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Following is the speech (English only) delivered by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Mrs Rita Lau, at the Food Expo 2000 opening ceremony today (August 17):

Mr SZE, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to be here and join you at the opening of the Food Expo 2000.

Hong Kong is famous for many things, not least as a gourmet paradise for the great variety of choice and cuisines on offer. We are also well-known for the passion and pursuit of good food and fine dining as demonstrated in the tens and thousands of eating establishments that we have for a small city like Hong Kong. It is most fitting, therefore, for the Trade Development Council to organize Food Expos in Hong Kong.

Last year, Food Expo celebrated 10 years of continued success. Thanks to the sustained efforts of the TDC, we are delighted to be hosting Food Expo 2000 this year again. In the next few days, visitors will be able to taste and marvel at the colourful and attractive array of fine food and wines coming from all over the world while exhibitors will be able to show case their products and services for business opportunities. This year, we have an even larger number of exhibitors making the event almost one third larger than that was in the past few years, and we have exhibitors coming as far as from Africa.

As the authority responsible for the promotion of food hygiene and safety, I am greatly encouraged to see the food industry responding positively to the calls of our increasingly health and safety conscious community for the supplies of the wholesome and nutritional food. I pledge my full support and will work closely with the food industry to enable our consumers to have integrated choices, to be able to have a fast and great variety of food available for them to make a choice.

Pleasure and healthy eating are not mutually exclusive. They can be joined and there for us all to explore.

I wish all our exhibitors every success and each and everyone visiting Food Expo 2000 a pleasurable and enjoyable experience!

Thank you.

End/Thursday, August 17, 2000

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