Press Release - May 6, 2004

The Secretary for Home Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr. Patrick Ho today (May 6) started his first official visit to Toronto by meeting the Ontario Minister of Culture, Ms. Madeleine Meilleur to update her on the latest developments in Hong Kong in general and arts and culture in particular.

Accompanied by the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), Mr. Bassanio So, Secretary Ho also discussed with Minister Meilleur on how Hong Kong and Ontario could co-operate closely in advancing their common goals of promoting and encouraging the development of culture and the arts internationally.

Dr. Ho arrived late last night as Head of the Hong Kong Ballet Delegation to promote closer cultural ties between Hong Kong and Canada and to promote Hong Kong as an international hub which provides a rich, colorful and varied cultural environment, blending and offering the best of the East and the West.

The Secretary for Home Affairs next met the Ontario�s Chief Commissioner of Human Rights, Mr. Kerth Norton, who briefed him about the work of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

In the afternoon, Dr. Ho paid a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the co-organiser of Hong Kong Ballet�s North America Premiere of the �Legend of the Great Archer� in Toronto.

Briefed by the ROM�s Director and CEO, Mr. William Thorsell, Dr. Ho was impressed with the Renaissance ROM project and its bold initiative to revitalize the museum to become the leading international museum in Canada.

Secretary Ho later proceeded to visit the Long-Term Care Centre of Mon Sheong Foundation in Richmond Hill where he saw how the foundation provides care services for elderly Chinese Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area.

Dr. Ho will call on Mayor David Miller of the City of Toronto tomorrow. In the evening, he will officiate at the Hong Kong Ballet�s "Legend of the Great Archer" organized by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office as part of the �Relaunch Hong Kong� promotion in Canada.

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].

Photo 2 shows Secretary Ho (middle) and Hong Kong ballet dancers being warmly welcomed by ROM�s Director and CEO, Mr. William Thorsell (left third) and his Campaign Cabinet during their visit to ROM this afternoon.