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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a toasting ceremony for the 44th Hong Kong Arts Festival Finale Ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre this evening (March 19):
Victor (Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, Mr Victor Cha), Simon (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Simon Ip), Mr Chen (Chairman and Executive Director of ICBC (Asia), Mr Chen Aiping), Tisa (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Ms Tisa Ho), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is indeed my pleasure to be here tonight at the finale ceremony of the 44th Hong Kong Arts Festival and share with you the joy of yet another very successful edition of the Festival, especially after enjoying this fantastic performance by the Mikhailovsky Ballet on a story familiar to almost every child around the world - the Sleeping Beauty.
As a pioneer to enrich Hong Kong's cultural life, the Arts Festival has provided the public with opportunities to enjoy a wide array of excellent performances for over four decades. This year, the Festival put up a total of 119 performances, including 15 world premieres and 12 Asian premieres, in addition to 368 Festival PLUS and education activities organised. Attracting an attendance of about 300 000 people with over 93 per cent of the tickets sold, these performances and activities were very well-received by the public. Participated by over 1 400 top-notch international and local artists, the Festival thrilled many art lovers in Hong Kong this year again.
To run such a high quality arts festival year after year is a major undertaking. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all involved in the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, as well as the sponsors and patrons of the Festival, especially the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for their generous support over the years, and also the ICBC (Asia) for sponsoring tonight's performance. I take this opportunity to welcome the Society's new chairman, Victor, and have every confidence that he will bring us more successful Festivals in future years.
Now, allow me to say a few words in Cantonese.
Ends/Saturday, March 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 22:59
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