successful goodwill visit.

The delegation comprises 36 Cantonese opera artists and musicians, as well as 29 young and talented Wushu athletes who have won many medals in the Asian Games and international competitions, including Ms Li Fai, a world renowned Tai Chi master with over 18 years of experience in martial arts, and a recipient of the Tai Chi gold medal in the World Wushu Championships.

Speaking at today�s press conference, the HKETO Director Mr Bassanio So said, �It is our honour to have the largest ever Hong Kong cultural delegation to visit Vancouver, Canada�s Pacific gateway, since 1992 when Festival Hong Kong was held in Canada. The visit will not only help promote the traditional Cantonese opera and Wushu in the Chinese community here, it also strengthens the ties between Hong Kong and Canada, right after the fruitful visit of the Hong Kong�s Chief Executive Mr Donald Tsang to Vancouver late last year.�

The Cantonese opera and Wushu performances at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts this Saturday and Sunday are the key components of the Hong Kong celebrations.

Mr So believed the two performances would bring the Vancouver audience �a fantastic experience. �It�ll let you have a glimpse of Hong Kong�s colourful traditions that live on in the modern city, and show you a sophisticated fusion of culture as well as Hong Kong�s dynamic prospects for the future.�

Ms Shelley Lee described the Cantonese opera as �one of the most popular operatic art forms� which has always played a �bonding role� in overseas Chinese community. �The familiar tune of a Cantonese operatic song can always bring Chinese people together,� she said. �The richly diverse repertory caters to all tastes.�

The Cantonese opera troupe will perform two dazzling opera excerpts � �Chasing After Her Husband� from Di Qing and �The Barracks� from The Unmatchable Pair � to be led by three well-known Cantonese opera performers Ms Chan Kim-sing, Ms Wong Chi-kwan and Mr Ng Chin-fung.

The young elites from the Wushu team, including Mr Cheng Chung-hang , Mr Chan Siu-kit, Miss Ho Pak-kei and Miss Law Sum-yin, will demonstrate the health enriching sports of martial arts to the Vancouver audience in their fascinating performances. The Wushu team�s action-packed demonstration included Taichi (based on the Chinese philosophy of �yin� and �yang�, and harmonization), swordplay, spearplay, nine-section whip, �flipping dragon with jumping tiger�, eagle claw style boxing, drunken style boxing, mantis style boxing, and �Xinyiquan� � every movement of which is an exhibit of sensible combat application and aestheticism.

�The sport of Wushu, originated from China, is aimed to unite the Wushu communities and to promote the sport worldwide. The Hong Kong Wushu Team�s achievement is outstanding as shown by the number of medals the members have won in the Asian and world Wushu Championships�, said Ms Lee. �We hope the performances will enhance Canadians� understanding of Cantonese Opera and the sport of Wushu, and cultivate a closer link between Canada and Hong Kong�.

The gala performance will be held at the Centre in Vancouver this Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and a matinee will be held the following day at 2:30 p.m. The matinee is targeted at the younger population, and students will be invited to take part as a cultural exchange program.

A fascinating 32-panel photo exhibition entitled �The Heritage of Hong Kong� will be opened tomorrow (Thursday) at 4 p.m. at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver. It will stay open until February 17. Presenting 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 exhibition will help enhance Canadians� understanding of and interest in the history and culture of Hong Kong. The exhibition will show photographs of the Qing Dynasty ancestral hall in Sheung Wan; the former Kowloon British School in Tsim Sha Tsui; the stone steps at Duddell Street, etc. These relics represent Hong Kong's unique heritage -- a heritage that is appreciated in the context of its cultural affinity with South China and influences from the West.

In addition, the Hong Kong delegation also holds cultural exchange programs with the University of British Columbia, and Vancouver�s Cantonese opera and martial arts groups.



For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at Cell: (416)456-8623 or email: [email protected], or Catherine Yuen, Principal Consultant (Western Canada), at (604)331-1300 or email [email protected]

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