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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, officiated at the grand finale of "Vibrant People, Harmonious Community Activities" (VPHCA) in Sha Tin today (March 27), appealing to all parties to keep up the efforts to organise more activities for the public to foster a harmonious and caring society.
The Home Affairs Department (HAD), with the support of District Councils, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, organised a series of activities to promote community building, social harmony, culture and sports and create business opportunities for local tourism.
"The finale today does not mean an end to the VPHCA," Mr Tsang said. "On the contrary, we hope that the four values of the activities – "Get into Vitality", "Get into Creativity", "Get into Harmony" and "Get into Discovery" – will continue to flourish in society".
Mr Tsang encouraged District Councils, related departments, community bodies and commercial organisations to keep up the efforts to organise activities of all sorts for the community, and to build together a harmonious and caring society.
Over 700 VPHCA activities were held since last April to promote Sports for All, Arts for All, Cultural and Ecological Tourism for All and Care for All. Some highlight events such as Trial Scheme on Community Arts Performance Programmes, Community Involvement Musicals, Cultural Tourism Hong Kong, Dragon Boat Family Carnival, Sports for All Day and Geopark Festival had attracted great public participation.
Mr Tsang hoped that these activities, which were all well-planned, could enable participants to enrich their lives and discover new hobbies. He also hoped that people could lead a vibrant life by staying happier, healthier and more harmonious.
Today, people graduated from dance workshops were in the spotlight as they took the leading roles on stage when they performed with a professional arts troupe to raise the curtain for the grand finale.
Came next was the "Get into Harmony" segment, with a violin recital by a child and dance performance by the disabled, followed by performances by students of India, Pakistan and Nepal ethnicities.
Hong Kong Wushu Union and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts also took the chance to demonstrate how to "Get into Vitality".
Besides, winners of the "Cultural Toursim Hong Kong Photo Competition" received prizes from the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Pamela Tan. The competition, jointly organised by the HAD and the Photographic Society of Hong Kong, aimed to promote the "Get into Discovery" concept through snapshots of local historic spots.
After the event, guests and chairmen and vice-chairmen of District Councils viewed the VPHCA Review Exhibition and the exhibition on "Cultural Tourism Hong Kong Photo Competition" at the Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza.
Ends/Sunday, March 27, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:52
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