The opening ceremony for Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai was held tonight (November 1) at the Shanghai Symphony Hall. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honour. The opening concert, "A Cosmopolitan Symphony", saw the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra perform a series of classic musical works.
 
     Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Lam said that Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai is the first major cultural activity organised in the Mainland by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government since the 2010 Shanghai Expo. She pointed out that the Festival can better connect Shanghai and Hong Kong and foster people-to-people bonds, as well as enhance mutual learning and cultural exchange between the two cities. She also thanked all the cultural organisations and arts groups, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Create Hong Kong and the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival for their participation.
    
     Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai will showcase 19 cultural performances from today to November 23 in Shanghai. With cultural creativity, connectivity between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and youthful vitality as focuses, the Festival will work with different arts groups and artists to bring Mainland audiences Hong Kong's finest arts and culture. The shows, exhibitions and film series will be presented in different venues and cultural landmarks in Shanghai.
 
     Apart from the opening concert by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, other performing arts programmes will include "Jaap van Zweden & Rachel Cheung" by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, "Four Seasons & The Butterfly Lovers" by the Hong Kong Dance Company, "The Great Gatsby" by the Hong Kong Ballet, "The Big Meal" by the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, "Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery" by Chung Ying Theatre Company, "The Architecture of the City" by Zuni Icosahedron, "Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers" directed by Fredric Mao and "Tale of the White Snake" by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe and the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong. There will also be four programmes organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, namely "When Mozart Meets Da Ponte" by Bel Canto Singers, "One City · Three Tales - Hong Kong Contemporary Dance Showcase" by Joseph Lee and Unlock Dancing Plaza, "The Tragedy of Macbeth" by Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio and "Showcase of Four Major Roles in Cantonese Opera" by Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop.
 
     Apart from these performing arts programmes, Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai will also feature a variety of film screenings, exhibitions and outreach activities. The Hong Kong Film Archive will present the film series "One Tale, Two Cinemas" in the Shanghai Film Museum and the Shanghai Film Archive, playing a number of classic movies about Shanghai and Hong Kong. A qipao and poster exhibition will also be held at the Shanghai Film Museum to explore the close historical and cultural ties between the two cities. Create Hong Kong will co-present with the Hong Kong Film Development Council and Broadway Cinematheque the "Hong Kong Thematic Film Festival in Shanghai 2019" at Palace Cinemas in Shanghai to showcase eight Hong Kong films with post-show seminars. Other cultural programmes will include "The Oral Legacies - Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong" Exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Office at the Shanghai Mass Art Center, outlining the distinctive features of Hong Kong's cultural traditions through a fine selection of exhibits relating to the 20 items on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong, and "Hong Kong Illustration X Original Design Brands Exhibition", sponsored by Create Hong Kong and organised by the Innovative Entrepreneur Association, at HKRI Taikoo Hui. In addition, Passoverdance and the School of Dance from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts will jointly present the outreach dance performance "Dance@Xintiandi" at Xintiandi Style. Talented musicians from Hong Kong will also present popular hits at an outdoor music carnival at HKRI Taikoo Hui.
 
     Other Hong Kong officials and representatives officiating at the opening ceremony included the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Cherry Tse; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai, Miss Victoria Tang; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Dr Wilfred Wong.
 
     The Vice Mayor of Shanghai, Ms Zong Ming; the Director General of the Department of Liaison of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Chen Jiguang; the Director General of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr Xie Jinying; the Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Mr Gu Honghui; the Director General of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, Ms Yu Xiufen; the Deputy Director General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Mr Zhou Yajun; and the President of the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Ms Wang Jun, also officiated at the opening ceremony.
 
     Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai is co-ordinated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The event provides a platform for Hong Kong artists from different sectors to showcase their talents and for cultural exchanges with Mainland counterparts. Eight programmes are also featured in Hong Kong Culture Week of the 21st China Shanghai International Arts Festival. For programme and ticketing information, please visit www.festivalhongkong.gov.hk/en/index.html.

Ends/Friday, November 1, 2019
Issued at HKT 22:00

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