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Cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Calgary will be further strengthened at the turn of the New Year as the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is arranging a send-off in a big way for the Calgary Stampede to participate in the annual Chinese New Year parade in Asia's world city.
At the same time, Hong Kong will present to the Calgary community a nostalgic and modern photo exhibition to enable them to better understand the culture and heritage of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) and Hong Kong Tourism Board, in conjunction with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association Calgary section, will organize an official send-off of the Calgary Stampede to Hong Kong on Wednesday (January 16) at Chinook Centre in Calgary.
This is the second year that the Calgary Stampede participates in Hong Kong's Chinese New Year Parade. Representing the culture and heritage of Western Canada, the Stampede was very well received by Hong Kong citizens during their visit in 2001. The delegation, which comprises over 30 members, will again present its uniquely designed float and exciting performance to the Hong Kong community at the Chinese New Year Parade in February.
"As Asia's world city, there is no better place than Hong Kong to manifest east meets west. We believe that by organizing more cultural exchange activities between Hong Kong and Canada, we will bring people of both places closer together and build mutual understanding," said Mrs Rosanna Ure, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Canada.
Also unveiled at the same occasion is Hong Kong's new global brand identity - a stylish dragon - with a slogan "Asia's world city". The new brand identity was designed to communicate Hong Kong's link to an historical and cultural icon. While the flowing lines of the dragon mirror Chinese calligraphy, the dragon incorporates the letters 'H' and 'K' and the Chinese characters for Hong Kong.
"This dual expression symbolizes a blend of East and West that characterizes Hong Kong. The dragon's smooth, fluid shape imparts a sense of movement and speed, communicating that Hong Kong is forever changing," said Mrs. Ure.
The new Hong Kong brand identity was formally launched by the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Fortune Global Forum last May. It was introduced to Toronto and Vancouver last June. Calgary will be the third major city in Canada to come to know the new brand.
With the success of the "Living in Hong Kong" photo exhibition at the Hong Kong Arts Festival held last November in Toronto, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office is proud to present the photo collection to the Calgary community from January 16 to 27 at Chinook Centre.
As one of the core elements of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the unique collection of some 80 photos, arranged under the themes of 'Dressing', 'Eating', 'Living' and 'Commuting', depicts life in Hong Kong in the 1950s to the present days. The photo exhibition will go to Vancouver next month.
To add colour to the event, the organizers will hold an indoor mini-golf 'Hole-in-one'charity competition on January 26 and 27 at Chinook Centre to raise funds for the Kids Cancer Foundation. Visitors stand a good opportunity of winning a free return air ticket with complimentary hotel accommodation to Hong Kong valued at more than C$4,500.
This exciting function is sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways and Marco Polo Hotels. The media sponsors are Calgary Sun, Fairchild TV, Fairchild Radio and Sing Tao Daily as its media sponsors.
End/Saturday, January 12, 2002
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