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Following is a translation of the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the opening of the Hong Kong Pavilion and Hong Kong's Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) Exhibition at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China this morning (May 1):
Colleagues, friends, Hong Kong Pavilion staff,
Greetings to you all!
Today marks the grand opening of the Expo Park for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. I am so pleased to join you all to be a part of this special moment.
This year's Expo is the biggest in the history of Expos, with over 240 participating countries and international organisations taking part. An estimated 70 million visitors from our country and around the world are expected to attend over the six-month Expo period. I cannot help but marvel at the grand design of the China Pavilion and other pavilions. At the same time I have the honour of officiating at the opening of the Hong Kong Pavilion and to experience Hong Kong's full commitment to this international event. I must say that I am deeply impressed.
Several days ago I visited the Hong Kong Pavilion and Hong Kong's Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) Exhibition on the Puxi side. I could see then that you were already well prepared for today's opening. Both the Online Hong Kong Pavilion and the Online Hong Kong's UBPA Exhibition are ready for browsing today. All of this has been achieved because of the dedication of all concerned parties over the past two years. The concept, design, preparation and implementation of this project have involved a wide range of people and groups, from designers and architects, to government bureaux and departments, construction and management companies, and sponsors. Everyone involved has put their hearts, minds and precious time into this project. For their dedication and contribution, I offer my heartfelt thanks.
Over the next six months, friends from all over the world will be able to visit our exhibitions here in the Expo Park, or visit our virtual pavilion and virtual UBPA exhibition online. I hope that we will be able to show the world that Hong Kong is an open, free, tolerant and modern metropolis with great potential and opportunities for future development. We will also take this opportunity to introduce to a global audience our revitalised Brand Hong Kong and the five core values that underpin Brand Hong Kong - namely, free, enterprising, excellence, innovative and quality living. It is also my hope that people from all sectors in Hong Kong will be able to benefit from visits to various pavilions, and by participating in Expo-related activities. Through exchanges with participants from other places, we will be able to expand our horizons, enhance ourselves and pave the way for better development in future.
From now until the end of October, staff manning our two exhibition venues will courteously host visitors every day. We will also organise a wide range of promotions, exchanges and cultural performances inside the Expo Park, as well as other places in Shanghai, to promote the various facets of Hong Kong. I believe all staff will continue to commit themselves to this endeavour with the mission of making everything as best as we can so that visitors will come away with a positive impression of Hong Kong.
Now, all that I need to do is wish you all every success for the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China!
Thank you all.
Ends/Saturday, May 1, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:55
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