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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, today (July 22) visited Sha Tin to officiate at the opening ceremony of a beautification project, the City Art Square and inspect the Olympic city dress-up programmes in the district.
Mr Tsang first officiated at the opening of the City Art Square which is a core part of the beautification project of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) at Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza.
The exhibits of the City Art Square include sculptures and public art installations designed and created by 19 world-renowned overseas, Mainland and local artists and designers. A number of the works are themed upon the Olympic Games and horses. The City Art Square, together with the adjacent Royal Park Hotel being designated as the Olympic Village, and the conversion of part of the Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza into a flag plaza during the Games, will enable visitors to experience the excitement of Hong Kong's co-hosting of the Olympic Equestrian Events.
After the ceremony, Mr Tsang, accompanied by Sha Tin District Officer Mr Andrew Lai, inspected LCSD's greening works along the roads leading to the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) including two Olympic stone statues. He also had a chance to see an equestrian welcome sign designed by students of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin) and constructed by the Sha Tin District Office at the MTR University Station.
"With the work and support of the Government as well as district organisations and individuals, Sha Tin's Olympic atmosphere has been greatly enhanced. This is the result of our concerted efforts," Mr Tsang said.
Mr Tsang also said that to welcome the Olympic Games, the Government had, at the end of June, launched a new stage of a city dress-up programme including the display of various publicity items in popular places for visitors across 18 districts. They include more than 1,600 lamppost buntings, about 600 banners and a number of giant posters.
With 17 days to go before the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games launches, Mr Tsang urged people to continue to give their support to the Government to ensure the smooth running of the Olympic equestrian events.
Ends/Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:16
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