Hong Kong Flower Show 2015 opens today (with photos)
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     The annual spectacular Hong Kong Flower Show opened at Victoria Park today (March 20) with more than 350 000 flowers on display, including 8 000 pots of the theme flower oncidium. Featuring "When Blossoms Dance" as its main theme, the show will run for 10 days until March 29.

     Officiating at today's opening ceremony were the wife of the Chief Executive, Mrs Regina Leung; the President of the Legislative Council, Mr Jasper Tsang; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Betty Fung; the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Mr Cheung Leong; Miss Hong Kong 2014, Miss Veronica Shiu; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li.

     The entrance at Hing Fat Street is decorated with a floral farm-themed display of bees, butterflies, cattle and rabbits, greeting visitors with their blossoms and welcoming the arrival of spring, while figures representing elegant floral dancers cover a colourful floral carpet from the Sugar Street entrance to the main stage.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has created an attractive exhibit entitled "Energetic Hong Kong, a City in Motion". The display showcases a huge hot air balloon made of beautiful flowers. The balloon is decorated with colourful oncidium on the underside while ribbon-like floral paths weave among giant mosaiculture butterflies and dancers in silhouette.

     Another feature reveals a breathtaking sea of blossoms in an undulating landscape of spring flowers alongside a colourful tulip display, with crowds of visitors attracted for photo-taking.

     After sunset, a starlit garden on the park's lawns will be lit with "intelligent" fibre-optic lighting equipment, creating an array of colourful light beams alternating in response to the music, creating an iridescent starlight fantasia for visitors.

     Other flower Show attractions will include popular performances over the weekend. An entertainment show with favourite artistes Alfred Hui, Mag Lam, Ram Chiang will be held tomorrow (March 21) from 5pm to 6pm on the main stage, while a dance extravaganza featuring the dance director and artists from the movie "The Way We Dance" and winners of the Hong Kong Street Dance Championship 2015, will be held on the park's lawns this Sunday (March 22) from 3pm to 4.30pm. In addition a variety of performances, greening activities and fun games will also be held for the enjoyment of visitors.

     Other main attractions include a mosaiculture display entitled "Gorgeous Plumes" featuring exotic birds with brilliant plumage, a Brand Hong Kong floral wall, another floral wall depicting the 5th Hong Kong Games and gorgeous landscape displays by local, Mainland and overseas organisations.

     Members of the public can also enjoy photo-taking in the 3D painting experience zone, the flower show mobile application's fun camera, and interactive games.
     
     Admission tickets are being sold at the entrance to the Victoria Park showground throughout the show period. Octopus cards can be used to pay for admission. Admission tickets are also available at the LCSD District Leisure Services Offices and leisure venues with Leisure Link services such as sports centres, tennis courts and squash courts (except for holiday camps, water sports centres and Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre).

     Admission fees for the flower show are as follows:

Normal rate: $14
Concessionary rate: $7
- Children aged 4 to 14 and full-time students
- Senior citizens aged 60 or above
- Persons with disabilities and their minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only)

Concessionary rate from Monday to Friday:
- Free admission for senior citizens aged 60 or above
- Free admission for persons with disabilities and their minders (each person can enjoy the concessionary rate with one minder only)
- A half-rate concession is offered to adults in groups of 30 or more entering the venue together

     For enquiries, please call 2601 8260, fax 2691 7264 or visit the LCSD webpage www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/hkfs/2015/index.html .
     
     The flower show is organised by the LCSD. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is the Major Sponsor of this year's flower show.

Ends/Friday, March 20, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:13

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