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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
This year's Legislative Council (LegCo) Building Open Day concluded successfully today (November 28). The event attracted a total of 2,422 visitors. The President of the LegCo, Hon Jasper Tsang, hoped that through this meaningful event, members of the public would better understand the work of the LegCo.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Open Day, Mr Tsang said that according to schedule, the LegCo would move to the new LegCo Complex two years later and the preparation work for the removal was now underway. He expected that if everything goes smoothly, the Open Day next year would be the last one to be held in this historical Building before moving to the new Complex.
Mr Tsang was joined by Hon Miriam Lau, Chairman of the House Committee, and Hon Emily Lau, Chairman of the Finance Committee, in officiating at the opening ceremony to mark the start of the event.
During the event, a total of 54 guided tours comprising 2,422 visitors were conducted. Visitors were introduced to the work of the LegCo and were briefed on the functions of various facilities inside the LegCo Building, including the Chamber, the Ante-Chamber, the President's Office and the Secretary General's Office, the three Conference Rooms, the Press Conference Room, the Press Room, the Dining Hall and Members¡¦ Rooms.
A total of 21 Members of the Legislative Council took part in today's event. Hon Jasper Tsang, Hon Miriam Lau and Hon Emily Lau assisted in conducting guided tours to introduce to visitors the facilities of the venues and explain how legislators perform their work in these venues. Some Members were stationed in the Chamber, the Ante-Chamber and Conference Room A and B to receive visitors. Other Members met the public and took photos with them in the photo corner outside the LegCo Building.
Some new initiatives were introduced this year to make the event more memorable and enjoyable. The new initiatives included two do-it-yourself (DIY) activities and e-cards sending service. For the two DIY activities, visitors made badges out of the pictures they drew on the spot and stamped images of the LegCo Building on the Open Day leaflets. As for the e-cards sending service, visitors were able to send out LegCo¡¦s Christmas e-cards to their friends and relatives via the computer games booths to share a moment of joy.
Similar to last year's Open Day, a photo corner was set up outside the LegCo Building for individual Members to meet the public and take photos with them. Exhibition and interactive computer games on the work of the LegCo were also provided.
To foster a more joyful and pleasant atmosphere for the event, four bands were arranged by the LegCo Secretariat to perform outside the Building in four time-slots (9.10am, 11.15am, 2pm and 4.15pm). The four bands were the "SSY Ho Ngai College Marching Band", "HK & Kln Kai Fong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung Primary School (A.M. & W.D.) Marching Band", "The Church of Christ in China Kei Heep Secondary School Chinese Drum Band" and "Ling Liang Church E Wun Secondary School African Drum and Percussion Band". Dr Hon Joseph Lee, Hon Chan Kam-lam, Dr Hon Samson Tam and the Secretary General of the LegCo Secretariat, Ms Pauline Ng, presented souvenirs to the music bands respectively after the performance.
The LegCo Building Open Day has been held for 12 years. The main purpose of the event is to enable members of the public to understand the work of the Legislative Council and to visit the 97-year-old historical Building.
Ends/Saturday, November 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:50
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