Speech by Mr TSANG Tak-sing, JP
Secretary for Home Affairs
at the Opening Ceremony of the
International Arts Carnival 2008

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening! It gives me great pleasure to open the 2008 International Arts Carnival.

Every summer, the International Arts Carnival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department presents children, teenagers and families in Hong Kong with a wide range of performing arts programmes and cultural activities. We hope that these entertaining and educational programmes will bring about not only an enhanced interest in the arts and culture, but also closer family ties, which we believe are the driving force behind a harmonious society.

In celebration of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as well as Hong Kong being a co-host city for the Equestrian Events, the Carnival's highlight this year is a programme series entitled "Sporting Fantasia", which includes tonight's Opening Programme AEROS by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, in addition to Park and Art produced by the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong.

To create a joyful and peaceful Olympic atmosphere in the territory, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will set up during the Games two Olympic Live Sites, one at Victoria Park and the other at Sha Tin Park, to broadcast live the exciting competition events and to provide a rich variety of free cultural, sports and leisure programmes to the public. I am sure that the International Arts Carnival together with the Live Site activities will promise a very memorable summer in this very special Olympic year for you and your family.