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Following its successful North America premiere in Toronto last Friday (May 7, Vancouver time), the Hong Kong Ballet continues with its four-city tour in Canada and the United States to bring its new production, "Legend of the Great Archer", to Vancouver this week to spread the "Relaunch Hong Kong" message.

Scheduled for this Friday (May 14, Vancouver time) at 8pm at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver, this unique cross-cultural ballet performance promises to be an eye-opener for ballet and dance enthusiasts in the Greater Vancouver Area by introducing to them a new language to the ballet culture.

The two-hour full-length ballet performance, first launched in Hong Kong in late March this year, is the first in the world to be accompanied by Chinese music created by award-winning composer, Mr Kuan Nai-chung, and played by the world-renowned Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. It is also the first to make maximal use of multi-media visual effects, including a two-minute film and laser presentation, to enhance the stunningly dynamic special effects of the production.

Officiating at the Vancouver performance by the 80-member Hong Kong Ballet will be the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Shelley Lee, who will be joined by Mayor Larry Campbell, of Vancouver, Mayor Alan Lowe, of Victoria, and the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Mr Bassanio So, the organiser of the Hong Kong Ballet's performances of "Legend of the Great Archer" in Canada.

After its performance this Friday, Ms Lee will lead the Hong Kong Ballet to visit San Jose. The final destination of the Hong Kong Ballet's North America tour will be Washington DC later this month.

Addressing the media at a press briefing today (May 12, Vancouver time), Ms Lee said: "I feel very privileged to present Hong Kong Ballet, which is Hong Kong's own national ballet and one of the leading classical ballet companies in Asia, to our Canadian friends through this very unique production of 'Legend of the Great Archer'.

'Through its successful performances in Toronto and Vancouver, Hong Kong Ballet not only brings Hong Kong's cultural vibrancy to audiences and dance enthusiasts in Canada but also helps foster ties and friendship between our great cities."

Combining a Chinese themed folk tale choreographed by one of the top expatriate artistic directors in the world with the traditional western ballet interpreted by a multi-cultural cast of 40 dancers with diverse background from Hong Kong, Mainland China and other Asian countries, "Legend of the Great Archer" is the perfect mix of the East and the West. The blending is so well presented that it attracts very encouraging comments by dance critics who have written favourably about the North America premiere in the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.

"Equipped with such a powerful cross-cultural production which is symbolic of Hong Kong's vibrancy and dynamism, Hong Kong Ballet is a natural choice to be Hong Kong's Cultural Ambassadors," Ms Lee said.

"I have no doubt that our dancers will give their very best to make the Vancouver performance as successful as the North America Premiere in Toronto, and our messages of friendship and closer cultural ties are heard and spread far and wide in North America."

Also present at today's meet-the-media session were the HKETO Director, Mr Bassanio So, the Hong Kong Ballet Board Chairman, Mrs Cissy Pao Watari, and her Chief Executive Officer, Ms Helen Ng.

As Hong Kong's contribution to Canadian culture, the Hong Kong Ballet's Vancouver performance is organised by the HKETO and jointly presented with the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver (CCC) and the City of Vancouver in support of CCC's expansion programme.

It has received very strong support from sponsors in Hong Kong and Canada.

These sponsors include the special sponsors and supporters from Hong Kong: J P Morgan, OOCL, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Information Services Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; and the Exclusive Travel Sponsors: Air Canada and Tour East Holidays.

Other Vancouver sponsors and supporters include Gold Sponsors: Holborn Group and LG Cashmere Mr Johnny Fong; Silver Sponsors: Dorset College and Kingston College; Bronze Sponsors: Park Georgia Insurance. Olympic Distributors, VanCity Savings Credit Union and Tak Shing Chau; and other sponsors: Cathay Importers, CIBC. Mr Kam Wai Lee, Kitty's Beauty Studio, Kiu Shun Trading Co., Ltd, Mr Lawrence Woo, Parker Place Medical Centre, Transpacific and University of Victoria.

The event's promotion sponsors are Cathay Pacific Airways while the Premium Media Sponsors are Fairchild Media Group, Fairchild TV, Fairchild Radio and TelentVision. Ming Pao and World Journal are supporting the event as Media Sponsors.

For more information about the Hong Kong Ballet's North America Premiere of Legend of the Great Archer, please visit the HKETO website at: www.hketo.ca.

Ends/Thursday, May 13, 2004

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