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Hong Kong's cultural and business ties with Russia and the Czech Republic witnessed a major milestone with the debut of a renowned modern dance group from Hong Kong in the two Eastern European countries.

During a week-long performance tour from October 4 to 9, the City Contemporary Dance Company, the flagship of modern dance in Hong Kong, has impressed an audience of some 1,800 with its innovative dance in St Petersburg, Moscow and Prague.

Officiating at the dance company's final performance in Prague last night (October 9, Prague time), the Director-General of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, Mr Andrew Leung, said the dance troupe represented one of the many facets of Hong Kong's distinctive cultural heritage. "It captures the colour, the vitality, the imagination, and the unique blend of the East and the West, that make Hong Kong Asia's World City."

He noted that these performances were the first of their kind by a performing company from Hong Kong under the aegis of the Hong Kong SAR Government. They should mark the beginning of many more cultural exchanges between the Asia's World City and Russia and the Czech Republic, both noted for their rich cultural heritage.

As part of the promotional activities organised by the HKETO London office in the three Eastern European cities, a photography exhibition entitled "Hong Kong Looking Ahead" was also launched in each place to show Hong Kong's recovered dynamism after the SARS outbreak.

Mr Leung also took the opportunity to address a group of about 110 prominent businesspeople at a seminar organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Prague yesterday. He urged them to capitalise on the substantial business opportunities presented by the new development of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

Additionally he stressed to the business audience that consensus on building the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge would consolidate the competitive advantage of a Greater Pearl River Delta, which would be developed into one of the world's most vibrant economic hubs within the next decade.

Mr Leung said Hong Kong would continue to be the golden key to unlock the full potential of the vast China market for Eastern European businesses. The unique position of Hong Kong as an international services hub for trade, finance, transportation and logistics would continue to be invaluable in leveraging the vast and rapidly expanding China market, which is destined to be one of the most vibrant economies in the world in the coming decades.

Ends/Friday, October 10, 2003

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