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Tens of millions of people throughout the mainland of China and the rest of the world have today (Wednesday) tuned into a star-studded show celebrating the first anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Guest of honour President Jiang Zemin was joined by the Vice Premier, Mr Qian Qichen, the HKSAR Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, VIPs and an audience of 5,500 for the 90-minute celebration show at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

Among the official party from Beijing were Alternate Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Mr Zeng Qinghong, Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, General Fu Quanyou and Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Liao Hui.

Mr Tung and President Jiang both spoke at the event, which was beamed live via satellite across the world, broadcast live on the Internet and included a three-way TV simulcast between Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai during one section.

The CPG presented the Hong Kong SAR with a special 'birthday present' - 'The Grandeur of China', a 12m x 4m painting by 10 renowned artists and named by President Jiang.

The spectacular show included performances by well-known Chinese and Western artists, whose talents were beautifully blended to highlight Hong Kong as a community where East meets West.

Among the home-grown talents were singers Frances Yip, Sammi Cheng, Yip Pui-man, Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai, Andy Lau, Jackie Cheung and Alan Tam as well as the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Dance Company.

Well-known pianist Liu Shiquen and 38 music students provided a sound sensation by using 20 pianos for their five-minute rendition of Schubert's 'Military March'.

Two orchestras from Beijing - the Chinese National Orchestra of China Film Symphony Orchestra and the Chinese National Orchestra of China Conservatory of Music - and the Shanghai National Music Orchestra performed via a simulcast TV link between Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai for a 'Musical Reunion' segment with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

An eight-strong Sichuan Opera troupe also dazzled the audience with their unique style of performance in which their faces quickly change as if by magic.

International artistes included popular American saxophonist Kenny G, French singer Olivia Lafkin, who performed at the kick-off ceremony for this year's soccer World Cup and the Japanese performer Tetsuya Komuro and the music group Globe.

The 'First Anniversary Celebration of the Establishment of the HKSAR' was produced by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and involved more than 1,000 people in production, performance and organisation.

End/Wednesday, July 1, 1998

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Photo Caption: President Jiang Zemin delivering a speech while attending a cultural show held today (Wednesday) at the Hong Kong Coliseum to celebrate the first anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Photo Caption: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, delivering a speech at the cultural show held at the Hong Kong Coliseum to celebrate the first anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region today (Wednesday).

Photo Caption: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, today (Wednesday) received from the Minister of Culture, Mr Sun Jiazheng, a present to the Hong Kong SAR by the CPG - 'The Grandeur of China', a painting named by President Jiang Zemin.