Press Release - March 8, 2004

Ballet enthusiasts and supporters of the Renaissance ROM China Initiative in Toronto were today (March 8) reminded that the pre-sale of tickets for the Hong Kong Ballet�s �The Legend of the Great Archer� had started and early birds would be able to get good seats for this North American Premiere on May 7 at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

Tickets for the performance range from $50 to $80 and $250 for the Gala tickets, which also includes a gala dinner at Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel following the performance.

Those interested may call the St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at (416) 366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, or pick up tickets in person at the St. Lawrence Centre Box Office at 27 Front Street East, Toronto. The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and until curtain time on the performance day.

Alternatively, they may arrange the purchase through the Box Office�s internet sales website: www.stlc.com.

�The Legend of the Great Archer�, a powerful ballet by the Hong Kong Ballet Artistic Director, Stephen Jefferies, will be presented as a fund-raising event in support of the Renaissance ROM China Initiative.

Organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), this Hong Kong Ballet performance, which is inspired by the classic Chinese folk tale about Yi, the Archer God, will tour Toronto and three other cities in North America. The three cities are Vancouver, San Jose and Washington D.C.

In the course of organizing the Hong Kong Ballet�s performance in Toronto, the HKETO and ROM�s Hong Kong Ballet Organising Committee have received considerable support from many organizations, such as J.P. Morgan, Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Hong Kong�s Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Information Services Department, Tour East Holidays (Canada) Inc., Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways and support from other sponsors are pouring in.

The Fairchild Media Group, in conjunction with Fairchild TV, TalentVision and Fairchild Radio, has pledged its full support as the project�s premium media sponsor. Other media sponsors include Ming Pao and World Journal. Sing Tao Daily has also offered to give its support.

Different categories of sponsorship for this event are open for interested organizations and individuals. Those interested are invited to call Vanessa Abaya of the ROM Foundation at (416) 586-5578.



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]