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A delegation of 42 Legislative Council (LegCo) members led by the President of LegCo, the Hon Jasper Tsang Yok-sing visited the Hong Kong Pavilion in the Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo) this morning (May 9).
Before the LegCo members went into the Hong Kong Pavilion, they took a group photo in front of the pavilion located at the southwest forecourt of the China Pavilion.
Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Joshua Law and Commissioner, HKSAR Expo Affairs Office, Mr Patrick Chan received the delegation and walked the members through the three-level pavilion themed "Connected to the Global Village", "Connected by Ideas, Information and Diversity" and "Connected to Nature" respectively.
The LegCo members showed interest in the 3D movie and the various exhibition contents in particular the Green Living in Hong Kong Exhibition, "Hong Kong Vision" game and the interactive portals.
The delegation then attended a welcome lunch co-hosted by Mr Law and Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications & Technology), Ms Elizabeth Tse.
Mr Law said at the lunch, "Our staff have been devoting themselves to the project without reserve in the recent months, and were working with no breaks in the last couple of weeks. I believe you can tell from your visit to the Hong Kong Pavilion today and the tour of the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) Exhibition tomorrow that our staff are in high spirit.
"I am confident that our staff will uphold the Hong Kong spirit and courteously host visitors from all over the world in the coming days."
"Apart from the Hong Kong Pavilion and Hong Kong's UBPA Exhibition, we will also organise a wide range of other activities including inviting our cultural groups to Shanghai to stage some 20 programmes comprising more than 70 performances."
Mr Law and Mr Tsang then exchanged souvenirs. Mr Law presented a Hong Kong Pavilion crystal as a memento of the LegCo members' visit to the Pavilion.
Each member was also given a souvenir package including a set of special commemorative stamps and a DVD on "Hong Kong's participation in Shanghai Expo", an event and activities guide, a booklet on "Connect to Hong Kong at Shanghai Expo", a cultural programme brochure, and an environmentally friendly carry bag.
The delegation will visit Hong Kong's UBPA Exhibition themed "Smart CardĄD Smart CityĄD Smart Life" on the Puxi side tomorrow (May 10).
With the approval of the Legislative Council, the HKSAR Government has committed $346 million in funding for Hong Kong's Expo presence. This includes $145 million for the design and construction of the Hong Kong Pavilion, and $201 million for operation and activities, including the UBPA exhibition.
There will be six different thematic exhibitions at the Hong Kong Pavilion throughout the six-month Expo period.
Ends/Sunday, May 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:33
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