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The "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign is set to end with a flourish of fireworks and pyrotechnics on December 31 after more than eight months of action-packed public participation activities.
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, launched the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign on April 23 with a mission to inject positive energy into society and foster a strong community spirit with an emphasis on public involvement.
During the Campaign, "Partner Organisations" and the Government worked together on more than 1,100 events and activities.
"These events were developed and taken forward by 249 'Partner Organisations', big and small," said Mrs Lam.
Tens of thousands of people - young, old and all ages in between - have taken part in activities under the four themes of "Caring Hong Kong", "Hip Hong Kong", "Vibrant Hong Kong" and "Fresh Hong Kong".
Mrs Lam said the themes aligned with some of the key policy objectives of the Fourth Term of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, namely enhancing environmental protection through greater public awareness, promoting a caring society, and nurturing a creative and healthy lifestyle through arts, cultural and sporting activities.
"The successful conclusion of the Campaign fully reflects our philanthropic spirit, our love of Hong Kong and our concern for the underprivileged," Mrs Lam said.
Throughout the Campaign period, the Information Services Department helped publicise the Campaign through news releases and photos, short videos, online platforms, a roving exhibition, souvenirs, city dress-up and a campaign logo.
In addition to media coverage of Campaign-related news, the dedicated "Hong Kong: Our Home" website registered 18 million hits and 1.22 million page views, while a YouTube channel exclusively devoted to Campaign activities attracted 300,000 page views.
The Campaign theme song "Sail On", featuring two of the city's most popular singers, Jacky Cheung and Eason Chan, also proved a hit. The song reached No. 1 in Radio Television Hong Kong's Top 20 Chart for Chinese songs in the first week of June.
Mrs Lam thanked "Partner Organisations" from different sectors for their support. These organisations joined the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign and used it as a platform to reach a wider audience for their events and activities throughout the 18 districts.
Following the Campaign launch, the number of "Partner Organisations" grew from 170 to 249 while the total number of planned events in the calendar rose from 480 in April to 1,115 events in December.
Among the signature events that drew a high turnout were the Territory-wide Cleansing Campaign, the 4th Hong Kong Games Opening Ceremony, Hong Kong Ani-Com Summer 2013 and the Ani-Com Summer 2013 Mascot Design Competition, the Opening of Comix Home Base, the "Bruce Lee: Kung Fu•Art•Life" exhibition opening ceremony, Heritage Fiesta 2013, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals 2013, Freespace Fest 2013, Sport for All Day 2013, the Hong Kong Sports Institute Main Building Opening Ceremony, the "Legends of the Giant Dinosaurs" exhibition, InnoCarnival 2013 and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club staged a special "Hong Kong: Our Home" Cup race along with an exhibition and performances echoing the four themes of the Campaign during the 18 Districts Cup Race Day at Sha Tin on June 2. Also supporting the Campaign, Cathay Pacific Airways unveiled on December 9 its new livery design, "The Spirit of Hong Kong", painted onto one of its aircraft.
Other major events - Manchester United Tour 2013, Barclays Asia Trophy 2013, visits and performances by Mainland swimming and diving elite athletes, Dancing for Hong Kong - Joint Schools Dancing Competition, the Active School Campaign, Grandparents Day 2013, the Book Crossing Festival 2013 and the International Arts Carnival - were also grouped under the umbrella of the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign.
"The Campaign has helped to raise awareness of a variety of wonderful events across Hong Kong and encourage more people to get involved and become a more active part of our community spirit," Mrs Lam said.
The Campaign has incurred about $3.94 million government funding, mainly in respect of the Campaign launching event and dedicated publicity. Activities of bureaux and departments that came under the Campaign were either planned or regular ones, funded entirely from existing resources. "Partner Organisations" which held various events and activities under the Campaignˇ¦s banner did so with their own resources at no cost to the Government.
Although the curtain will come down on the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign at the end of this year, its message of care, mutual help and togetherness will continue to resonate in the community through various initiatives. The roving "Hong Kong: Our Home" art display featuring two giant paintings has been given a permanent home at the Tung Chung Public Library. Moreover, a video of the Campaign highlights will be uploaded to the YouTube channel in the new year for everyone to enjoy.
The completion ceremony for the new Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O on December 30 and a variety of New Year countdown activities on New Year's Eve are among the final "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign events as the city prepares to usher in the new year.
For more information about the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign, please visit www.hkourhome.gov.hk and www.youtube.com/hkourhome.
Ends/Sunday, December 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:00
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