Speech by Mrs Rosanna Ure
Director, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada)
at the Opening Ceremony of "Living in Hong Kong � Past and Present" Photo Exhibition
Vancouver, February 9, 2002

The Hon. Halsey-Brandt, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the opening ceremony of the "Living in Hong Kong � Past and Present" photo exhibition. The timing of this exhibition in Vancouver is perfect, as it coincides with the Chinese New Year, a time to indulge in some moments of nostalgia and a time to plan ahead.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, these 80 photo exhibits together tell you a long story. It's a story of tears and joy. It's a story of struggles, sufferings and achievements. It's a story of how Hong Kong has developed from a city devastated by the Second World War into a vibrant and affluent metropolis.

For those of you not familiar with the Hong Kong then, I can tell you that there were times when we only got water supply once every four days, when many families were cramped together in a living unit sub-divided into cubicles and bed spaces, and when a sumptuous meal was a rare treat reserved only for important festivals. The photos which depicted life in those harsh times were photo stills from Cantonese movies made in that period but they were a true reflection of life at that time. Ask any of us who lived in Hong Kong in the 50's and 60's and they could tell you similar experiences. Indeed, when these photos were displayed in Toronto and Calgary, I saw senior Hong Kong immigrants in their 60�s and 70's pointing to these photos, smiling and telling their stories to each other.

Contrast this set of 'old' photos with the 'modern' section of these exhibits, and you will immediately realize the huge progress we have made in the past 50 years. In fact, many Canadians, including those from Hong Kong, are often fascinated by how much Hong Kong has changed since their last visits there only a couple of years ago.

For me, when I look at these photo exhibits and when I look back at Hong Kong's rapid development over the past decades, what impresses me most is not how much has changed, but, rather, what has remained unchanged. What has remained unchanged is the enterprising, positive, "can-do" spirit of Hong Kong people. We are willing to take on challenges, we seek opportunities in crises, and we believe that tomorrow will be better if we work hard today. It is with this spirit that Hong Kong people have created an economic miracle. And it is with this spirit that the hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong immigrants have contributed to the Canadian economy.

Hong Kong and Mainland China together is one of the biggest trading partners of British Columbia in Asia Pacific, and Vancouver is home, or a home away from home, for many Hong Kong people. B.C. has always been very close to Hong Kong, and the Hon. Gordon Campbell included Hong Kong in his first overseas visit as the Premier of British Columbia. We look forward to working closely with all of you to further strengthen our already very strong economic and social ties. Indeed, it is our plan to launch another large-scale promotional event towards end of this year, which will show to the people in B.C. the various facets of life in Hong Kong � Asia�s world city.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you all enjoy the exhibition, and I wish you all a prosperous Year of the Horse. Thank you.