Speech by SCED at dinner reception hosted by Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture (English only)
******************************************************************************************
Mr Mitazono (Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture, Mr Satoshi Mitazono), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the representatives of the Kagoshima Prefectural Government.
And I want to congratulate you all on the successful organisation of the 20th Hong Kong - Kagoshima Conference. The biennial Kagoshima Conference has a long history and provides a valuable opportunity for various government departments and different sectors to exchange views, in the areas of youth development, culture and sports, trade and industry, and tourism. We attach great importance to such exchanges as they foster closer linkage and co-operation between the two places.
Kagoshima is one of the Hong Kong people's popular holiday destinations. The Prefecture offers an array of cultural and historical sites for enjoyment by visitors, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Yakushima Island. Hong Kong people are fond of hot spring and sakura in Japan. The 2 700 hot spring sources as well as sakura hot spots in Kagoshima certainly attract lots of visitors from Hong Kong.
As for Hong Kong, in addition to the widely acclaimed night and harbour view, visitors can enjoy our diverse shopping and dining offers, our two flagship theme parks, the Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, and a series of mega events throughout the year. For instance, we have just held the first-ever exciting car race, the FIA Formula E - Hong Kong ePrix, 10 days ago. Later this month, we will host the annual signature event, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, with a larger scale and setting against the stunning backdrop of Victoria Harbour. There will be a Japanese pavilion with 10 booths on Japanese wine and five booths on Japanese food. I wish you are staying in Hong Kong next week and can join us at the Festival to taste the exquisite wine and spirits as well as award-winning food.
Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Kagoshima Prefectural Government for organising the meaningful conference and hosting this delightful dinner.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 21:39
Issued at HKT 21:39
NNNN