CS LAUNCHES PAGEANT OF HONG KONG SIGHTS AND SOUNDS IN AUCKLAND

The city of Auckland came alive to the sights and sounds of Hong Kong today (6 November) at the opening of a celebration of the SAR’s business and cultural ties with New Zealand.

Starting the festivities in style was a lively and colourful musical gala entitled Fusion of Sound: Hong Kong Meets New Zealand — a cross-cultural performance with New Zealand represented by the Auckland Philharmonia, singer Dame Malvina Major and the award-winning Waitakere City Brass Band, and Hong Kong by erhu virtuoso Ding Fei Fei.

Complementing the musical gala, and continuing until Friday 10 November in the foyer of the Aotea Centre, is The Aesthetics of Connection, an exhibition of Hong Kong’s amazing architectural infrastructure.

Both events were officially opened this afternoon by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, who is currently leading a four-day official trade delegation to New Zealand.

She was joined at the ceremony by the Mayor of Auckland, Her Worship Mrs Christine Fletcher; the Chairman of Auckland Regional Council, Mr Philip Warren; Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Sydney, Mrs Jenny Wallis; and Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourist Association, Mr Tony Tse.

“Hong Kong and New Zealand have a rare affinity and a very special relationship due in part to each having people with a strong sense of self and a rich heritage and culture,” Mr Tse said. “New Zealanders delight in the cracking pace and colour of Hong Kong while Hong Kong people take the greatest of pleasure in natural beauty and peace, which is 100% Pure New Zealand.”

So far this year more than 35,000 New Zealand visitors have been welcomed in the City of Life. Among next year’s visitors, Mr Tse announced, will be the Waitakere City Brass Band, which has accepted an invitation to participate in Hong Kong’s 2001 Chinese New Year Parade in January.

The opening ceremony also highlighted some of Hong Kong’s most striking scenes in a display of images taken by leading US photographer Steve McCurry for the National Geographic Traveler magazine. In a recent millennium survey, the magazine chose Hong Kong as one of its “Top 50 Destinations of a Lifetime”. Completing the display were promotional pictures from celebrated Hong Kong sports events such as the Credit Suisse First Boston Rugby Sevens and horse racing at Happy Valley.