Press Release - October 2, 2002

"A Cultural Rendezvous with Hong Kong", which started today (October 2) in Montreal, succeeded in captivating the art-loving Montreal community with two different facets of Hong Kong culture � Cantonese opera and the history of Hong Kong�s transformation through a nostalgic photo exhibition at Place des Arts.

Organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the event was also given full support by the Canadian government.

The Director for International Affairs, Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications, Mr. Andr� Dorval, Member of the National Assembly for La Pini�re (Brossard), Mrs Fatima Houda-Pepin and Vice President of the City of Montreal�s Executive Committee, Mr. Michel Prescott, joined the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, in the opening ceremony of the event.

Comprising a performance of Cantonese opera and an exhibition of nostalgic and modern photographs to depict the life of Hong Kong from the 50�s to the present days, "A Cultural Rendezvous with Hong Kong" was launched today to further strengthen the friendship and promote cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Montreal.

Speaking at the event opening, the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, said: �Cultural difference does not exist in performing art such as Cantonese opera as human values and feelings depicted and conveyed in operas as universal. Indeed, it is widely believed that operatic performances are not meant to be understood, but are meant to be felt.�

The opening of the �Living in Hong Kong � Past and Present� photo exhibition was followed by an enthralling Chinese opera performance entitled �An Enchanting Evening of Cantonese Opera�. The three stories presented by Canada (KW) Music & Arts Centre were �The Tragedy of Princess Cheung Ping�, �The Tale of the White Dragon Gorge� and �The Romance of the Goddess Yuen in the Ninth Heaven�. The Cantonese opera performance attracted a full house attendance.

Adapted from classical Chinese works, Cantonese opera teaches great values such as loyalty, filial piety, patriotism and faithfulness. �The values featured in the Cantonese opera are the anchor of Hong Kong�s development in the past half a century. Despite the rapid changes in the landscape and lifestyle, certain things in Hong Kong remain unchanged.

�The pace of modernization is underpinned by the values we hold close to our heart � our love for our family, our respect for our parents and old people, our belief in hard work and our willingness to sacrifice in return for future comfort and success.

�These are the values which have made Hong Kong what it is today. This is what is commonly called �Hong Kong Spirit�,� Mrs Ure added.

While the Cantonese opera performance won the applause of Montrealers, the Living in Hong Kong � Past and Present� photo exhibition is set to impress them about Hong Kong�s rapid transformation and development from the 50s to nowadays.

This unique collection of some 80 nostalgic movie stills taken from films produced in Hong Kong in the 50s and 60s and the current photos are categorized into four themes, namely: �Dressing�, �Eating�, �Living� and �Commuting�. It provides an interesting contrast of lifestyle in Hong Kong from 1950s to present, and is a testimony of the Hong Kong spirit � its �can do� attitude, its work ethics and its belief that tomorrow will be better than today so long as Hong Kong people are given the chance to try.

The exhibition will be open to the public at Place des Arts Pas perdus corridor from tomorrow to October 15. It was very well received when it was exhibited in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver earlier on.

At the event opening, the �Brand Hong Kong� - Hong Kong�s new global identity which features a flying dragon - was also unveiled. Comprising of the Chinese characters �Hong Kong� and the letters �H� and �K�, the logo clearly reflects Hong Kong�s unique personality of blending East and West. The brand also conveys Hong Kong�s core values which are progressiveness, freedom, stability, opportunity and quality.

The event has aroused great interest in the Montreal community in Hong Kong � Asia�s world city.


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
Jules Nadeau, Project Consultant at (514)354-2643 or email [email protected].

At the opening reception of �A Cultural Rendezvous with Hong Kong� held at Place des Arts, Hong Kong�s new global identity �Brand Hong Kong� was unveiled by the officiating guests, namely (from left to right) the Director for International Affairs, Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications, Mr Andr� Dorval; Vice President of the City of Montreal�s Executive Committee, Mr Michel Prescott; Member of the National Assembly for La Pini�re (Brossard), Mrs Fatima Houda-Pepin and the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure.