***********************************************************
Hong Kong Pavilion in Pudong and another exhibition in Puxi for World Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo) are ready for test runs before the grand opening on May 1, says the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang.
Mr Tang today (April 19) carried out a final inspection of the Hong Kong Pavilion and Hong Kong's Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) Exhibition ahead of the test runs which start tomorrow.
Following the inspections, Mr Tang said that he was looking forward to the opening of the Shanghai Expo when visitors from around the country and the world could experience the connectivity and creativity of Hong Kong at both exhibitions.
Mr Tang said, "I am happy to see that after more than two years of intense preparation and hard work, Hong Kong's preparation for participation in the Expo is all ready. We will participate in the test runs of five days starting from tomorrow, and will see which parts we need to fine tune and improve based on the actual operations. We will ensure that the two exhibitions are well prepared and presented in their best shapes for the grand opening on May 1."
"I think Hong Kong's participation in the Shanghai Expo fully demonstrates our city's characteristics of 'showing grandeur while being compact' - we all know that Hong Kong Pavilion is not very big, but its architecture and exhibition content completely illustrates Hong Kong's splendor as a tolerant, open, diversified, progressive, and international cosmopolitan."
"In the UBPA Exhibition, we use the application of a little smart card as an example to feature the unlimited potential of how modern technology and creativity can improve the quality of people's life."
Mr Tang also noted that many sectors from the community had been involved in Hong Kong's participation in the Shanghai Expo. These include sponsorships as well as performances and exhibitions by performing art groups and creative sectors.
The Shanghai Expo will be held from May 1 to October 31. More than 240 countries, cities and international organisations will participate in the Shanghai Expo, which is expected to attract 70 million visitors from the Mainland and worldwide.
Apart from constructing and operating a stand-alone Hong Kong Pavilion and taking part in the UBPA Exhibition, Hong Kong will also take part in the Expo Shanghai Online and stage more than 55 events and activities during the six-month Shanghai Expo period.
For more details on Hong Kong's participation in the Shanghai Expo, please visit www.hkexpo2010.gov.hk .
Ends/Monday, April 19, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:25
NNNN
