The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (HKETO) is participating in the three-week-long Chatswood Year of the Pig Festival 2019 in the Chatswood district of Sydney, Australia, to share the joy of the Lunar New Year with the public in Sydney.
 
     Two giant photo walls featuring magnificent day and night views of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour with new year greeting messages have been set up at the Golden Market in the Chatswood Mall for visitors to take photos to promote Asia's world city.
 
     The Festival, hosted by the Willoughby City Council of Sydney from January 29 to February 19, includes a variety of cultural events and performances that will connect visitors to celebrations across China and other Asian destinations. The event brings Sydney into the Chinese New Year in true Chinese style, and its programme includes performers and musicians from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts performing the Chinese opera "Pigsy's Wedding", to be presented by Australasian Art and Stageworks at the Theatre at the Concourse in Chatswood on February 9.
 
     Speaking at a lunch yesterday (January 29) to launch the Festival, the Director of the HKETO, Mr Raymond Fan, said that every year Hong Kong has lots of arts and cultural activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
 
     "We are therefore excited that Chatswood is hosting the cultural festival so that we can continue our close connection with this community," Mr Fan said.
 
     "Following the commissioning of mega transportation infrastructure, ie Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail, I am pleased to report that various cultural projects in Hong Kong will be completed one after another over the next few years.
 
     "The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest cultural projects in the world. Its first landmark venue, the Xiqu Centre, was officially opened 10 days ago. This world-class venue is designed for the conservation, promotion and development of Chinese opera.
 
     "So please visit Hong Kong in the Year of the Pig. Apart from enjoying the incredible cuisine, exciting shopping, fantastic arts and culture, and photogenic skyline, please do take a ride to explore the surrounding Greater Bay Area through our well-connected new infrastructure and unlock unlimited opportunities in this year of fortune," Mr Fan added.

Ends/Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Issued at HKT 15:12

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