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A delegation of young performers from the Mainland will arrive in Hong Kong on May 31 for a cultural performance and exchange programme with their counterparts in Hong Kong.

They will join hands with children with disabilities in an interactive performance at a special school on June 1, and take part in a "hand-in-hand" exchange party with local youngsters on June 2.

The visit of the National Working Committee of Chinese Young Pioneers "Hand-in-Hand" Children's Arts Troupe is jointly organised by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and the National Working Committee of Chinese Young Pioneers, with the assistance of the Federation of New Territories Youth, the Warehouse Teenage Club Ltd and the Hong Kong United Arts Entertainment Company Limited. The visit aims at promoting cultural exchange between youngsters of Hong Kong and the Mainland. The visit will also enhance friendship, promote understanding, and help establish a "hand-in-hand" relationship between the two sides.

An HAB spokesman said today (May 27): "The performers are from renowned children and youth performing groups in Shanghai and Tibet. They include 67 actors of the Han, Mongolian, Uygur and Tibetan races aged between six and 16."

"Joined by The Hong Kong Children's Choir, the visiting arts troupe will perform at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai at 8 pm on June 4 (Friday) and at 3 pm on June 5 (Saturday). Highlight programmes include dances, singing, Tibetan opera, folk music performances, piano solo and violin solo. Admission is free for ticket holders. Free admission tickets will be distributed from 9 am on Saturday (May 29) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Each person could collect two tickets only on a first-come-first-serve basis.

"The delegation will also visit children with disabilities at Margaret Trench Red Cross School on June 1 (Mainland's Children Day) and present to them an "Under the Same Blue Sky" Interactive Show. Apart from the children of Margaret Trench Red Cross School, students from two other special schools -- Hong Chi Lions Morninghill School and Caritas Magdalene School, will also be presenting performances to the visitors.

"An exchange party named 'Good Friends Hand in Hand Get-Together', for both the delegation and local children and youngsters will be held at Wu Kai Sha Youth Village on June 2. The party programme will be organised by The Federation of New Territories Youth and the Warehouse Teenage Club Ltd. Local youngsters joining the gathering are from various primary and secondary schools, The Federation of New Territories Youth and the Warehouse Teenage Club Ltd," the spokesman said.

Ends/Thursday May 27, 2004