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Hong Kong took part on November 12 (London time) for the first time in the City of London Lord Mayor's Show, an event that dates from King John's Charter to the City in 1215.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region entry featured a Dragon Dance, a replica Star Ferry decorated in Brand Hong Kong livery, kung fu performers and eight carp kites, all chosen to reflect Hong Kong's rejuvenated economic and social vitality.
The Lord Mayor's Show attracts huge crowds onto the city streets each year. The BBC broadcasts it live to about two million people in Britain and globally.
At an eye-dotting ceremony for Hong Kong's Dragon featured in the entry on November 4 during his visit to London, the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, said: "Our participation in the 2005 Lord Mayor's Show gives us the opportunity to showcase many exciting developments in Hong Kong to the UK audience, and through its extensive broadcast, to other parts of the world."
Also taking part in the eye-dotting ceremony, the newly installed Lord Mayor of London, Mr David Brewer said: "It is very good that the Hong Kong Float is going to be accompanied by Dragon Dancers, and I am delighted to be assisting the Chief Executive in opening the Dragon's eyes and bringing the Dragon to life.
"Dragons are very important to me because I was born in the Year of the Dragon. I shall be the 678th Lord Mayor – I am very happy to have the number 8."
The parade covers a little less than two miles (three kilometres) and takes 65 minutes to pass an onlooker. Each entry is called a "float" because for more than 400 years from 1422, the procession went on the River Thames.
It began when King John of England stipulated that the new Lord Mayor of London must swear an oath of allegiance to the sovereign and show himself to the city's people.
Commenting on this first participation of Hong Kong in the Lord Mayor's Show, Mrs Carrie Lam, Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, said that discussions began in early 2005 on an invitation from Mr Brewer, the then Lord Mayor Elect.
"Part of our overseas promotion work is about raising Hong Kong's visibility and marketing the Hong Kong brand. Participation in this long established traditional event in London serves our purpose well," she added.
Each "float" pays an entry fee, which goes to benefit a charity chosen by the incoming Lord Mayor. This year Mr Brewer selected The Treloar Trust, which was founded by a previous Lord Mayor to provide education, medical support and training in independence for young people with physical disabilities.
The entry was devised and arranged by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, which promotes the HKSAR's interests in the UK as well as in Norway, Russia and Switzerland and the 10 new European Union Member States – Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia Republic and Slovenia – plus the applicant countries of Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania.
Ends/Sunday, November 13, 2005
Issued at HKT 10:00
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