Press Release - May 13, 2004
Hong Kong�s Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Shelley Lee, today (May 13) continued with her official visit to British Columbia by calling at the provincial capital of Victoria where she met senior provincial and city government officials to renew friendship and enhance mutual ties.

Joining Ms Lee on the visit were the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Mr Bassanio So, Member of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Ballet, Mr Peter Wynn Williams, Hong Kong Ballet�s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Helen Ng, and the Chair of the Hong Kong Ballet Vancouver Performance Organising Committee, Mr Brian Lo.

Permanent Secretary Lee and her party were warmly received by the Minister of State for Women�s and Seniors� Services, the Hon Ida Chong, the Minister for Small Business and Economic Development, the Hon. John Les, the Minister of Education, the Hon Tom Christensen and the Minister of Forest, the Hon Mike de Jong.

The visiting party had a useful exchange on issues of mutual interest with the ministers and some Members of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly over a lunch reception which the provincial government held in their honour.

In the afternoon, the Hong Kong visitors were invited to attend the British Columbia Parliament in session where the presence of Ms Lee and her party was formally recognized in their honour.

Permanent Secretary Lee later called on Mayor Alan Lowe at the Victoria City Hall to thank him for the strong support that Mayor Lowe has given to the Hong Kong Ballet�s �Legend of the Great Archer� which has proven to be a great hit not only in Toronto but also in Vancouver.

Earlier in the morning, Ms Lee and her party visited the University of Victoria where they explored possible academic exchanges with the University�s President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Turpin, and his Vice President and Associate Vice President, Ms Faye Wightman and Dr James Anglin.

The visiting party concluded their itinerary in Victoria by visiting at a local Chinese school and meeting the local Chinese community.

Permanent Secretary Lee, Mayor Larry Campbell and Mayor Alan Lowe will jointly officiate at the Vancouver performance of the Hong Kong Ballet�s �Legend of the Great Archer� tomorrow (May 14) night at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver.

For further information, please contact John Tam, Chief Information Officer at (416)924-5544, email [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, [email protected] or Catherine Yuen, Principal Consultant, Vancouver at (604)331-1300, email [email protected].