Press Release - February 5, 2004

Thousands of enthusiastic Calgarians packed the Chinook Centre in downtown Calgary today (Feb 5) to take part in the annual Hong Kong Promotion staged by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) and to meet their favourite Hong Kong Wushu athletes who flew in on Tuesday as Hong Kong�s Goodwill Ambassadors to promote closer Hong Kong � Alberta ties.

Despite the cold weather, many of them came specially for the live radio show from 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm jointly presented by the HKETO and the Fairchild Media Group to play games with the host DJs while others participated in game stall activities to test their knowledge about Hong Kong and its close ties with Calgary.

Hundreds others queued up for autographs by leading athletes from the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation including Taiji gold medal winner Li Fai, Changquan silver medal winner To Yu-hang, and �King of Nanquan� Chang Ka-ho. Many of them took the opportunity to take pictures with their favourite Wushu idols.

Today�s live radio show was part of the �Relaunch Hong Kong� promotion staged by the HKETO to coincide with the visit of the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation led by the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Ms Shelley Lee, with the aims to promote closer cultural exchanges and to restore confidence in Hong Kong after last year�s SARS challenge.

The highlight of the Hong Kong Promotion, entitled � Hong Kong and Calgary � Cities of Dynamism� came when the main event � the Spring Lantern Festival Celebration � was launched by Ms Shelley Lee; the Alberta Minister for International and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Hon. Halvar Jonson; and the HKETO Director, Mr Bassanio So. Also officiating at the opening ceremony were Member of Legislative Assembly, Ms Karen Kryczka; the Director, Business Sales, Calgary Tourism, Mr Mark Nichols; the Consul General of the People�s Republic of China in Calgary, Mr Song Xizhu; and the President of the Fairchild Media Group, Mr Joseph Chan.

Mr Nichols represented Calgary Tourism to make use of today�s occasion to hold a special �White Hat Ceremony� to officially welcome members of the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation to the city by presenting each and every one of them with a white cowboy hat and a �Honorary Citizen� certificate.

Performing the eye-dotting ceremony to kick off a traditional dragon and lion dance, the officiating party also unveiled a series of celebration activities, including a number of enjoyable and colourful Chinese musical and cultural performances, and the Spring Lantern Festival riddle quiz which attracted more than 2,500 entries. The lucky grand prize winner chosen was Miss Polly Fung who would be awarded a return air ticket from Calgary to Hong Kong, courtesy of the Tour East Holidays Limited.

The celebration event concluded with an exciting Wushu demonstration by members of the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation to the great delight of the audience who were deeply impressed by the high standard of their performance.

Earlier today, Ms Shelley Lee and the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation, accompanied by the HKETO Director, Mr Bassanio So, visited the Bethany Care Centre and attended a reception hosted jointly by the Centre, the Wing Kei Nursing Home and the United Way of Calgary. At the Centre, they also met elderly residents and taught them some simple skills in Taichi to help them maintain good bodily health.

As part of the Hong Kong Promotion, the HKETO also organized a half-day business seminar in conjunction with the Hong Kong Canada Business Association in Calgary in the afternoon during which the HKETO Director, Mr Bassanio So, strongly encouraged Calgarian businesses to partner with Hong Kong companies to leverage on the unique advantages Hong Kong enjoys under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) signed between Hong Kong and Mainland China, which came into effect last month.

The �Hong Kong and Calgary � Cities of Dynamism� promotion is supported by the Fairchild Media Group and the Hong Kong Canada Business Association, Calgary and sponsored by Treasure of China Seafood House and Tour East Holidays. Media sponsors are Calgary Sun, Sing Tao Daily and Trend Weekly.


For more information, please contact: John Tam, Chief Information Officer of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416) 924-5544 or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, [email protected] .

Alberta Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Gary Mar (middle), on behalf of the Alberta Premier, wishes the Hong Kong Wushu athletes every success in their performances at Chinook Centre tonight (February 5) and at the Epcor Centre for Performing Arts tomorrow (February 6) night.

Calgary Tourism honoured the Hong Kong Wushu Delegation by making the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Shelley Lee, the Director of HKETO, Mr Bassanio So (2nd left),of the HKSAR Government, all other officials and delegation members Honourary Calgarians at a "White Hat Ceremony" held as part of the "Hong Kong and Calgary - Cities of Dynamism" promotion this (February 5) evening. Officiating at the "White Hat Ceremony" was Calgary Tourism's Director, Business Sales, Mr Mark Nichols (left).